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Concerts Reviews

Dance, Kid, Dance with Shinedown in Sacramento: A Live Review!

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One of America’s premier rock bands made a stop on their Dance, Kid, Dance tour in Sacramento, California, and it was an epic night of music. Shinedown has been serenading crowds worldwide for more than 20 years and truly puts on one of the best shows that anyone can go to. Last night at Golden 1 Center in Downtown Sac was no different and was easily one of the best shows the arena has ever seen!

Morgan Wade @ Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on August 5, 2025

The night started with the sweet and sultry voice of rising Country star Morgan Wade singing “High In Your Apartment”, a track off her recent re-release album The Party Is Over. Wade has an amazing life story that resonates well with her music and the audience. It was a beautiful sight to see the crowd sing along with her throughout her seven song set. It’s not often that the seats fill as much as they did as early as they did for Wade’s set, but there was something about her that made people wade through the Sacramento-area traffic to get there early enough to see her put on a rocking performance. Her set included many of her best songs, including “Roses,” “The Night,” and a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.” After seeing Wade open for Shinedown in an arena, there is no doubt she will fill her own arenas in just a couple of years. She truly is someone to watch in the Country genre. 

Bush @ Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on August 5, 2025

British rockers Bush took the stage next. Gavin Rossdale, Chris Traynor, Corey Britz, and Nik Hughes all know how to make a crowd feel special. With over 30 years in the industry, Bush is constantly taking themselves to the next level, with each performance seemingly better than the last. Bush’s night opened with the lead-off track from their new album, I Beat Loneliness, “Scars.” Even though the album is only a few weeks old, that didn’t stop the Northern California crowd from singing along with Rossdale. Rossdale also made it a point to make sure every person in the audience had the opportunity to get up close and personal with him. Whether it was going from side to side on the stage, journeying to every corner of the catwalk, or even going into the crowd multiple times, Sacramento sure got a piece of him. The rest of the night for Bush consisted of hit after hit after hit. The set’s climax was a solo performance of perhaps the band’s most famous track, “Glycerine.” It was the perfect warm-up before Shinedown took the stage, and everyone is going to want to catch Bush again wherever they end up playing next in California. 

Shinedown @ Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on August 5, 2025

Finally, the moment that the crowd had all been waiting for. With a little doodle from a television-headed mascot hyping the crowd up, Brent Smith and company took the stage. When the fireworks hit at the start of “Dance, Kid, Dance,” the energy in the room hit a high that didn’t come down until the final note rang at the end of the night. There was fire, pyro, and a whole hell of a lot of noise over the two hours that Shinedown played. The first half of the set included every song a Shinedown fan could want to hear and more, such as “Bully,” which was the first time they played it live in over three years, and “If You Only Knew,” which made the crowd sing along so loud that it was deafening. After some high-energy hard rock rang out, the emotional side of Shinedown started to come out. Before the band jumped into “Three Six Five,”Smith talked to the crowd about a relationship with death and gave a heartwarming tribute to those who we have lost. He also mentioned that one dollar from every ticket sold on the tour would benefit a charity called Musicians on Call, who donate their time going to hospitals and playing music for those who are sick. Over the next couple of songs, there was not a dry eye in the place. Zach Myers took the time about halfway through to express how happy he was at the crowd in Sacramento, saying that it was the best crowd he has ever played for in California. Most of the time when an artist says this, they say the same thing to every audience, but Zach truly meant this and even made a post on his Instagram reaffirming it. So, to every other California show that Shinedown has played, you have been beat. Overall, this was an exceptional show and proves again why Shinedown is one of the best rock bands in the world. 

The Dance, Kid, Dance tour has numerous stops left on this leg. If you get a chance to see Shinedown and company, do not miss it; it may just be one of the best shows you will ever see. 

Upcoming Tour Dates:
Thu Aug 07 | Portland, OR | Moda Center
Fri Aug 08 | Seattle, WA | Climate Pledge Arena
Mon Aug 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | Maverik Center
Tue Aug 12 | Denver, CO | Ball Arena
Fri Aug 15 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center
Sat Aug 16 | Rosemont, IL | Allstate Arena
Mon Aug 18 | Indianapolis, IN | Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Tue Aug 19 | Cleveland, OH | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Thu Aug 21 | Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center
Sat Aug 23 | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sun Aug 24 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena
Wed Aug 27 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center
Thu Aug 28 | Fort Worth, TX | Dickies Arena
Sat Aug 30 | Memphis, TN | FedExForum
More info on the tour here.

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

SHINEDOWN

BUSH

MORGAN WADE

All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger

Concerts Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Evan Honer Turns the Commodore Into a Living Room Singalong

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Evan Honer

On March 30, 2026, Commodore Ballroom felt less like a historic venue and more like someone’s packed house party with Evan Honer at the centre of it all.

The night opened with Sam Burchfield, whose warm, rootsy set eased the crowd in. His style leaned into folk and Southern textures, setting a tone that fit neatly with what was coming next.

