Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: 5 Seconds of Summer Turned Fame Into a Spectacle at Montreal’s Centre Bell
Over the past decade, 5 Seconds of Summer have accomplished something that many bands struggle to achieve: they’ve successfully evolved without losing the qualities that made fans fall in love with them in the first place. From their early 2000s days as energetic teenagers playing pop-rock anthems, their rise to fame opening for the world-renowned (ex) boyband One Direction, to their current status as seasoned musicians exploring increasingly experimental but captivating new sounds, the quartet consisting of lead singer Luke Hemmings, lead guitarist Michael Clifford, drummer Ashton Irwin and bassist Calum Hood, have proven their talent of continually reinventing themselves while maintaining an unmistakable identity.
On June 3, 2026, the Australian pop-rock band brought their “Everyone’s a Star” tour to Montreal’s Centre Bell, transforming the arena into a tongue-in-cheek celebration of fame, fandom, and the absurdity of life as a globally successful band. With the theme of the performance centred around the idea of the group’s “last show”, (premise that was obviously not true, since they’re on tour!), the show functioned as both a concert and a theatrical parody of celebrity culture, complete with award ceremonies, fan participation, and enough self-aware humour to keep the concept engaging and the audience laughing throughout the night.
First off, however, was an opening performance by The Band CAMINO, a rock band from Tennessee. Known for their hits such as “See Through” and “I Think I Like You”, the band did an excellent job of setting the tone for the night through their energetic set.
From the moment 5 Seconds of Summer stepped onstage, it was evident that the show was more than just a “get up, perform, and on to the next” type of show. The production presented an alternate reality in which 5 Seconds of Summer were navigating the final chapter of an impossibly glamorous career. Every “act”, as the band called it, of the show fed into that narrative, allowing the band to poke fun at their own success while celebrating the community that helped create it. These acts were Act 1: The Peak, Act 2: The Fall, Act 3: The Yearning, Act 4: The Breakup (the band member’s solo music was played here), Act 5: The Rise, Act 6: The Beginning, and finally, Act 7: The Return. To make the gag more believable, the band recorded fake news segments, fake controversies and fake interviews to bring fans even deeper into the world and narrative they created with this tour theme.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came during “Boyband,” when a VIP fan was invited onstage to present the band with an award. The ceremony played like a mock awards ceremony tribute, reinforcing the show’s satirical take on fame while simultaneously acknowledging the fans who have supported the band throughout their career. While “accepting” the award, the band took turns thanking different Canadian icons, with Michael Clifford thanking Celine Dion for “teaching us everything,” and lead-singer Luke Hemmings who yelled nothing but “SIMPLE PLAN!”
Another part of the show that earned a lot of laughs was when the band showed the crowd the way they “became a local” during their day in Montreal. They recounted how they visited Montreal’s Underground City, tried to find the best poutine, and even had Luke Hemmings try (badly, sorry!) to speak a few common French phrases.
The relationship between artist and audience was a recurring theme throughout the night, and another great example was during the surprise song segment, where fans voted for a surprise song out of 4 choices before the show started. The announcement of “Don’t Stop” sent the Centre Bell into a roar of cheers, and helped add a sense of uniqueness to each show when the setlist remains otherwise the same.
Another highlight came during Act 4, the section dedicated to the members’ solo work. Rather than presenting themselves solely as a collective, each member was given an opportunity to showcase material from their individual projects. These songs were “Starting Line” by Luke Hemmings, “Don’t Forget You Love Me” by Calum Hood, “Have U Found What Ur Looking For?” by Ashton Irwin, and, my personal favourite, “enough” by Michael Clifford. Although they are recognized as part of a band, it was inspiring to see how each member found their own identity, and didn’t let being part of the band solely define their music.
Musically, the band sounded confident and comfortable throughout the 27 song set. Elaborate lighting, dynamic video screens featuring 2000s graphics, and a unique stage setup featuring a car for Ashton Irwin’s drum kit elevated the show without distracting from the music itself, highlighted as well through the use of props like giant inflated balls, blow up dolls, and most notably, confetti during “Not OK,” “Bad Omens,” and their closer “Youngblood.”
