MidWxst
One of many things I love about a good opener is when they know how to bring the exact hype the audience needs. MIDWXST definitely proved that to Montreal’s tightly packed MTelus.
His MC set the mood with an array of popular tracks, hyping up the crowd with perfectly executed transitions. The crowd sang along and danced until MidWxst walked on stage, accompanied by bright flashing lights and speakers blasting the intro to his opening song “Star.”
MidWxst danced and jumped along to his tracks, keeping the crowd’s energy high. Mosh pits quickly began to form for pretty much every song on his set. This was clearly appreciated by MidWxst, who offered words of encouragement and guidance to the moshers.
MidWxst was such an appropriate opener for Amine. He kept a really good flow of energy with his bass-heavy songs and striking visuals displayed on the screen behind him. After a performance like that, the crowd was certainly ready for the main event of the night.
Aminé
Once again, another MC took the stage and got the crowd bumping to well-known tracks, encouraging everyone to dance and sing along as they waited for Aminé to present himself to his Montreal fanbase.
The venue filled with cheering once smoke shot up from the edges of the stage, cueing Aminé to present himself. He opened up his set with “Mad Funny Freestyle”, a track off his latest record “TWOPOINTFIVE”. The audience wasted no time at all, instantaneously dancing and moshing along to essentially every track on Amine’s calculated setlist.
He continued on with songs like “RACHET SATURN GIRL”, “NEO” and “SHINE”, all of which drove the crowd in the right direction for a good time. The shining coloured lights and visuals, that were personalized for each song, helped make it a true party.
The floor was packed so full that there was no way you weren’t going to be far inside someone else’s bubble. No one seemed to care though, they were all far too busy singing every lyric to each song and dancing along with those around them. Everyone was respectful despite being packed tightly like sardines, everyone’s attention was focused on the performance and just having a good time, which always helps a show be so much more enjoyable.
Aminé took a second to mention that it was his first time performing in Montreal and told the crowd how pleased he was to see so many people in the venue, all there to listen to his music and enjoy themselves. He really looked like he was having fun, dancing around the stage and complimenting the crowd’s behaviours. Needless to say, Amine’s first Montreal show was so far from disappointing, and surely he’ll return for any future tours.
He continued the night with tracks such as “Yellow”, “Riri”, “Campfire”, and “REDMERCEDES”. He had even treated the crowd to a quick Spice Girls cover, “Wannabe”, after playing his own “Spice Girls.”
Just before finishing his set, Aminé told the crowd that the pair of pants he is wearing are called his “Tour Pants”, which he proudly wears every night of his tour. He explains that he brings someone up from the crowd to sign them, and he plans on showing his future grandchildren the pants covered in signatures. “I’ll have proof that I was the shit!” he exclaimed as he held still while someone pulled from the pit scribbled their signature on the Tour Pants.
Aminé’s performance exceeded my expectations. There was never a dull moment and everywhere I looked, the people surrounding me were just flat out having fun, smiling ear to ear as they shouted every lyric along with Aminé. If you missed his first performance in Montreal, be sure to hit the next one and experience the fun and good vibes for yourself.
Review – Jamie Siddall
Photos – Isabelle Oleksiuk
