Concerts Reviews
Arkells Close Out Vancouver City Takeover With Explosive Commodore Set
Canadian rock band Arkells wrapped up the Vancouver stop of its “Between Us City Takeovers” run on May 9 with a packed show at Commodore Ballroom. After two smaller warm-up gigs earlier in the week at The Penthouse and Hollywood Theatre, the band landed in the sweet spot Saturday night: a legendary venue large enough for a full-on singalong, but still intimate enough to feel personal.
The evening opened with a set from Ernesto Trombodo, a trombone-playing DJ who quickly won over the early crowd with a loose, energetic performance that leaned into funk, indie rock, and a bit of playful chaos.
Arkells walked onstage to deafening cheers and wasted no time getting things moving. Frontman Max Kerman has built a reputation as one of Canada’s most engaging live performers, and he spent nearly the entire night in motion, dancing across the stage, climbing onto the stage set up, and constantly interacting with fans near the barricade. Even after nearly two decades as a band, Arkells still perform like they’re trying to win over every person in the room for the first time.
The show itself was split into two acts. The first half featured Between Us performed front to back, giving the band space to fully settle into the newer material before launching into a second set packed with fan favourites and older hits. It was a smart format that made the night feel more like an event than a standard tour stop.
Their energy has always been their secret weapon. The songs themselves are straightforward: big hooks, driving rhythms, choruses built for crowds to shout back. Live, though, they hit differently. At the Commodore, tracks like “Boss,” “Leather Jacket,” and “Knocking” became massive communal moments. Nearly every lyric echoed back toward the stage from the sold-out crowd.
The concert was technically in support of the band’s latest album, Between Us, but it never felt like one of those shows where fans politely tolerate the new material while waiting for the hits. Kerman recently explained that smaller and mid-sized venues give new songs space to grow naturally before they move into arenas and festival fields, and that idea made sense watching these tracks unfold live.
The newer material carries a noticeable ‘90s-pop-rock influence, with heavier keyboards and polished grooves that feel a little like vintage Hall & Oates filtered through modern indie rock. Onstage, though, the songs still carried the same punch and warmth Arkells fans expect.
One of the most interesting things about this mini-tour was the stripped-down setup. Arkells often tour with additional musicians and their Northern Soul Horns, particularly for festival appearances, but this run was just the core five members: Kerman, guitarist Mike DeAngelis, bassist Nick Dika, drummer Tim Oxford, and keyboardist Anthony Carone.
The leaner lineup worked in the Commodore’s favour. Without the extra layers, the songs felt more immediate and rough around the edges. There was a looseness to the performance that made the night feel less choreographed and more spontaneous. Kerman joked several times between songs, told stories about the band’s early Vancouver shows, and kept the atmosphere relaxed.
At one point, he reflected on how many stories the Commodore’s walls would be able to tell with the amount of times they played there. The crowd laughed, but it tied perfectly into the spirit of the City Takeovers concept: revisiting the kinds of venues that shaped the band long before arena headlining slots and festival crowds became normal.
That connection between band and audience defined the night. Arkells have never been a cool-from-a-distance type of rock band. Their shows thrive on participation. Fans danced constantly on the Commodore’s famous sprung floor, strangers screamed lyrics together, and phones popped up every few minutes as Kerman (and once accompanied by Ernesto Trombodo) wandered through the crowd during several songs.
By the final stretch of the set, “Leather Jacket” tipped the room into celebration mode. “Leather Jacket.” The night closed with Kerman standing near the side tables of the Commodore with just his guitar, leading the crowd through a massive a cappella singalong.
What made this show stand out wasn’t massive production or elaborate visuals. There were no fireworks, giant video screens, or over-produced transitions. Arkells relied entirely on chemistry, songwriting, crowd connection, and great music.
For a band that now headlines arenas and major festivals across Canada, these smaller “City Takeovers” could have easily felt like a nostalgia exercise. Instead, the Vancouver finale felt fresh and purposeful. Arkells weren’t just revisiting old rooms for sentimental reasons. They were reminding people why they became one of the country’s most reliable live bands in the first place.
And judging by the volume inside the Commodore Ballroom on Saturday night, Vancouver was very happy to welcome them back.
Arkells will be back in Vancouver on July 7 at the new PNE Amphitheatre for the FIFA Fan Festival.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ARKELLS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger