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