Juveniles at the Lexington

French duo Juveniles brought their 80s synth-pop to the Lexington on Tuesday for an extensive set in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Backed by two tour musicians, the band blended a comprehensive shake of songs and served it chilled to a hungry audience.

All the ingredients were there: distorted sounds, upbeat rhythms and a good deal of that vibrant energy that young adults emanate simply for being in the prime of their lives and full of potential. The mix was evidently contagious and had the crowd dancing and smiling or simply getting lost in the music with their eyes closed.

With tunes like Through the Night it was hard to stand still; such catchy melodies easily have the power to loosen people up. Juveniles may not be outstanding as musicians and their unpretentious tracks (with straightforward melodies and lyrics that are anything but obscure) may not be great hits – but they have their reasons: the band’s noble and notable aim is to gather people and make them happy and carefree.

During Strangers (the first single off their recently released debut LP), singer Jean-Sylvain Le Gouic excited the room even more, asking the all-too-willing crowd to clap along. With echoes of Duran Duran and Daft Punk, Juveniles were sure to please the audience. Able to mash up electro with chill-out and lounge music, the band were confident and easygoing, enjoying performing and delighted by the public’s response.

Juveniles crafted the night as a sort of DJ set: one couldn’t tell which song was which as they almost all merged one into the other. The tracks were often indistinct, giving the impression of an ongoing flow of sounds, and arguably missing the point of a live gig – one might perhaps as well have headed straight to a club.

Rita Vicinanza
Photos: Krish Nagari

For further information and future events visit Juveniles’ website here.

Watch the video for Fantasy here: