Concerts Reviews
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour Hits All the Right Notes in Vancouver
I snagged my ticket for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour the moment they went on sale, knowing they’d sell out in no time. As an older millennial, I hadn’t fully connected with Billie’s earlier albums, but I decided to take the leap and get tickets before hearing her new record, and spoiler alert: it was worth every penny! I also appreciated how the ticketing process was handled by her and her team, limiting resale to Ticketmaster’s Face Value Ticket Exchange. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it kept prices somewhat grounded, which is rare these days.
Walking into Rogers Arena, I felt the buzz of anticipation. Fans, many in Billie’s signature oversized looks or jerseys and adorning the colour blue (Vancouver’s dress code for the night), filled the space, creating a sea of individuality that felt very on-brand for her. The stage setup was striking: a rectangular stage in the middle of the arena, complete with orchestra-like pits and space for general admission fans to crowd around. This setup gave the performance an intimate yet grand feeling.
The setlist was very much on point. Of course, Billie played the heavy-hitters like “bad guy,” “Happier Than Ever,” and “Birds of a Feather,” but what thrilled me most were the deep cuts. I was delighted when she sang “Skinny.” Billie also divided the show into distinct “sets” that shifted moods beautifully. From bass-thumping anthems that had everyone jumping to haunting piano ballads that left us in awe, the transitions were seamless.
The visuals were nothing short of mind-blowing. Lasers pierced through the fog, their neon green and fiery red beams creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Between the pulsating bass and the flashing lights, it felt like a full-body experience. Pyrotechnics added even more drama, especially during songs like “bury a friend.” And let’s not forget the massive LED cage that descended at key moments, transforming the stage into a visual playground.
One of the most powerful moments of the night was Billie’s spin on the “mute challenge,” popularized by Beyoncé. During “when the party’s over,” she asked for absolute silence to layer her live vocals. Incredibly, the crowd complied, with only a few whispers of love breaking the quiet. You could even hear the hum of the arena’s air system. It was an eerie yet beautiful moment that showcased the respect Billie commands from her fans.
During her set, she shared something that made her performance even more impressive: she had battled laryngitis in the weeks leading up to the show and could barely talk. You wouldn’t have guessed it though, as her voice was flawless, and her signature breath control left the crowd in awe. She also took a moment to share how happy she was to be back in Vancouver, marveling at the city’s beauty and reminiscing about visiting with her choir group when she was younger.
Throughout the night, Billie proved her versatility. She bounded across the stage like a force of nature, hyping up the crowd during “Therefore I Am” and “Guess,” then brought us to tears with her soul-baring performance of “What Was I Made For?” Her ability to go from soft vulnerability to hard-hitting power was nothing short of mesmerizing.
It’s hard to sum up an evening like this. Billie Eilish isn’t just a performer—she’s a creator of experiences. The Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour lived up to its name, delivering moments that were both tender and electrifying. As the final notes of “Birds of a Feather/BLUE” echoed through the arena, I knew Billie had made me a believer.
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: LP Brings ‘All Is Not Lost’ Tour to Vancouver
On September 5, multi platinum singer-songwriter LP brought the All Is Not Lost Tour to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, delivering a performance that moved effortlessly between vulnerability, power, and pure rock-and-roll energy. The night also carried a special significance: the tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of Lost on You, the record that helped transform LP from a respected songwriter into a global phenomenon.
Known professionally as LP, Laura Pergolizzi has spent years carving out a space that is uniquely their own. Before becoming internationally recognized as a recording artist, LP established themselves as a songwriter for major artists including Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, and Celine Dion. Their own breakthrough came with “Lost on You,” which went to No. 1 in 18 countries and eventually surpassed one billion Spotify streams.
Inside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, LP’s music felt much more immediate. Their unmistakable voice moved from restrained and intimate to explosive within moments, giving songs such as “Muddy Waters,” “The One That You Love,” and “Lost on You” a sense of urgency that is difficult to recreate outside of a live setting.
The evening’s setlist reflected both sides of LP’s career. The first part moved through newer material and familiar favourites, including “Shelly,” “Tokyo Sunrise,” “Love Is All I Have,” and “Chasing & Waiting.” Later, the performance shifted toward the Lost on You celebration, bringing some of LP’s most recognizable songs into the spotlight.
