As the lights in the Orpheum dimmed and the crowd settled into their seats, you could hear them call out into the darkness — "Emma!"
"Hello Vancouver, how are you?" frontperson Emmanuelle "Emma" Proulx cooed into the mic with her soft francophone accent.
Men I Trust brought a minimal set up to the historic Orpheum theatre, with just their instruments and a chaotic good smattering of filters, effects and pedals on stage. The audience's quiet reverence and the theatre's stillness was punctuated by a wash of green that silhouetted the band as they opened their first song, "Organon."
Backlit by beams of coloured light, the show felt both grand and intimate in a way that would feel just as at home in a dimly lit basement venue as it was in a theatre — the crowd was completely seated, making the show seem more serious and buttoned up on first blush than it really was.
Trapezing between the years and across their discography, the band seemed like they were just jamming and enjoying themselves on stage — the crowd erupted during a new rendition of "Lauren" that included a freewheeling solo from lead guitarist Jessy Caron. Another beautiful arrangement combined "Hard to Let Go" and "Numb," flawlessly transitioning between tempos and melodies as if they'd always been stitched together; a healthily extended intro made space for the genius tempo changes and drum solos lead by touring drummer Eric Maillet. It was an incredible display of the band's tightly knit relationship and their ever-shifting synergy.
While the crowd was largely confined to their seats, it was easy to see that they really wanted to get up and dance. Their wishes were granted by the end of the show, literally jumping out of their seats to dance to closing song "Found Me." "Thank you Vancouver," were Proulx's last words into the mic before the brand quickly exited the stage as the crowd started the chant for an encore. Speculation erupted from almost instantly — "It's gotta be "Show Me How" right? It's just gotta be!"
Much to the crowd's relief, after the customary applause and cheers the band reemerged in a puff of smoke and red light to perform their most beloved single, "Show Me How" — it was expected, yes, but the grins that plastered every face felt earned.
"Hello Vancouver, how are you?" frontperson Emmanuelle "Emma" Proulx cooed into the mic with her soft francophone accent.
Men I Trust brought a minimal set up to the historic Orpheum theatre, with just their instruments and a chaotic good smattering of filters, effects and pedals on stage. The audience's quiet reverence and the theatre's stillness was punctuated by a wash of green that silhouetted the band as they opened their first song, "Organon."
Backlit by beams of coloured light, the show felt both grand and intimate in a way that would feel just as at home in a dimly lit basement venue as it was in a theatre — the crowd was completely seated, making the show seem more serious and buttoned up on first blush than it really was.
Trapezing between the years and across their discography, the band seemed like they were just jamming and enjoying themselves on stage — the crowd erupted during a new rendition of "Lauren" that included a freewheeling solo from lead guitarist Jessy Caron. Another beautiful arrangement combined "Hard to Let Go" and "Numb," flawlessly transitioning between tempos and melodies as if they'd always been stitched together; a healthily extended intro made space for the genius tempo changes and drum solos lead by touring drummer Eric Maillet. It was an incredible display of the band's tightly knit relationship and their ever-shifting synergy.
While the crowd was largely confined to their seats, it was easy to see that they really wanted to get up and dance. Their wishes were granted by the end of the show, literally jumping out of their seats to dance to closing song "Found Me." "Thank you Vancouver," were Proulx's last words into the mic before the brand quickly exited the stage as the crowd started the chant for an encore. Speculation erupted from almost instantly — "It's gotta be "Show Me How" right? It's just gotta be!"
Much to the crowd's relief, after the customary applause and cheers the band reemerged in a puff of smoke and red light to perform their most beloved single, "Show Me How" — it was expected, yes, but the grins that plastered every face felt earned.