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Concerts Reviews

Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour Hits All the Right Notes in Vancouver

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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

LØLØ Brings her ‘God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour’ to the Pearl in Vancouver

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LOLO-Vancouver-Jason-6

LØLØ brought her second headlining tour – aptly named “God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour” – to Vancouver this week, a first for the Canada-born artist. We’ve been a fan since we first heard “Death Wish” back in 2021, which seems like it was yesterday, and we aren’t going to overthink that right now. That being said, we’ve been waiting a long time for this night, and what a show!

We’ve been frequenting The Pearl more and more lately, and like so many others this show was sold out and packed wall-to-wall. There was a small mob for the first opener of the night, Dawson Gamble, and the floor was packed by the time Con the Artist took the stage. When LØLØ appeared, it was all plaid miniskirts and devil horns from the stage to the merch booth.

When the lights went down, LØLØ’s voice boomed over the speakers, narrating excerpts from a journal. LØLØ is not a choreographed, over-polished pop princess. Like so many artists that grew their audience from nothing, she does her best to connect with individuals in the audience. She takes her time, holds their hands, and during one memorable song, brings them on stage to dance.

“I think that people don’t want perfection,” she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “They just want to see a live show and a special moment.”

LØLØ was very upfront about her adventures online, finding her voice, and time spent during COVID, and from the vibe you have to assume the audience had been there with her the entire time. From “The Floor is Lava” to “Faceplant,” all the hits were covered and sung along to. Speaking of which…

Must Hear Songs by LØLØ (In Our Humble Opinion):

• “death wish” (Single, 2021)

• “Hot Girls in Hell” (falling for robots, 2023)

• “u turn me on (but you give me depression)” (falling for robots, 2023)

• “Let It Go” (A Whole New Sound (Disney), 2024)

Fun fact: LØLØ was featured on a 2024 Disney punk album alongside Simple Plan, Magnolia Park, and Yellow Card, to name a few iconic bands. Check out her version of “Let It Go” from “Frozen.” It’s unexpected and a lot of fun.

LØLØ ‘s first moment of viral fame was her cover of “Hey There Delilah,” updated and sung from Delilah’s perspective. Pulling Con the Artist back on stage for a duet gave the crowd a wonderful, heartfelt moment that was honestly quite touching. Not everyone’s favorite song, but a lovely moment for everyone in the audience.

LØLØ, with several incredible songs in her library and with a stack of “Warped Tour” appearances already in the books, seems poised to breakthrough to the next level. She’s electric on stage, and animated, and we can only dream of the day she is given more space to play. Until then, another highlight concert of 2026, and something to think about until her next visit!

LØLØ Setlist:

• the devil wears converse

• pretty little wreck

• god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!

• THE FLOOR IS LAVA!

• debbie downer

• me with no shirt on

• the punisher

• 2 of us

• u turn me on (but u give me depression)

• faceplant

• Hey There Delilah

• death wish

• delusional darling

• junkie

• DON’T!

• dumbest girl in the world

• wish i was a robot

• hot girls in hell

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us and for checking out our review!

LØLØ

All Photo Credit: Jason Martin

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Concerts Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Bring Me the Horizon Lights Up Ottawa

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Bring Me The Horizon in Ottawa

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, October 2 2026

Three bands, three very different flavours of heavy, and not a dull stretch in the night. From the opening notes of the first set to the last drop of confetti, this was a show that gave fans their money’s worth.

The Plot in You

The Plot in You had the job of waking up the room, and they did it by leaning on their biggest strength: the vocalist, Landon Tewers. He has a remarkable range, and what stood out most was how smoothly he moved between two completely different modes. One moment he was unleashing deep, guttural screams that hit like a wall of sound. The next he dropped into soft, melodic passages.

That contrast gave the set its shape. Instead of staying at full volume the whole time, the band let the quiet moments breathe, which made the heavy parts land harder. It was an impressive showing from an opener, and a good reminder that this is a band with real dynamic range.

Motionless in White

Motionless in White brought a different energy: dark, theatrical, and confident. With such an extensive discography, they had plenty of material to choose from, and the set felt like a well-curated tour through their career. Longtime fans had something to sing along to, and newcomers got a clear picture of what the band is about.

The look matched the sound too with the bassist and guitarist wearing creepy makeup and masks, which gave the stage a horror-movie atmosphere. It added to the show without ever pulling focus from the music, and it made them fun to watch even from the back of the room.

Bring Me the Horizon

Then it was time for one of the biggest rock acts in the world: Bring Me the Horizon. From the start, frontman Oli Sykes controlled the room. He wasn’t just performing at the crowd; he was directing it. He demanded circle pits and crowd surfing, and the floor responded. Pits opened up, bodies went over the barricade, and the whole arena never sat still.

The production was enormous. Fire, smoke, confetti, fireworks, and lasers were all deployed throughout the night, and none of it felt like a gimmick. Each effect was timed to hit at the right moment, amplifying the biggest drops and choruses. The backdrops and visuals were just as impressive, giving the stage a cinematic, almost apocalyptic feel that changed with the mood of each song.

One of the most striking moments came during “Shadow Moses,” when Oli brought out a flare. With the red glow cutting through the smoke and the crowd roaring the song back at him, it was one of those images that sticks in your memory long after the lights come up.

A young man was brought on stage to sing “Pray for Plagues,” a tradition the band has kept up at every show on this tour. After the fire, noise, and spectacle, it reminded everyone that this massive production still has room for a fan to share the spotlight.

Through all of it, the pacing was excellent. From their well known hit “Can You Feel My Heart” to their more recent “Darkside, the band balanced intense, high-energy stretches with moments that let the crowd catch its breath, and Oli kept the connection with the audience alive the whole way through.

This was a complete night of heavy music: a strong opener with a standout vocalist, a theatrical and razor-sharp middle act, and a headliner that treated the show like a full-scale production without losing the raw energy at its core. Loud, spectacular, and a whole lot of fun.

Head here for information on the rest of the tour.

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

BRING ME THE HORIZON

MOTIONLESS IN WHITE

THE PLOT IN YOU

All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport

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