Honer’s rise still feels a bit unreal when you line it up. A few years ago, he was balancing college life and Division I swimming. Then his cover of “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers exploded online, pulling in hundreds of millions of streams and flipping his life overnight. Fast forward to now, and he’s running his own label, recording out of a garage studio, and touring internationally with a catalogue that keeps growing.

That momentum showed up immediately on stage. Honer kicked off his set with a burst of energy (and yes, a backflip!) setting the tone for a night that bounced between chaos and quiet reflection. Backed by a 5-piece band, he moved easily between acoustic moments and full-band arrangements, switching guitars and moods easily.

A big part of the set leaned on his latest album, Everything I Wanted, which marks a shift in his sound. The Americana roots are still there, but there’s a stronger pull toward indie pop and mainstream country. Tracks like the title song turned into full-on crowd moments, with the audience shouting back every word.

What stood out most was how little it mattered whether a song was new or old. Fans knew everything. Tracks from West On I-10 landed just as loudly as newer material, and songs like “Foolin’ Ourselves” and “Too Far Gone” felt like staples rather than throwbacks.

Mid-set, Honer slowed things down and stripped it back. Alone on stage, he played “Brother” and “Mr. Meyers,” both heavy, personal songs. You could feel the room quiet. It’s a risky move in a high-energy set, but it paid off.

He didn’t let things stay heavy for long with “Jersey Giant.” It’s still the song that introduced him to a massive audience, and live, it feels like it belongs to both him and the crowd now.

The encore leaned unexpected, with a cover of “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy that somehow worked perfectly. Honer closed with “IDK Shit About Cars,” sending the room out on a high.

Beyond the music, the night carried a bit more weight. Honer has partnered with PLUS1, with $1 from every ticket supporting the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance. It’s a small detail, but it adds context to an artist who clearly thinks beyond the stage.

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

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 31 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox
April 1 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
April 3 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
April 4 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey Theatre 
April 5 – San Diego, Calif. @ The Observatory North Park
April 7 – Flagstaff, Ariz. @ Orpheum Theater
April 10 – Tucson, Ariz. @ La Rosa
April 11 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Van Buren
April 15 – Tulsa, Okla. @ Cain’s Ballroom
April 16 – Dallas, Texas @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
April 18 – Georgetown, Texas @ Two Step Inn
More information on Evan Honer’s website.

EVAN HONER

SAM BURCHFIELD

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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Concerts Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: The Goo Goo Dolls Deliver Nostalgic Hit-Filled Night at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg

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TheGooGooDolls@nischalgraphs-11

When I arrived at the Canada Life Centre right before doors opened for The Goo Goo Dolls headlining concert on Saturday night (March 28th), the scene outside already said everything about what this night meant. The general admission line had completely wrapped around the block, and people were already lining up hours before the show. By the time the doors opened, I could see the excitement in people’s eyes, and you could feel the energy building even before stepping inside. It makes sense, though. The Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a lot to the American rock songbook, and connected with millions of fans around the world over the years.

With Dashboard Confessional on the bill, the night started without any delays. At first, Chris Carrabba came out alone with his guitar and started singing, which gave the set a more intimate start. Then the rest of the band joined him, and once the full band was on stage and the lights came on, the entire band was seen performing with electrifying energy. They started with “The Best Deceptions” and “The Sharp Hint of New Tears,” followed by “Southbound” and “Sinking.” Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and people around me were talking about how incredible Chris sounded that night. The crowd was already warmed up by that point, singing along and reacting to every moment. They ended their set with all-time favorites like “Hands Down” and “Vindicated,” leaving the audience fully ready for the main act.

The Goo Good Dolls fans were so ready to sing with the band that day. Following the release of the Goo Goo Dolls’ 2025 EP, Summer Anthem, the band has been trending and it showed in the crowd’s reaction. They started with “Naked,” “Home,” followed by “Slide” which brought a wave of nostalgia. Few songs from Summer Anthem touched the hearts of audiences such as “Ocean,” “Run All Night,” and “Not Goodbye.” Things got little bit melodic when they played “Acoustic#3,” “Sympathy” and “Name”. With “Iris” dominating every social media post lately, it was refreshing to hear “Name”. During those songs, John shredded on his guitar and performed solos. The setlist jumped around quite a lot but whatever they did was the best. Later, “Better Days” followed by “Broadway” where they introduced the whole band. Everyone applauded and shouted when they introduced themselves. 

Before “Iris” started, everyone turned on their flashlights. It was marvelous to see thousands of flashlights waving throughout the arena. Everyone sang along and didn’t miss a single note. What a great way to end the Saturday night. The band and all the crowd truly seemed to be relishing at the Canada Life Centre. The set list was solid that night.  

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

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 30, 2026 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – GFL Memorial Gardens
April 1, 2026 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre
April 2, 2026 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum
April 4, 2026 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
April 6, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
April 8, 2026 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
April 10, 2026 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
April 11, 2026 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
April 18, 2026 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn 2026
May 15, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 16, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 20, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 22, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 23, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
More information here.

GOO GOO DOLLS

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

All Photo Credit: Nischal Karki

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