Concerts Reviews
Conan Gray Turns Bridgeport Into a Wishbone Dreamland
On Friday, September 19, 2025, the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport transformed into Conan Gray’s whimsical playground for the only New England stop of his Wishbone Pajama Show tour. The sold-out crowd arrived ready, many dressed in pajamas or sailor suits to match the tour’s theme. Some fans swapped friendship bracelets, while others passed around handwritten notes to be delivered to Gray. The energy was buzzing long before the show began, with the amphitheater erupting into singalongs to pre-show playlist staples like ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?”
The evening opened with hemlocke springs, the project of Isimeme Naomi Udu. Her mix of 80s-inspired synths, 2000s pop sparkle, and the occasional emo-rock edge made for a charismatic half-hour. She even teased a few unreleased tracks, which had the audience leaning in.
At 9 p.m., the lights dimmed and the screams reached their peak. Conan Gray appeared riding a red Schwinn bike, pedaling across the stage before hopping off to grab a microphone out of a mailbox marked with “Bridgeport” and the night’s date. Backed by his band in sailor suits, Gray launched into “My World,” the first track of a night carefully structured into four themed acts.
The staging was ambitious for an amphitheater show. Act I, “a wishbone never breaks even,” featured a rustic set complete with a windmill and wheat fields, framing songs like “Never Ending Song” and “Wish You Were Sober” as moments of nostalgia and longing. By Act II, “i got the short end of the stick,” Gray changed into shimmering pajamas while a giant bed and clouds floated across the stage. Songs like “Class Clown” and “The Cut That Always Bleeds” leaned into intimacy, with the crowd often singing louder than the performer.
Though Gray doesn’t rely on heavy banter, he has a knack for making fans feel seen. That connection was clearest during Act III, “i took the long way to realization,” when he pulled out the tour’s signature ritual: breaking a wishbone to determine the surprise song. Former NFL player Carl Nassib joined him on stage to help with the pull. The wishbone split perfectly down the middle, leaving Gray to laugh at the coincidence before choosing to debut “Care” live. That moment, sandwiched between heartfelt renditions of “Romeo” and a haunting extended version of “Heather,” stood out as the night’s highlight.
The final act, “i wished for love, and I found it,” leaned into pure pop. For “Actor” and “Maniac,” Gray and his band stretching the intros and savoring the chaos. “Vodka Cranberry” closed the main set with confetti cannons and a sea of phones lighting up the amphitheater.
Gray returned for a two-song encore, delivering “Memories” and “Caramel” with just enough sweetness to balance the night’s theatrical highs.
Conan Gray has come a long way from his YouTube beginnings. With Wishbone, his fourth album, he’s leaned into big staging and narrative-driven concerts without losing the intimate, confessional spirit that made fans fall for him in the first place.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
September 22 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Live
September 24 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
September 26 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
September 28 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
September 29 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
October 1 West Valley City, UT Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 3 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
October 4 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
October 6 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
October 16 Mexico City, MX Palacio de los Deportes
October 17 Guadalajara, MX Auditorio Telmex
October 19 Monterrey, MX Auditorio Banamex
More information here.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CONAN GRAY
All Photo Credit: Sophia Riseman
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: David Lee Roth Brings the Party to Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre
Some artists play a concert. David Lee Roth puts on a show.
The legendary Van Halen frontman took over Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre on July 13 for nearly two and a half hours of classic rock, storytelling, and larger-than-life personality. From the moment he stepped on stage, it was obvious Vancouver still holds a special place in his heart. Throughout the night, he reminisced about recording here over the years and shared fond memories of his time at the Nelson Place Hotel, where, judging by the grin on his face, he had more than a few unforgettable nights.
If you’ve ever seen Diamond Dave, you know the music is only part of the experience.
Roth’s storytelling was in peak form, with tales between songs that seemed to wander wherever his brain felt like taking them. The longest detour of the night eventually landed on “Ice Cream Man,” with Roth picking up an acoustic guitar and easing into the Van Halen classic. Moments like that are exactly why he’s never been just a singer; he’s a showman through and through, and the crowd was loving every minute of it.
