Nelly brought a career-spanning party to Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on August 26 as part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, packing more than two decades of hits into a fast-moving set.

DJ Trife got things started with the Derrty Entertainment logo filling the big screens, then quickly brought out the headliner with little buildup. Nelly opened with “Where the Party At,” the Jagged Edge collaboration that launched straight into a run of familiar tracks. “E.I.,” “Air Force Ones,” “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” and “Batter Up” arrived early, with music video clips playing behind him and keeping the show firmly rooted in the era that made him a household name.

The Country Grammar material landed particularly well. Nelly performed the album’s title track with an added beat switch. The set also moved through his later musical evolution. A country-leaning stretch included “Hey Porsche,” “Cruise,” and “Lil Bit,” showing the range of an artist who has spent years crossing between hip-hop, pop, R&B, and country. He continued jumping through his catalogue with tracks such as “Pimp Juice,” “Grillz,” and “Move That Body.”

The biggest singalongs came near the end. “Hot In Herre” turned the Freedom Mobile Arch into a full-on party, followed by a phone-lit performance of “Dilemma.” Nelly closed with “Just a Dream,” ending the show abruptly after roughly an hour with no encore.

The short runtime may have left some fans wanting more, but the crowd still got what they came for: a greatest-hits-heavy celebration of an artist whose music has reached multiple generations.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

NELLY

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

The Beaches have a knack for making a concert feel like hanging out with your funniest friends. Their August 25 stop at the Freedom Mobile Arch, part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, was no exception.

Before The Beaches even took the stage, they paid tribute to Dolly Parton, who sadly passed away earlier that day. A photo of Parton was displayed on the venue’s big screen, while an extra microphone stand sat onstage with a white cowboy hat resting on top. Dolly’s music played through the venue before the show, making the tribute feel like a quiet but fitting send-off from one group of musicians to another.

This was my third time seeing the Toronto rockers in the past year, with the most recent being their set at All Things Go Toronto earlier this summer. Somehow, they still manage to make every show feel fresh. The songs are catchy, the musicianship is tight, and the banter is half the fun.

Frontwoman Jordan Miller has a natural way of connecting with a crowd. She jokes about relationships, asks for stories from the audience and turns the space into something that feels more like group therapy than a standard rock show. Before “Did I Say Too Much,” Leandra joked that she invited her ex to go to Whistler while they were in Vancouver, shaking her head in shame as the crowd laughed.

The night got a fun surprise when the cast of Off Campus joined the band on stage. A nod to their song “Edge of the Earth” that went viral on social media after appearing on the show.

Of course, “Blame Brett” remained one of the biggest moments of the night. Miller’s invitation to blame the exes was met with a massive response, turning the song into a full-room singalong.

The four members are just as comfortable showing off their musical chops. Kylie Miller and Leandra Earl traded guitar work throughout the set, with the solos during “Can I Call You in the Morning?” standing out.

Three shows in, I still easily understand the appeal. The Beaches know how to write songs people want to sing, but they know how to put on a show, too. At the PNE, they delivered another fun and entertaining night.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

THE BEACHES

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer