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Concerts Reviews

Joy, Solidarity, and Rubber Duckies: Anees’ Unforgettable Night in Vancouver

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Words by Sean Skibb – Photos by Kelli Rothwell

There are some shows that don’t feel like concerts so much as they feel like gatherings. Like moments of pure, unfiltered joy shared among strangers who, for one night, felt like family. That was the atmosphere at the Vogue Theatre on Friday night in Vancouver where Anees took the stage to deliver a performance rooted in love. Love of self, love of others, and love for the journey that brings us to who we are. It was less of a setlist and more of a sermon, filled with laughter, vulnerability, and the occasional freestyle. The crowd, entirely diverse in age, race, and gender,  felt more like an extension of his character than just admirers of it, mirroring the proud sincerity Anees brings to the stage.

The setlist unexpectedly opened with a blistering and tone-setting guitar solo from Oggy, Anees’ guitarist, whose energy stole the show in many moments, including a heartwarming pause mid-concert for Anees to bring out a birthday cake for him, freestyling a birthday verse while Oggy took a full-faced bite straight out of the top. That blend of talent and playfulness was the tone of the evening, most hilariously captured in the flurry of rubber duckies Anees tossed into the crowd. “There’s just something about rubber duckies that makes an adult feel like a kid again,” he said, a point that was later proven to me as I witnessed a full-body dive across the floor just to catch one.

While not the focus of the night, there was a deeper current that couldn’t be ignored. Anees, of proud Palestinian-Lebanese heritage, has been vocal about his roots and unwavering in his solidarity, most recently with a feature on Macklemore’s “HINDS HALL 2,” a protest anthem supporting Palestinian liberation, the proceeds of which went to UNRWA. Though this wasn’t a night explicitly political in tone, signs of solidarity were everywhere. Keffiyehs on shoulders, embroidered dresses in the crowd, and, in the final moments, Mohammed Assaf’s “Dammi Falastini” ringing through the venue. As soon as the beat dropped, the remaining crowd broke into Dabke, the traditional Levantine dance, quickly joined by Anees himself, who re-emerged from backstage to dance with the crowd.

To distill the atmosphere Anees brought to the Vogue Theatre into one word, it was “life”, and the celebration of it. From the guitar-solo laden beginning, to the Dabke-dancing end, Anees’ message rang loud and clear: No matter the hardship, the pain and strife, there is an undeniable beauty to life. It should be celebrated, cherished, and shared with everyone in this world for the simple reason that everyone deserves it. Everyone.

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

All Photo Credit : Kelli Rothwell

Concerts Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Halestorm in Buenos Aires: A Mountain of Hard Rock

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Halestorm Buenos Aires 01

Halestorm, the hard rock band hailing from Pennsylvania returned to Argentina after a decade to launch their latest studio album, titled Everest. The event took place this past March 29 at the Teatro Gran Rivadavia in Buenos Aires.

The night began calmly; the audience trickled in slowly, likely due to the numbered seating, which encouraged many to enter at the last minute. However, as always, the most die-hard fans were inside the theater early. From that same section, and in the absence of a support band, a group of fans spontaneously began singing several of the band’s choruses in unison, delivering impressive vocal performances.

Halestorm in Buenos Aires – Photo by Tute Delacroix

At 9:00 PM, with surgical precision, the first to appear on stage was Arejay Hale (drums), followed by Josh Smith (bass) and Joe Hottinger (guitar). Finally, the frontwoman, singer, guitarist, and keyboardist, Lzzy Hale, made her entrance.

They chose to open with their 2009 debut single, “I Get Off.” They followed up with two more classics, “Love Bites (So Do I)” and “I Miss The Misery.” After these three tracks, it was clear that both the band and the audience were ready to give it their all.

Halestorm continued the set with “Watch Out!” from their latest album, followed by “Black Vultures” from the Vicious LP. Once finished, Lzzy addressed the crowd to recall the band’s participation in the 2025 Black Sabbath tribute in Birmingham. She asked the audience to raise their hands with the classic “metal horns” in memory of Ozzy Osbourne, leading into a cover of “Perry Mason.”

Halestorm in Buenos Aires – Photo by Tute Delacroix

After a massive round of applause, the Americans continued presenting tracks from their new album with “Shiver.” Then—with a dedication from Lzzy to the women in the house—they played “Like a Woman Can,” closing the trio of new songs with “I Gave You Everything.”

At the midpoint of the concert, Lzzy took the mic to sing a fragment of “Familiar Taste of Poison,” showcasing her incredible range and clean high notes, before seamlessly transitioning into “Rain Your Blood On Me.” This highlighted her grittier, “broken” vocal style, proving her immense versatility as a singer.

After a brief break for the rest of the band, Arejay Hale took the spotlight for a drum solo that included his signature giant sticks. The band then returned for “Back From The Dead” and “Wicked Ways.”

Halestorm in Buenos Aires – Photo by Tute Delacroix

The set continued with “K-I-L-L-I-N-G” and “Uncomfortable.” True to the song’s title, the beginning of the latter was the only moment where Lzzy seemed slightly “uncomfortable,” possibly due to a sound issue or a brief memory lapse with the lyrics—nothing serious, and it was resolved within seconds. They closed the main set with the title track of their new album, “Everest.”

After a few minutes of the crowd chanting for more, the band returned with “Freak Like Me,” a true anthem that had the “Freaks” (as the fans are called) jumping in unison. To wind down the night, they opted for “Fallen Star” and the ballad “Here’s To Us,” during which Lzzy Hale donned the Argentine national jersey with Lionel Messi’s number 10.

Halestorm in Buenos Aires – Photo by Tute Delacroix

Thus, Halestorm concluded their third visit to Argentina, delivering a solid, polished, and high-energy show with top-tier sound. They gave their all to both long-time fans and the many new ones in attendance. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another 10 years to see them again.

Words by Martin Cervetto
Photos by Tute Delacroix (@tutedelacroix)

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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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