It was the kind of moment that makes a concert feel bigger than the room. The song that introduced LP’s voice to millions became a shared experience between artist and audience, with the theatre singing along to every familiar line. After nearly a decade of the song living its own life around the world, hearing it performed in a packed Vancouver theatre gave it a renewed sense of intimacy.
From behind the camera, there was another layer to the experience. Photographing LP meant constantly watching for the moments between the obvious ones. The dramatic poses and powerful vocals naturally create striking frames, but some of the strongest images came from the quieter details, the concentration before a verse, a hand wrapped around the microphone, a fleeting expression beneath the stage lights.
LP is an artist who gives a photographer plenty to work with. Their movement across the stage feels instinctive rather than choreographed, and their performance style carries the same unpredictability as their voice. One moment can feel completely still; the next can explode into movement.
That contrast became one of the defining visual elements of the Vancouver show. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre also suited the performance. Rather than feeling distant or oversized, the venue allowed the audience to remain close to the emotional centre of the show. LP could command the room without having to overwhelm it.
There was also a sense of celebration throughout the night. Ten years after Lost on You, LP is still performing the songs that changed the trajectory of their career while continuing to introduce audiences to what’s next. The tour combines material from the upcoming album with a special presentation of Lost on You in its entirety, making the show feel like both a look backward and a step forward.
That balance is what made the Vancouver performance so compelling. LP isn’t simply revisiting an old record. They are showing how those songs have evolved with them and how they continue to resonate with an audience that has grown alongside their music.
By the final moments of the night, the feeling in the theatre was less like watching an artist celebrate an anniversary and more like witnessing a career still in motion.
For me, photographing LP in Vancouver was an opportunity to capture that evolution in real time: the voice, the movement, the vulnerability, and the electricity that has made LP such a distinctive live performer.
Ten years after Lost on You, the LP still has something to say and judging by the way Vancouver listened, people are still more than willing to hear it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
LP
All Photo Credit: Raphael Arthur
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Icons Deep Purple & Kansas Bring A Legendary Celebratory Night of Surprises To Abbotsford’s Rogers Forum
I don’t say this lightly, but both Deep Purple and Kansas absolutely put on a hell of a show. Since 1968, Deep Purple have basically been the godfathers of live rock performance. Don’t believe me? Go look up their Guinness World Record for “loudest concert,” which they snagged back in 1972. That same energy, that same wall of sound, made the trip across five decades and landed right here for the band’s headlining North American tour stop in Abbotsford. Original drummer Ian Paice is still holding it down, now joined by guitarist Simon McBride, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Don Airey, and vocalist Ian Gillan. Sure, only one original member remains, but somehow the whole group still nails the spirit of what made Deep Purple, well, Deep Purple.
They tore through 16 tracks that night. “Smoke on the Water” got the loudest reaction of the evening, no surprise there. “Diablo” and “Perfect Strangers” also landed big, and “Highway Star” kicked the whole thing off on an absolute high. And when I say the crowd was into it, I mean it. Fans who’ve followed this band for almost fifty years were pressed right up against the barrier trying to get as close as possible. That closeness paid off too, with an incredible light show and Simon McBride ripping through solo after solo. Honestly, McBride was the highlight more than once, stepping up so Gillan could catch his breath between songs. Given how much those vocals demand, that rest was more than earned.
Like I said, “Smoke on the Water” was the main event for Abbotsford. It’s one thing to describe it, but actually watching the buildup, seeing the bandmates grinning at each other because they knew exactly what was coming, that was priceless. Then those notes kicked in. You know the ones. Every Guitar Center employee’s nightmare. The whole arena became one voice, singing along to a guitar riff like it was a chorus. It was the moment of the night, the kind of thing every rock fan dreams about experiencing live. That wave of energy carried all the way through to the final song, “Hush.” If you were a millennial who spent way too much time on Guitar Hero 2, hearing this one live gave you full goosebumps. This was the band’s first big hit back in 1968, and in 2026 it still hits just as hard. The crowd treated it like more than an encore. It felt like everyone in that room knew they might not get another chance to see Deep Purple live, and they soaked in every second of it. When the house lights finally came up, Abbotsford just stood there in awe. Deep Purple‘s legendary status was on full display, and nobody in that crowd wanted the night to end.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
DEEP PURPLE
KANSAS
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno