Concerts Reviews
Cigarettes After Sex at Rogers Arena in Vancouver – Live Review

On Sept. 27, 2024, Cigarettes After Sex brought their new headline world tour X’s World Tour to Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. The show was led by Greg Gonzalez — the founder of the El Paso dream pop trio. Gonzalez, a jack of all trades, is also a producer of their music, alongside being the lead vocalist, electric and acoustic guitarist. Joining him were Jacob Tomsky on drums and Randall Miller on bass.

While doors opened at 6:00 PM, the show didn’t start until 9:00 PM. Strangely, there was widespread confusion among the concertgoers about the concert beginning at 8:00 PM, leaving many fans visibly confused when their assumed start time came and went. Similar to their past tours, Cigarettes After Sex did not have an opener for the show, instead playing a series of songs alongside graphics and music videos. This established the first step of the calming vibe of the rest of the concert.
The show was mostly seated, with those in the occasional fan standing at their seats for a few short songs in addition to the half-empty pit. The energy of the crowd was a reflection of the dream-like nature of the performances — serene and introspective. Interestingly, there was a clear dress code that visibly fell into place without pre-planning; all-black attire. Throughout the venue, there were countless wearers of leather jackets and Doc Martens. Funnily enough, these outfits matched perfectly with that of the performers’. For once, I felt right at home with my all-black concert photographer attire.

“I’ve missed you, Vancouver! It’s so good to be back,” lead vocalist Greg Gonzalez stated shortly after the show began. The crowd full of over 15,000 attendees cheered loudly to the few comments Gonzalez made sparingly throughout the show but otherwise stayed rather quiet. The energy seemed to noticeably increase as songs such as “Cry,” “Sweet,” “Sunsetz,” “K.,” and “Apocalyse” were played.
The show lasted for just over 80 minutes. The musical skill of the artists was undeniable and flawless. The voice of the lead singer, known for his unique and androgynous sound, echoed through the arena, establishing a soothing, emotional vibe. It was impressive how the band was able to make an arena of over 15,000 feel like an intimate space. All the songs sounded uncannily similar to that of the recorded version, which is both surreal to hear and somewhat disappointing for those who expected more. The stage design was extremely minimal, with 3 large screens behind the artists alternating between a solid coloured background, black and white displays of the respective artists, or a simple nature video. The use of lighting design was the only use of fancy stage production — from vertical light beams forming pillars around the stage to shimmering disco balls. Coupled with the lack of fan interaction and talking in between songs, it was evident that this concert was simply a place for fans to enjoy music.

The lead vocalist interacted with fans more towards the end of the show by walking closer to the fans in the barricade to hand away guitar picks to those who could reach them. It was sweet how he never threw the guitar picks, choosing to gently pass them hand-to-hand, which was touching to watch. The band also exchanged some other trinkets with the crowd near the barricade, such as Tomsky’s drum sticks, Miller’s guitar picks, the show setlist printed on a piece of paper, and some gifts from fans. Besides this, most of the concert went without fan interaction. There was very little verbal communication from the band to the fans, with only one short introduction to the next song by Gonzalez. This helped create a sense of mysteriousness, but also confusion in newer fans.

Cigarettes After Sex in Vancouver, BC was overall a pretty good show. While some may be disappointed with the lack of production and fancy performances, many fans understand that this exact mysteriousness is what the band is known for and what makes them so loved. It’s amazing to see how much the band has grown since spontaneously recording their first EP in a four-story stairway at Gonzalez’s alma mater in 2008. I, for one, can’t wait to see what other music they put out in the future.
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All Photo Credit: Olivia Yu
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
