Jungle @ MTelus

For two sold-out nights this week, Jungle had a zoo of people on their feet. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the first night at the beloved MTelus.

Upon arriving, I was immediately engulfed by the pure excitement and anticipation. I felt the happiness radiating off others and saw smiles and laughter everywhere. It was contagious, and I was not complaining.

I do have a confession to make, and I’m ashamed to admit it: This was my first exposure to Jungle. However, I found myself dancing and having the time of my life just as much as everyone else around me.

As I finally made my way past the lineup at the merch booth, I was overwhelmed with how packed it was. The crowd was not very far away from the bar at this point. Friend groups were anxiously awaiting the first song of the night from Jungle. I seemed to have arrived just after the opener, unfortunately.

Judging by the atmosphere already, I knew opening act Paul Cherry did a stellar job at creating energy and anticipation for the night.

I made it my mission to get myself as far as I could to the front of the stage. I was definitely up for the challenge.

I pretty much just had to play a real-life game of Tetris because people were practically rooted to the ground beneath them. Before I knew it, I found a small opening and made it all the way to the second row, just as the music started. Screams and cheers erupted around me, and the lights dimmed. I knew then this was going to be a night to remember.

The intro to the opening number, “Keep Moving” reminded me of the old THX movie commercial from the 2000’s. I’m not sure if it was on purpose, however I personally loved it. Everyone around me knew every single word, and the crowd was just as loud as singers Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland sounded on stage. I was reminded of my last time at MTelus where I saw Metric, where the crowd was equally loud.

Blending modern R&B sounds with an Indie-Funk twist, I couldn’t help but dance all night long. The lights were dimly lit, which created an intimate atmosphere that wasn’t too intense or heavy. This is something I normally wouldn’t be a fan of at a concert; however, it totally fits the atmosphere Jungle envisioned.

Next up on the setlist was fan favourite “All of The Time”…two hit songs back to back! I was blown away by my experience already. This song made me feel particular hints of Cage the Elephant and Jamiroquai mixed with just the right amount of stringed instruments. I would have never envisioned those sounds together before, and I’m so happy they exist together within Jungle.

There wasn’t a single song performed where I felt the energy start to fade. Not even for a second, it was that easy to dance and feel carefree to their music.

Everybody around me knew every word of the whole set. The atmosphere was almost therapeutic, the way Jungle can affect and heal so many people with music is magical. I was blown away and reminded once again of the power of music, especially witnessing it live.

My favourite song of the night would have definitely been “Casio.” It’s that kind of beat that just gets stuck in your head in the best ways. Every time I hear it, I can’t resist the urge to do a little dance, no matter where I am. Everybody was dancing in unison to this song. I even saw a security guard bopping his head a little bit.

Unfortunately, the night soon came to an end as the encore neared. It consisted of 4 well-loved songs, “Fire,” “What Do You Know,” “Time,” and lastly, “Busy Earnin’,” which had fans satisfied for life.

I have a feeling everyone is going to remember this moment for years to come. I was even fortunate enough to catch a drumstick used for the show that night, which I will cherish forever.

Thank you Jungle!