Concerts Reviews
From Tears to “Barbie Girl”: Aqua Lights Up Vancouver
The Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver looked more like a neon-lit time capsule Friday night as Aqua kicked off the first date of their Canadian tour. A sold-out crowd filled the historic room to see a band that hold so many memories. It was a reunion with the late-’90s dance-pop group that defined an era of glitter, Euro beats, and tongue-in-cheek bubblegum.
Before the strobes, the pulsing bass, and the candy-coated anthems, the show opened quietly with “Aquarius.” Lene Nystrøm walked onstage with her husband, Søren Rasted, seated at the piano. No beats. No giant cartoon visuals. Just her voice. She was visibly emotional as she sang the night’s first notes, her expression wavering between a smile and tears. It was a striking way to begin: the woman who once sang “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic” starting the night bare and vulnerable.
That didn’t last long, though. By the time René Dif bounded onto the stage for “Back to the 80’s,” the vibe flipped from tender to explosive. Dif, part frontman and part hype man, made it his mission to keep the room moving. He sprinted from side to side, threw high-fives, and at one point went in the crowd to take selfies with fans. If Nystrøm brought the heart, Dif brought the chaos. Together, they were unstoppable.
The setlist was a greatest-hits candy bag, balanced with some deep cuts for the diehards. After easing in, the group hit their early stride with “Around the World” and “My Oh My.” By then, people were dancing in the aisles. Ushers didn’t even bother asking them to back to their seats. The Orpheum had turned into a Eurodance club.
“Turn Back Time” was one of the night’s most powerful moments. Stripped back, it showed just how well Aqua could step outside their usual bounce and deliver something soulful. The darker mood carried into “My Mamma Said,” where Nystrøm’s voice soared over minimal instrumentation, drawing one of the loudest ovations of the night.
Of course, Aqua knew their audience came for the big, sugary hits. “Doctor Jones” brought a chorus of thousands shouting along to the “Doctor Jones, wake up now!” hook. “Cartoon Heroes” turned the theatre into a technicolor singalong, with Dif hamming it up like a Saturday morning cartoon villain. And yes, “Barbie Girl” arrived late in the main set, phones going up instantly. Twenty-eight years after its release, it still works.
One unexpected twist came during René’s mid-show DJ set, which acted as a bridge while the rest of the band caught their breath. It wasn’t long, just enough to keep the energy high, but it showed how seamlessly Aqua has adapted their late-’90s sound to the EDM-heavy landscape of today.
The encore sealed the deal. After “Lollipop (Candyman),” the band closed with “Roses Are Red,” their very first single. It was a perfect full-circle moment, showing that Aqua is a band with history and the kind of staying power most ’90s acts could only dream of.
Between songs, both Nystrøm and Dif shared their gratitude. They recalled playing Vancouver just last summer as part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts and spoke warmly about how Canada has always supported them.
Not everything worked perfectly. The AI-generated graphics displayed on the massive screen behind them felt out of place, like filler from a metaverse startup rather than a pop band with their own distinct visual identity.
Aqua’s story is often reduced to “Barbie Girl” and its kitsch factor, but this show made clear that their impact runs deeper. They’ve sold over 38 million albums worldwide, racked up a billion YouTube views, and last year earned Grammy nominations thanks to their collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice. They are not a nostalgia act desperately milking one song. They’re still a global force, and their Vancouver return proved it. If this is how Aqua starts their Canadian tour, the rest of the country is in for a wild ride.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/09 Edmonton, AB
09/10 Edmonton, AB
09/12 Calgary, AB
09/15 Saskatoon, SK
09/16 Winnipeg, MB
09/19 Toronto, ON
09/20 Ottawa, ON
09/22 Moncton, NB
09/24 Pickering, ON
09/26 Windsor, ON
09/27 Hamilton, ON
09/28 Kitchener, ON
More info on their website.
AQUA
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger