Quebec duo Angine de Poitrine made their UK debut at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, delivering a hypnotic and harebrained performance that fully lived up to the hype. The band, known for their polka dot outfits and bizarre masks, played to a sold-out crowd eager to witness the phenomenon firsthand.
A Visual Spectacle
The duo's stage presence is as outlandish as their music. Double-necked guitarist and bassist Khn de Poitrine wears a giant upside-down pyramid head with a long Pinocchio nose, while drummer Klek de Poitrine sports an oversized head reminiscent of Monty Python's Black Knight, complete with a flailing proboscis and a tiny gold pyramid on top. The stage, drum kit, merchandise, and even fans are adorned in polka dots, with some attendees replicating Klek's gold pyramids.
Musical Mayhem
Angine de Poitrine's music is a weirdly hypnotic blend of math rock, prog rock, punk, jerky rhythms, microtonal loops, and intricate guitar work. Song titles like Sarniezz and Utzp hint at their playful approach. At times, they erupt into extraterrestrial hard rock, with mechanical "wooo" sounds and alien-like gurgles replacing conventional vocals.
Why It Works
Despite the complex musicianship required to produce such tight sounds—especially while wearing those costumes—the key to their success is pure, unadulterated fun. During the show, band and audience exchanged pyramid hand gestures as mutual thanks, and everyone bounced in perfect unison. The epic track Sherpa whipped the crowd into a frenzied climax, leaving attendees grinning with "a tiny pyramid in their heart."
This first UK gig was completely sold out, as are several larger shows this autumn. The duo, who formed in 2019 but have jammed together longer, went viral earlier this year after a US radio station posted a video of them at a French festival. Their UK tour continues, with a date at London's Electric Ballroom on 11 May.
