Men I Trust gave the fans what they wanted in 2025, not only with the release of two new albums—Equus Asinus in March and Equus Caballus in May, but also with a dreamy hometown show in Montreal on December 18th. Across the MTELUS Centre, the crowd was united in buzzing anticipation mixed with a subtle sense of local pride beneath the excitement.

The band started the show with their opening track, “To Ease You” from Equus Caballus; its comforting refrain—“we’ll be just fine”—cast a sense of collective warmth over the venue. Lead singer, Emmanuelle Proulx, gave a brief but heartfelt acknowledgement to the Montreal audience. The crowd then settled into the familiar calm of “Sugar.” As choreographed spotlights slowly circulated the room during the chorus, the intimate atmosphere and sense of togetherness were further reinforced.

“Another Stone” marked a shift in the evening’s emotional register. Its hypnotic guitar riffs
and ambiguous lyrics made way for a more introspective phase of the set, amplified by
spectral smoke and atmospheric lighting that made the band drift in and out of view onstage. Their live debut of “I Come With Mud” quieted the crowd, drawing full attention to the song’s contemplative and bittersweet qualities. Its earthy, roots-inflected guitar—both grounding and slightly disorienting—combined with airy, hushed vocals, guided the audience into a trance-like state.

Following this more vulnerable and meditative stretch, the band shifted gears with playful
snippets and segues between “Oncle Jazz,” “Norton Commander,” “Hard to Let Go,”
“Numb,” “Lauren,” and “Oh Dove.” While it seemed the crowd was eager for more of each track, this medley of familiar favorites was dynamic and energizing. By compressing these well-loved tracks, the band leaned into a sense of trust in the audience’s familiarity with their catalog, prioritising momentum while still acknowledging nostalgia. A standout moment came during “All Night,” when guitarist Jessy Caron’s solo drew audible admiration from the crowd. The main set closed with the springy and more fast-paced songs “Tailwhip” and “Say Can You Hear,” as the audience’s mellow swaying gave way to bouncier footwork, twirls and spins, leaving the room in a radiant post-set glow.

As the band left the stage and the lights dimmed, few people moved. Applause and cheers
lingered until Men I Trust returned to offer three additional songs, including “Show Me
How” and “Worn Down.” The final track, “Billie Toppy”, leaned into its soft grunge-rock rhythm; its abrupt ending evoked an eruption of cheers from the crowd and left everyone wanting more. When the lights came up, the trance was broken, but the warmth and shared energy of the night hung in the air.

– By Keira Grossman