Les Foufounes Électriques
Montreal
Kort fortalt
Anmeldelser
The place is great but after waiting more than 15 minutes with the waiters ignoring us, we decided to go to drink somewhere else.
What a cool and unique venue. Attended the Montreal Oi! Fest and it was a fabulous time. The downstairs is simple sprawling, thought the wait times for beers is a bit long. Maybe different if sitting and being waited on. But the upstairs was great they had 2 bars and a very large space the servers were bang on! My only complaint is $8 for a PBR can buy a 30 pack in the US for that much lol..! The room for the show was a decent size for what I was there to see and the sound was pretty decent too. All the staff were great as well. Can't say enough good about this place I will absolutely be back
Overall Impression: An institution in Montréal’s live music scene, authentic, inclusive, and unapologetically energetic. What I liked: Les Foufounes Électriques brings me right back to the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. I didn’t grow up in Montréal or visit in my youth, but this is one of the few places that truly captures the spirit of that era in a way that still feels genuine today. It somehow manages to honour that time while remaining relevant for both my generation and those discovering it now. You’ll find punks, goths, metalheads, and music lovers of all kinds here… along with people of all identities and orientations. It’s a place where everyone belongs. Come solo, as a couple, or with a group… the space easily accommodates all. Atmosphere & vibe: Located in the Quartier des Spectacles, it’s centrally positioned near theatres, restaurants, and other nightlife spots, including the nearby Village. Expect it to be loud and lively. If you’re looking for a quiet drink, this probably isn’t the place. But if you want energy, live music, and a crowd that feels part of something shared, it delivers. Keep an eye out for shows as well. While I haven’t attended one yet, I’ve certainly heard them from downstairs while enjoying a drink. Service: Service is usually quick and friendly. On one occasion, a new member of the security staff didn’t allow us to sit on the patio with our small dog after we had already ordered drinks… despite having done so many times previously. It was a minor inconvenience and likely the result of someone new to the role, and not something that would deter us from returning. Who this is good for: Anyone looking for a high-energy, inclusive venue with a strong sense of identity and history in Montréal’s alternative music scene. Closing: A genuinely unique space that continues to bring people together across generations. Add-on (return visit) While out on a stroll this evening, I heard the music spilling out onto the street, the kind of pull this place has… and decided to treat myself to a pint. On my own this time, I sat at the bar instead of my usual spot, which gave me a different perspective. It’s not to say the place lacks identity… far from it. The round tables and chairs are fantastic, the patio is incredible on an early summer day, and the building itself, inside and out is a piece of art. There’s a raw, authentic energy here that very few places manage to hold onto. But behind the bar, it feels different. Everything is there from a functional standpoint… bottles, glassware, stacked plastic cups, fridges, POS systems. It does exactly what it needs to do. But visually, it feels almost stripped back. In a place with this much history, you expect to see it reflected… old photos, memorabilia, something that tells the story of who’s passed through. There’s even what looks like a wig stand sitting high on a shelf… but no wig. Which somehow says everything. One last thought.. if the history isn’t going to live there, there’s a real opportunity to bring the outside in. Montréal has incredible graffiti artists, and carrying some of that raw, outdoor energy into the bar area could transform it. The rest of the space feels curated and alive, this could too. Just my two cents.
Back in the 80’s, affectionately called in french “Les Foufs”, the venue was to Montreal what CBGB was to Manhattan in the late 70’s. The music was loud, beer was cheap and mohawks were dangerously spiky, to say the least. To the sound of Skinny Puppy, Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees, with my good friend Mark and way too many beers, this is where I celebrated my first car, a ruined-down AMC Renault Alliance that barely made it through the winter. Nowadays, I go back occasionally so to remember the spirit, reminisce with my old punker friends still working on their art projects since the 80’s, check out if my graffiti still entertain the toilets and hope the impossible mini-putt course that was under the stairs would one day rise from the graveyard. The venue, which was back then barely the size of a trunk, is now set over several floors, and might be a tad touristy (but a legend is a legend, so I’ll close my eyes on this last fact). With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating area, a mezzanine and 2 showrooms, you can still chill over affordable beer, and later, when the beer-buzz hits the right spot, pogo-slam your way across the dance floor and yell at everybody that you were one of the originals !... Or just show-off and pretend… Is punk dead ? No, it just got more comfortable and richer, ask Lydon !