Perhaps the most impressive achievement of “Everyone’s a Star” is how effectively it balances irony and sincerity. The tour openly mocks the conventions of celebrity culture, but beneath the jokes lies a genuine appreciation for the fans who have accompanied the band throughout its journey. As Michael Clifford said; “Real bands save fans, real fans save bands.”
If the goal of “Everyone’s a Star” was to make every audience member feel like part of the story, then Montreal’s June 3 performance succeeded spectacularly. From old hits like “She’s Kinda Hot” and “Youngblood,” to new songs like “Everyone’s A Star!” “Evolve” and “istillfeelthesame,” even casual fans had a song that met their taste. Equal parts concert, comedy, nostalgia trip, and love letter to the 5 Seconds of Summer fandom, it was a show that understood exactly what has kept 5 Seconds of Summer relevant for so long: not just great songs and a unique sound, but a genuine ability to make fans feel seen. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of starting your summer by screaming the lyrics to “She Looks So Perfect”!
Click here for more information on the tour and upcoming dates!
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
5 SECONDS OF SUMMER
THE BAND CAMINO
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: aespa Close North American Tour With a Futuristic Spectacle in Vancouver
My K-pop education continued on October 11 as aespa brought their SYNK : COMPLæXITY Tour to Rogers Arena in Vancouver. After seeing TWICE in January and IVE in August, this was my third concert foray into K-pop. I was excited to see how aespa would compare, and the answer was a little different from my first two experiences. Where TWICE brought the fun and IVE delivered its own polished pop spectacle, aespa leaned into futuristic visuals, heavy electronic production and choreography that rarely let up.
With no opening act, the stage belonged entirely to Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning. Vancouver marked the final stop of the North American leg before the group heads to Europe in January, making this the last chance for fans on this side of the Atlantic to see the production for a while.
There had been some concern about Giselle’s participation after she left the stage five songs into the group’s October 9 show at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Thankfully, she was back in Vancouver. Both she and Winter mentioned having a cold, but you wouldn’t have known it from their performances. Neither appeared to let it get in the way, and both delivered strong performances throughout the night.
The show opened with “LEMONADE,” immediately filling Rogers Arena with heavy bass, electronic beats and futuristic visuals. The production was massive, but the sound mix occasionally worked against the group. At points, the bass threatened to overpower the vocals, which was frustrating when four singers this capable were onstage.
“Switchblade” and “Whiplash” kept the momentum going before aespa reached back to its 2020 debut single, “Black Mamba.” The choreography remained sharp, and the group’s ability to move between demanding routines and vocal passages without losing its composure was impressive. “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” brought a harder hip-hop edge, with Giselle’s rap standing out against the heavy production.
The concert was divided into five acts, with cinematic video segments building on the group’s fictional universe. The story occasionally felt like a lot to keep up with, particularly for someone who hasn’t followed every chapter of aespa‘s mythology. Still, the visuals gave the show a clear identity. The production had a narrative thread running through it.
The second act offered a welcome change of pace. Karina introduced “Count on Me” on a piano, leading into a softer arrangement that let the members’ voices take centre stage. “Camouflage” and “Angel #48” continued the dreamier stretch. These moments were a reminder that aespa doesn’t need a wall of bass and flashing screens to hold an audience’s attention.
The solo and duet stages were among my favourite parts of the night. Giselle and Ningning brought a relaxed feel to “Lollipop,” while Karina and Winter took a more energetic approach with “Serenade.” Each pairing had its own character, making the performances feel distinct rather than like variations on the same routine.
The four solo performances gave the members even more room to show what they could do. Ningning’s “I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go” built from restrained verses into soaring high notes, while Karina’s “16 Bit” relied on a more understated, moody delivery. Giselle showed a softer side on “BYEB4HELLO,” moving beyond her usual rap role, and Winter’s “Saddle Up” put her choreography and stage confidence front and centre.
These performances made a strong case for the individual personalities within aespa. The group’s sleek, coordinated image is part of its appeal, but seeing the members step outside that format made the concert more interesting.
The heavier material returned with “Armageddon” and “Bite,” followed by a run of choreography-driven performances including “Next Level,” “SHAKIN’” and “Supernova.” The dancers added scale to the show, and the synchronized routines looked particularly effective against the digital scenery. By this point, the production had made its point: aespa knows how to turn its music into a full arena experience.
