Men I Trust brought their Equus tour to Alabang’s Filinvest Tent on Feb. 1, delivering a polished 20-song set that drew heavily from their recent albums.

The Canadian indie band returned after winning hearts when they first took the stage at Wanderland Music and Arts Festival in 2023. This time, they have their first local headline show to celebrate the launch of their two new albums, Equus Asinus and Equus Caballus.

Men I Trust opened with “To Ease You” and moved through a mix of fan favorites and album tracks. “Sugar” and “Ring of Past” generated the loudest responses early in the set, and “Serenade of Water” also drew significant cheers midway through the performance.

One of the set’s highlights was a medley that combined six songs, including “Oncle Jazz,” “Numb,” and “Lauren.” The seamless transitions between tracks showed their catalog’s cohesive sound.

Later in the evening, “Seven,” “Tailwhip,” and “Show Me How” each prompted strong crowd reactions.

There was minimal stage banter as the band focused on musical execution, and their performance was supported by gorgeous yet subtle lighting.

Men I Trust’s sound relies on clean guitar tones, precise rhythms, and Emmanuelle Proulx’s understated vocal delivery. The band maintained this aesthetic throughout the performance, with each member contributing to the group’s signature refined and dreamy sound.

Before the encore, Emma called the Manila crowd “the best,” adding that they do not say it every night. The audience clearly had fun, and people dancing and swaying to the beat or singing out loud is already a performance in itself.

Men I Trust closed with “Worn Down” and “Billie Toppy,” the latter receiving one of the loudest cheers of the night. It was a fitting end to a show that proved the band’s approach translates well to live performance. The Manila crowd clearly came knowing what to expect, and Men I Trust delivered exactly that.

Men I Trust – Equus Tour 2026 is presented by Karpos Live
A live music experience by KARPOS

Photos by Yobhel Valenzuela