The ON’R group is currently in residence at the Villeneuve-sur-Lot cultural center as part of the VilleneuVoix program. A group of four friends who have been playing together for over 20 years.
For fun, they might have gone into humor, but the passion for music took over. And this for more than 20 years. Stéphane Gazeau, Florent Géraud, Guillaume Greffier and Jérémie Cervera form the group ON’R, a nice nod to the signs hung in front of recording studios but also to the most famous brand of harmonica. However, no country in their repertoire. ON’R is a progressive pop-rock sound… and new compositions. It must be said that the four boys from Sainte-Livrade, Tayrac, Condom and Montauban, have been rubbing shoulders with it for a long time.
“We promised to rehearse every Monday evening”
Drums, guitar, bass and keyboard, that’s what ON’R needs to transport the public into their universe. For two decades, the four musicians have been playing and evolving together. After finding each other a little by chance, the pillars were established in 2006 and released their first album, “Regard’s” in 2009. “The mayonnaise took hold, the current went straight away” launches the Lot-et-Garonnaise formation. “But we are not professionals” supports Guillaume, the guitarist. Cover concerts in cafes and village festivals, the group is somewhat in the background. “For 10 years, we “beefed” a lot at home, we had magical moments” smile the forty-year-olds. Especially since friends get together on a regular basis, always for fun. “We promised to rehearse every Monday evening”.
And during all these sessions where they gave free rein to their imagination, everything was recorded. Influenced by the melodies and the sound of the guitars of U2, Coldplay, Keane, the Lot-et-Garonne group begins to combine their “magic moments” to obtain a sound like “a bubble”. A bubble for them, and for those who listen to them. And this has been the case for two days on the stage of the cultural center of Villeneuve.
“Have a critical eye”
To progress and improve their stage performance, ON’R has signed up for the VilleneuVoix program, which allows local artists to occupy a residency within the establishment on rue Etienne-Marcel. And to guide them, the essential Michel Vivoux, singer who has experienced many scenes across the region throughout his career. “They are fabulous” testifies the musician, who has been enjoying himself since the start of the residency. “Our friends always tell us that it’s good, it’s good to have a critical eye” chorus the four boys in the wind. Ideas, investment advice to feel as comfortable as possible on stage, Michel Vivoux plays the conductors before the big performance on Friday. Especially since they will be playing new compositions.
Since the entertainment world resumed following the health crisis, ON’R has gotten back in the saddle with 9 new titles. Diverse and varied themes, both serious and light. “We talk regarding our lives, our history” supports Jérémie, who provides keyboards and vocals at the same time. And everyone pitches in to write the lyrics. Better still, they take advantage of this residency to set up the scenic effects and create a real show with projected videos while the four members of ON’R sing their songs. If they tried French lyrics for their first album, they opted for the language of Shakespeare for these new songs. “In French, it rubbed a little with our melodies” they assure. With the news, it inevitably catches.
