Qulture Magazine

Words: Tony Quilietti

Photos: Simon Wootton

Men Without Hats, a group of indubitable masters of the synthesizer, emerged from the vibrant and audacious Quebec New Wave scene of the late 1970s, propelled into the global spotlight through their intricate and eclectic electronic compositions. They garnered immense international acclaim in the year of 1982, with their endearing and iconic global hit, ‘Safety Dance.’

This unforgettable melody, as recounted by the illustrious frontman Ivan Doroschuk, was conceived following an incident where he found himself unceremoniously expelled from a Canadian nightclub after exuberantly pogoing to the infectious rhythms of a French punk ensemble. Now, 43 years on, they graced the stage at the revered La Belle Angele. The march of time appears to have spared the physicality of these audacious gentlemen; they remain an active and exhilarating presence, throughout the gig.

‘Safety Dance’ served as both their first song and as a recurring anthem – not once, but twice. The initial rendition of ‘Safety Dance’ electrified and invigorated the audience, casting them into a fervent state of electro-induced gyration- both at the commencement and conclusion of the first set. However, in a bold and arguably audacious choice, the decision was made to resurrect ‘Safety Dance’ for a third time during the encore, eliciting a collective sigh from the audience; while the first two performances were undeniably magnificent, the repetition felt somewhat excessive and indulgent. In addition to their celebrated hits, Men Without Hats ventured into surprising and eclectic covers, with unexpected renditions of ‘SOS’ by ABBA and the iconic ‘2000 Light Years from Home’ by the legendary Rolling Stones. Each song burst forth into the crowd with the raw vitality of Frankenstein’s monster, embodying a refreshing creativity. Undeniably iconic, it’s clear that the men have defied the passage of time; it has not dulled them but rather rendered them even more grizzled and vivacious.

Supporting Men Without Hats was Transmission Suite, a Scottish musical collective, drawing heavily upon the sonic influences of the legendary New Order and the iconic Pet Shop Boys to craft their distinctive and exuberant manifestation of synth-laden, pleasure-infused electro-pop. The room, charged with an electrifying ambiance, became their stage as the charismatic vocalist delivered a performance reminiscent of Tim Burgess; his vocal range resonated with an ethereal quality, and the enthralled audience swayed in a field of psychedelic fluff.

Amidst the set, their new song Saint Blue, was an undeniably highlight, a kaleidoscopic anthem like the Stone Roses’ “Fool’s Gold”. While Transmission Suite lacked the same captivating and magnetic charisma of their successors later in the night, they undeniably compensated for it with an excess of talent. This year, they released their debut album, titled ‘Resonate,’ which has been met with considerable praise and admiration from both critics and aficionados alike. Their performance was characterized by an impeccable tightness, meticulously measured precision, and an authentic synthetic quality, they undeniably established themselves as a formidable and electrifying opening act.