At one point, Roth referred to himself as “35 years old… times two,” and honestly, the man has enough energy to make people half his age question their cardio. He powered through almost two and a half hours with barely a pause, constantly moving across the stage with his signature Muppet-like swagger, dramatic poses and facial expression, and even a limbo under his microphone stand just because… he’s David Lee Roth. As a self-proclaimed “paper cup of whiskey,” Roth couldn’t have described himself more perfectly: a little rough around the edges, endlessly charismatic, and impossible not to enjoy.
The setlist delivered exactly what Vancouver came to hear, with Van Halen classics including “Panama,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Jump,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” One of the evening’s standout moments came during “Unchained,” where Roth busted out a harmonica solo, adding his own twist to one of the band’s heaviest anthems.
The crowd was all in from the opening song, singing every chorus back to the stage, cheering between stories, even telling Roth to “gimme a break” when the time came (iykyk). While his voice doesn’t quite reach the same sky-high notes it did in the ’80s, that hardly mattered. Rather than chasing perfection, Roth leaned into what has always made him such a captivating performer: personality, humour, spontaneity, and an undeniable love for being on stage. You could genuinely feel how much fun he was having, and that enthusiasm spread through the theatre.
His backing band kept the iconic songs sounding tight and full of energy, while the backup vocalists were an absolute highlight of the night. They were impossible not to watch, dancing through every song, interacting with each other, and laughing along with Roth‘s antics. The moment one of the backing vocalists sauntered across the stage to jump behind another set of synth keys, you knew the crowd was about to be transported straight into synth heaven. Their chemistry with one another and with Roth added another layer of excitement to an already lively performance, making the stage feel alive from start to finish.
With plenty of videos from earlier stops on the tour circulating online, Vancouver’s performance felt like one of the strongest of the run. Roth looked relaxed, sounded confident, and seemed genuinely excited to be back in a city that’s clearly been an important part of his career. Whether it was the hometown memories, the electric crowd, or simply one of those nights where everything clicked, the show had an extra spark that carried through from start to finish
David Lee Roth may not sound exactly like he did four decades ago, and honestly, that’s okay. What hasn’t changed is his ability to command a stage, make thousands of people smile, and turn a concert into a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll party. For diehard Van Halen fans, it was a chance to relive the classics. For everyone else, it was a reminder that great songs are one thing, but a true showman knows how to make them unforgettable.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full glallery!
DAVID LEE ROTH IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A$AP Rocky’s Tour Finale Brings Out 50 Cent, Ice Spice, and the A$AP Mob
Coming off the hype of his long-awaited fourth studio album Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky has been turning up shows and electrifying audiences across major venues in North America. On Saturday, he was performing at the Prudential Center, which is near his hometown of New York. Eager fans packed into the venue, greeted by a warning on the big screen that read, “Please be advised that this performance includes SWAT performers and strobe effects. Enjoy the show!” The message felt direct yet somewhat chilling.
When the moment finally arrived, A$AP Rocky stormed onto the general admission floor accompanied by police officers and masked bodyguards sporting AWGE tactical gear. Unlike most concerts, this one kicked off in the middle of the crowd. When he shouted, “Open that shit up!” the crowd erupted, and all hell broke loose.
As fans piled in to get as close as possible to the rapper, the once-spacious venue transformed into a massive mosh pit. It was organized chaos, much to A$AP‘s delight, as he seemed to feed off their energy, a true ringleader in the mayhem. Most rappers wouldn’t dare start a show this way for obvious safety reasons. But not A$AP, he enjoys being right in the middle of the action.
Performing some of the more energetic songs from his new album, like “Helicopter” and “Order of Protection,” he danced, jumped, and pushed back against the crowd. This felt like a special show, as the hometown kid finally got to celebrate with his New York and New Jersey fans.
Joining him for this event were several special guests, including Ice Spice, Uncle Murda, 50 Cent, Skilla Baby, and various members of the A$AP Mob, blessing the crowd with favorites like “Deli,” “Many Men,” and “Thick One.” With this final show, Rocky concluded his United States and Canada run of the Don’t Be Dumb tour with a banger. We can only look forward to more surprises and epic moments as he takes the show to Europe. Rocky will be taking no prisoners as he embarks on this extended leg. I just hope those fans heed the warning and come ready to turn up with the mob.
Check out our favorite photos of the show below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
A$AP ROCKY
All Photo Credit: Anthony Grant