Men I Trust Brought Their Signature Chill and Dreamy Sound to The Windy City
by Jada Jackson
Canadian indie rock band, Men I Trust, made a name for themselves in the bedroom pop scene when their song "Show Me How," became a viral hit in 2018. This success propelled them into the spotlight, and with the release of their third album, Oncle Jazz, they introduced Emmanuelle Proulx (aka Emma) as the band's lead vocalist. Her dreamy, soulful voice has since become synonymous with their sound. This year brought two new albums from the band, Equus Caballus and Equus Asinus, along with a headlining North American tour.
For their stop in Chicago at the Huntington Bank Pavilion earlier this month on Aug. 6, the cult-favorite indie band reminded the audience why they've earned such devotion, with more than eight million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The night kicked off with a satisfying opening act from the South African duo Strongboi, whose set included jazzy tracks like "Honey Thighs," "Fool Around" (a cover of a song by Ponderosa Twins Plus One) and even an unreleased track.
(Photo credit: Jada Jackson)
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When Men I Trust took to the stage, they opened with the breezy dream-pop song "To Ease You" from their album, Equus Caballus. As they transitioned into their next song, "Come Back Down," the synth-heavy track was a delight to the ears, with Jessy Caron taking the lead with a melodic guitar solo, backed by Proulx, who joined in for string support. Standout performances from this tour stop included "Hard To See", which was even more captivating live, as the psychedelic shoegaze track became transcendent with Dragos Chiriac on the keyboard.
(Photo credit: Jada Jackson)
The performance of "Serenade of Water" was another enticing moment of the set, with its ambient-heavy sound perfectly evoking the sensation of being wrapped in the cool embrace of the ocean. Towards the middle of their set, the band performed a medley mix of some of their well-known tracks from earlier works, including songs like "Oncle Jazz," "Norton Commander," "Lauren" and "Numb." Upon wrapping up their melody mix, Proulx addressed the audience with a subtle laugh, saying, "I always tell the same boring story," going on to explain that Chicago was the first place, years ago, where they sold out a venue—a milestone that makes the city and its fans especially close to her heart.
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As the first chords of "Show Me How" began to play, we could feel the energy shift in the audience, as if this was the moment everyone had been patiently waiting for. The singing voices of the crowd began to blend seamlessly with Proulx's clear, poignant vocals. Played live, the track sounded almost identical to the studio version—only more hauntingly beautiful.
After close to two hours of performing, their Chicago set concluded with "Billie Toppy," a moody yet upbeat track featuring a guitar backing reminiscent of iconic post-punk bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division. As the final notes faded and they left the stage, we were left with one thought: "This is a performance I'm glad I didn't miss."
For more on our thoughts on great live music, click HERE to read our review of Henry Morris in L.A., and post-show interview.