At this point, just about everyone has heard of Angine de Poitrine. Even if the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, chances are you’ve seen the unmistakable spotted duo somewhere online. The Canadian pair are undeniably having a big moment right now; although they’ve been active since 2019, their recent surge in popularity has turned them into a must-see live spectacle.
The Electric Ballroom filled quickly, with fans eager to secure the best spots possible. Opening the night were fellow Canadians Yoo Doo Right, whose shoegaze and krautrock-inspired sound proved to be an excellent start to the evening. Their set relied heavily on atmosphere and gradual tension-building, with Justin Cober’s guitar work and vocals standing out in particular. The trio’s ability to balance restraint and release made for a compelling performance, and anticipation in the room became palpable as rumours spread that Jack White was watching the proceedings from the balcony.
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Soon after, the familiar spotted drum kit was wheeled to the front and the black-and-white polka dot backdrop appeared. Smoke filled the room to the sound of Les Charbonniers de l’enfer as Khn and Klek de Poitrine were greeted by a thunderous reception. Dressed in their signature costumes – Khn wielding his iconic double-neck guitar-bass hybrid and Klek sporting the unmistakable dangling proboscis – the duo launched into “Angor,” and any assumption that the crowd would remain restrained vanished completely.
The audience erupted into chaos akin to a metal show. A circle pit opened almost immediately as crowd surfers appeared from every direction, absorbed in the duo’s alien, math-rock frenzy. What makes Angine de Poitrine so fascinating live is how effortlessly they turn absurdity into a genuine felt experience. By the time they reached “Mata Zyklek” midway through the set, the room had descended into glorious disorder. “Sarniezz” and “Fabienk” drew some of the loudest reactions, but the standout moment was the beautifully atonal “Sherpa,” which served as a perfect closer—spiralling into total sonic collapse under flashing red lights.
There’s no question that the hype surrounding the band is justified. Their live show is essential to fully understanding their project, as Klek and Khn display incredible chemistry through precision looping and constant “dialogue” with the audience via exaggerated physical comedy. Every bizarre movement and strange vocal exchange only pulled the crowd in further.
Some argue that the duo’s popularity is driven more by aesthetics and gimmickry than by the music itself, but here, the visual identity and the music feel inseparable. The absurdity enhances the experience rather than distracting from it. More importantly, bands like this inject much-needed unpredictability into an often overly serious musical landscape. Not everything needs to be solemn or intellectualised to be meaningful; in a world that frequently feels incomprehensible, there’s something refreshing about music that embraces nonsense while still making people feel genuinely connected.
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Header image by Constantin Monfilliette
Angine de Poitrine: official | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
Yoo Doo Right: official | facebook | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
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