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Chaos and Charm: Viagra Boys Light Up a Sold-Out MTELUS in Montreal
With support from Bodega, this post-punk double bill delivered energy, humor, and sweaty mosh pits to a packed house.
Montreal, QC – On a charged night at MTELUS, fans of post-punk got more than their money’s worth with a killer double bill featuring New York’s Bodega and Sweden’s genre-defying Viagra Boys. The show was completely sold out, and for good reason — both bands brought raw energy, originality, and unforgettable stage presence to the historic Montreal venue.
Bodega Open with a Cinematic Twist on Post-Punk
Brooklyn’s own Bodega kicked things off with a set that felt like stepping into the soundtrack of an early 2000s indie film. Their upbeat, tight performance was visually and sonically unique. Vocalist Nikki Belfiglio took center stage — literally — not only handling vocals but also tapping a single cymbal, while drummer Adam Shumski played standing up without cymbals, creating a minimal yet punchy rhythm section.
Their instrumental choices and playful energy were a refreshing change from traditional setups, and their sound — somewhere between spoken-word punk and jangly dance rock — was easy to digest but hard to forget. Having seen them at FME 2024 in Rouyn-Noranda, it’s safe to say they’ve kept their charm intact and sharpened their live performance.
Viagra Boys Deliver Chaos, Sweat, and Punk Weirdness
When Viagra Boys hit the stage, MTELUS erupted. The Swedish post-punk band is known for blending bizarre, tongue-in-cheek lyrics with relentless grooves, and they delivered one of the wildest sets Montreal has seen all year. Frontman Sebastian Murphy commanded attention, bouncing across the stage, leaning into the crowd, and feeding off the room’s frenetic energy.
Crowd surfers, mosh pits, and spontaneous dancing broke out almost instantly — the whole venue turned into a chaotic, joyful mess. The band’s music somehow channels the punk absurdity of NOFX while still appealing to indie fans who might follow Cage the Elephant. It’s this strange crossover appeal that packed the venue with one of the most eclectic crowds you’ll find in Montreal — punks, hipsters, metalheads, and everyone in between.
Closing
If you were lucky enough to be at Viagra Boys at MTELUS, you know this wasn’t just another concert — it was an experience. Between Bodega’s art-punk charm and the headliner’s full-throttle chaos, this night proved that post-punk is alive, weird, and thriving in Montreal.
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