The pre-encore dance challenge was a fun change of pace, with cameras scanning the crowd and giving fans a chance to show off their moves on the big screens. The segment ended with an (shy) audience singalong to “Roll” before aespa returned for “Yeppi Yeppi” and “’Til We Die.”
As someone still getting to know K-pop, I appreciated the range. The spectacle was impressive, but the quieter songs and individual stages stopped the night from becoming one long sensory overload. The sound mix could have been better, and some of the storyline went over my head, but those were minor complaints in a show packed with strong performances.
TWICE got me curious about K-pop, and IVE gave me another reason to keep exploring it. aespa made a convincing case for sticking around. Their Vancouver show was loud, visually striking and full of personality, with four performers who could hold Rogers Arena’s attention even when the production threatened to steal it. That’s a solid way to close out a North American tour.
Upcoming Aespa – SYNK : COMPLæXITY’ World Tour Dates:
01/14 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ AO Arena
01/16 – London, United Kingdom @ The O2
01/19 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
01/22 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
01/24 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
01/26 – Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena
01/29 – Milan, Italy @ Unipol Dome
01/31 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
02/02 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
More information here.
Concerts Reviews
LØLØ Brings her ‘God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour’ to the Pearl in Vancouver
LØLØ brought her second headlining tour – aptly named “God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour” – to Vancouver this week, a first for the Canada-born artist. We’ve been a fan since we first heard “Death Wish” back in 2021, which seems like it was yesterday, and we aren’t going to overthink that right now. That being said, we’ve been waiting a long time for this night, and what a show!
We’ve been frequenting The Pearl more and more lately, and like so many others this show was sold out and packed wall-to-wall. There was a small mob for the first opener of the night, Dawson Gamble, and the floor was packed by the time Con the Artist took the stage. When LØLØ appeared, it was all plaid miniskirts and devil horns from the stage to the merch booth.
When the lights went down, LØLØ’s voice boomed over the speakers, narrating excerpts from a journal. LØLØ is not a choreographed, over-polished pop princess. Like so many artists that grew their audience from nothing, she does her best to connect with individuals in the audience. She takes her time, holds their hands, and during one memorable song, brings them on stage to dance.
“I think that people don’t want perfection,” she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “They just want to see a live show and a special moment.”
LØLØ was very upfront about her adventures online, finding her voice, and time spent during COVID, and from the vibe you have to assume the audience had been there with her the entire time. From “The Floor is Lava” to “Faceplant,” all the hits were covered and sung along to. Speaking of which…
Must Hear Songs by LØLØ (In Our Humble Opinion):
• “death wish” (Single, 2021)
• “Hot Girls in Hell” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “u turn me on (but you give me depression)” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “Let It Go” (A Whole New Sound (Disney), 2024)
Fun fact: LØLØ was featured on a 2024 Disney punk album alongside Simple Plan, Magnolia Park, and Yellow Card, to name a few iconic bands. Check out her version of “Let It Go” from “Frozen.” It’s unexpected and a lot of fun.
LØLØ ‘s first moment of viral fame was her cover of “Hey There Delilah,” updated and sung from Delilah’s perspective. Pulling Con the Artist back on stage for a duet gave the crowd a wonderful, heartfelt moment that was honestly quite touching. Not everyone’s favorite song, but a lovely moment for everyone in the audience.
LØLØ, with several incredible songs in her library and with a stack of “Warped Tour” appearances already in the books, seems poised to breakthrough to the next level. She’s electric on stage, and animated, and we can only dream of the day she is given more space to play. Until then, another highlight concert of 2026, and something to think about until her next visit!
LØLØ Setlist:
• the devil wears converse
• pretty little wreck
• god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!
• THE FLOOR IS LAVA!
• debbie downer
• me with no shirt on
• the punisher
• 2 of us
• u turn me on (but u give me depression)
• faceplant
• Hey There Delilah
• death wish
• delusional darling
• junkie
• DON’T!
• dumbest girl in the world
• wish i was a robot
• hot girls in hell
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us and for checking out our review!
LØLØ
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin