The "Fake" Angine de Poitrine Russian Tour Was Actually Just a Birthday Gag
That "fake" Angine de Poitrine Russian tour? Turns out it was just a hilarious local birthday gag. Get the real story behind Moscow's Urin de Potrin.
June 12, 2026 — Following widespread headlines earlier this week regarding a fraudulent version of the Québécois math rock duo touring Russia, representatives for the event have reached out to clarify the situation. It turns out the "imposter" tour was actually a one-time tribute act.
UPDATE: The "Fake" Angine de Poitrine Russian Tour Was Actually Just a Birthday Gag
The initial confusion stemmed from an Exclaim! feature where Angine de Poitrine’s art director, Sam Murdock, claimed a copycat group was capitalizing on the band's distinct polka-dot and papier-mâché aesthetic. Murdock noted at the time, "There’s a fake [version of the] band touring Russia already... and they just have a one-neck guitar."
However, management from Moscow's Escapist bar has confirmed to Stereogum that the performance was merely a harmless, non-commercial celebration for the venue's birthday.
"It was all just a fun joke," an Escapist representative stated. "Entry was free, and the bar made no commercial profit from it—especially since producing costumes like these is not exactly cheap."
The one-off parody supergroup—playfully dubbed Urin de Potrin—featured local musicians from the bands Hadn Dadn, Shajjm Orchestra, and Dyw Dyw Dyw who learned the material specifically for the party.
Escapist confirmed that "Urin de Potrin has no future plans," putting to rest any rumors of a competing international tour. Rather than a malicious identity theft scheme, the event was closer to a local band dressing up as KISS for a Halloween party.
While the Russian lookalikes have officially disbanded, the real Angine de Poitrine is about to launch a massive six-month world tour beginning next week.
Tags: #AnginedePoitrine #UrindePotrin #Moscow #MusicNews
(09/06/2026)
Internet music sensations Angine de Poitrine have become the targets of an audacious impersonation scheme, with a fraudulent lookalike group currently staging live concerts across Russia under the Canadian duo's name.
The real Angine de Poitrine, a masked microtonal duo that exploded in popularity earlier this year, has confirmed that the unauthorized clone group is using their exact stage costumes and visual branding to deceive ticket buyers.
The One-Neck Guitar Giveaway
Because the authentic Canadian musicians perform behind identity-concealing masks, the perpetrators of the hoax managed to replicate the band's aesthetic. However, the copycat act overlooked a critical piece of the duo's signature setup: their instrument.
While the real Angine de Poitrine is defined by a highly unique, custom twin-necked beast of a guitar, footage emerging from the Moscow performances shows the impersonators using a standard, single-necked eight-string guitar.
Furthermore, online fans have noted a significant decline in musical quality, with onlookers describing the Russian performances as a "Temu version" of the intricate, viral act.
The Viral Rise of Angine de Poitrine
The targeted identity theft follows an unprecedented wave of global success for the group in 2026. A live session on the influential radio station KEXP launched the duo into mainstream consciousness in February, racking up more than 15 million views in a matter of months and earning public endorsements from major rock figures, including Dave Grohl.
The potential for further deception may increase in the coming months. Instrument manufacturer Eastwood Guitars recently announced the commercial release of an Angine-coded microtonal double-neck guitar—originally developed during a failed signature collaboration—making the distinct instrument commercially accessible to lookalikes.
Official Tour Routing Confirmed
Management for the group has urged fans to consult official primary ticketing sources to avoid fraudulent events. Representatives verified that Angine de Poitrine has no scheduled dates in Russia.
The real duo is currently under contract for an international tour, hitting the following regions through the end of Q4 2026:
- Canada: Ongoing summer dates
- Europe: Scheduled for October 2026
- United States: Scheduled for November through December 2026
#Angine de Poitrine
