Downtown Phoenix was lit up on Saturday night when alternative indie-pop band Men I Trust brought their Equus North American Tour to the Valley on August 23. Fans gathered at Arizona Financial Theater for an evening of the band’s signature lo-fi melodies. Opening act Strongboi provided smooth rhythms that set the tone for a dreamy night of music.
Couples, friends, and spontaneous concertgoers made up the diverse crowd, including many who were attending their first Men I Trust show. For some, the night was a carefully planned date. “I know she really liked them, so I bought the tickets just at the last minute,” said Mariah Pineda, who attended with her partner, Erika. “It’s a cute little date night,” Erika said, adding that she has been listening to the band since 2020. Both described the music as “calm but full of energy” noting that Strongboi’s opening songs had them hooked from the start.
Other attendees came to the concert on a whim. Tiffany Minton and Jessica Fike Saldaña, co-workers who bought tickets spontaneously in their work parking lot, said they were chasing “vibes” more than a specific song. “It’s very creative, very flowy,” Jessica explained, describing the band’s sound as “jazz but not jazz… almost like a lullaby.” Tiffany laughed about sharing a car ride with Jessica for the first time, joking that she wouldn’t survive another long car trip together, but admitted the shared experience made the night special.
For Mars Sandoval and Luis Ortega, the night was about music and kinship. Sandoval and Ortega both scored free tickets, but the experience was priceless. “It made it nice because I get to be with my favorite person ever!” Mars said, “The music just adds to it. It’s calm but uplifting.” Luis agreed, appreciating how the crowd’s occasional cheers broke up the softness in between sets.
“Calm” was the word that surfaced again and again throughout the night. Fans highlighted how Men I Trust’s music stands apart from other artists by offering a sense of relaxation rather than overwhelming energy. “It’s so calm, but yet you get so much energy from it,” Erika explained.
From the shimmering lights to the laid-back fashion of the crowd, the Phoenix stop of the Equus Tour felt more like an intimate gathering than a massive show. While some fans admitted they weren’t die-hard listeners before Saturday, many left with plans to replay the setlist at home or even buy tickets to future shows.
’Men I Trust’s’ gentle soundscapes and Strongboi’s quirky opening act made the night one of easy listening, warmth, and connection, a reminder that, sometimes, the best concerts can have a moment of quiet energy shared between the band, crowd, and community.
