Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band out of Quebec City known for their hit ‘Show Me How’, rocked out Bristol’s O2 Academy last month.
Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band out of Quebec City known for their hit ‘Show Me How’, rocked out Bristol’s O2 Academy last month. We first heard their album Oncle Jazz four years ago and instantly fell in love with their uniquely dreamlike yet danceable sound.
Their set was characteristically basic -blunt, even- with the band speaking only to the crowd as they began and ended. This, however, immersed us in near non-stop music.
The performance lasted around ninety minutes, and in that time the band of 3 (as well as a couple of touring musicians) treated us to numbers from their four most recent projects. They opened with some of their new dual Equus albums, filling the air with an excited yet sombre tone in the 3-story venue.
However, in what would prove to be our favourite section of the show (as it was last summer when they played at All Points East), a seamless medley of tracks from ‘Oncle Jazz’ was performed. First the title track, then the dreamy, wallowing chords of Norton Commander built and there was a tangible fuzz of happiness in the crowd. Guitarist Jessy Caron delivered extended solos on the songs Seven and All Night, and this passage came to an end with the crowd flawlessly screaming the lyrics to Show Me How back up to Emma on stage.
More fan favourites followed, as well as a return to the present day with more Equus. They did, although, rudely neglect to play our favourite, Carried Away, from the newer of the two albums, and some standouts from Equus Asinus, such as, Unlike Anything. Proulx then made a quick goodbye before hurrying offstage with her bandmates – so quickly that the audience appeared to be more confused than anything else. However, after some shouting for the band to return (far from the most enthusiastic we’ve heard), they came back beaming with smiles and sent us off into the night with energised, dance-inducing performances of Worn Down and Billie Toppy.
We’d urge any fan of dreamy or indie-pop to head to the next Men I Trust gig they can. They’re no-nonsense, thoroughly enjoyable shows which will pull your heartstrings and get your feet moving just a couple of pieces aft. What they lack in showmanship they make up for with delivery and artistry. Find some of their best in the toolbox!