Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A$AP Rocky Brought Arena-Sized Mayhem to Vancouver on Canada Day
Canada Day usually belongs to fireworks. This year, A$AP Rocky brought enough flames, sirens, helicopters, and controlled chaos to make his own case for stealing the holiday.
Stopping at Rogers Arena on July 1 for the Vancouver date of his Don’t Be Dumb Tour, the Harlem rapper delivered one of the year’s biggest arena spectacles. The music was only part of it. A$AP Rocky has never approached live performance like a standard rap show, and this production pushed even further into theatrical territory, blurring the line between concert, action movie, and dystopian art installation.
The evening didn’t begin without some frustration. Like many stops on the tour, there was no opening act, no warm-up DJ, and a long wait after doors opened before Rocky finally appeared. By the time the lights dropped, anticipation inside Rogers Arena had turned into impatience. Fortunately for A$AP, his audience (many of them clearly too young to remember the early A$AP Mob days firsthand) never seemed ready to give up on him.
When he finally arrived, he made sure nobody forgot it. Instead of walking onto the stage, A$AP Rocky emerged from the arena floor surrounded by dancers dressed as militarized officers while a helicopter hovered overhead with searchlights sweeping across the crowd. Within seconds, the floor dissolved into a massive mosh pit as he launched into “Trunks.” It was loud, disorienting, and exactly the sort of entrance the Don’t Be Dumb aesthetic has been building toward.
The surveillance-state imagery remained throughout the night. Upside-down flags, “Big Brother Is Always Watching” banners, flashing emergency lights, riot shields, and a microphone built into a megaphone reinforced the show’s themes of authority and resistance. Whether every fan followed the underlying message hardly mattered. The visuals worked because they never stopped moving. Every few minutes there seemed to be another surprise waiting around the corner.
A$AP Rocky soon reappeared hanging from a second helicopter suspended above the audience while another inflatable helicopter drifted around the arena. Pyrotechnics exploded across the stage. Lasers filled every corner of Rogers Arena. Nearly every song arrived with a new visual twist, making the production feel far bigger than the average arena rap show.
If anything, the scale occasionally threatened to overwhelm the music itself. Much of the first half leaned on material from this year’s Don’t Be Dumb. Songs like “Helicopter,” “Order of Protection,” “Punk Rocky,” and “STFU” fit naturally within the show’s militarized concept, even if some haven’t yet earned the instant crowd reaction of A$AP‘s older catalog. His delivery often rode alongside backing vocals rather than standing completely on its own, but that hardly slowed the momentum. This wasn’t a night built around technical precision. It was built around atmosphere. He even apologized for his raspy vocals, joking that he was “trying to keep it sexy for the ladies.”
The crowd responded just as much to the energy as to the songs themselves. White T-shirts spun through the air during repeated calls to “wave your shirt like a helicopter,” mosh pits opened almost on command, and fans matched A$AP Rocky‘s enthusiasm from the floor all the way into the upper bowl. For an artist who has spent much of the last several years making headlines through fashion, film, and family life alongside Rihanna, there was never much doubt that his fanbase had stayed loyal.
The strongest stretch of the night came once Rocky reached deeper into his catalogue. “Peso,” “Purple Swag,” “Goldie,” “Fashion Killa,” and “Everyday” reminded everyone why his influence stretches far beyond chart positions. These songs have aged remarkably well, finding a second life with younger audiences through streaming and social media without losing the dreamy, stylish swagger that made them stand out more than a decade ago.
A$AP Rocky balanced those quieter moments with plenty of personality. He joked with fans, encouraged the crowd to look after one another in the mosh pits, and closed the night with his trademark mix of humour and common sense, telling everyone not to drink and drive, and, naturally, “don’t be dumb.” It was a fitting ending.
The Don’t Be Dumb Tour occasionally feels like it’s trying to outdo itself. The helicopters, sirens, dancers, and constant visual overload can sometimes compete with the songs rather than support them. Yet A$AP Rocky somehow keeps everything from falling apart through sheer charisma. Even hidden beneath masks, oversized jackets, or hanging from a helicopter above the audience, his presence remains unmistakable.
On a day built around national celebration, Rogers Arena became home to a different kind of spectacle. Canada Day had fireworks outside. Inside, A$AP Rocky supplied enough of his own. The result wasn’t a perfect concert. It was something far more memorable: almost two hours of stylish chaos from one of hip-hop’s most distinctive performers, reminding Vancouver that very few artists can build a world around a live show the way he can.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Fri Jul 03 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Sat Jul 04 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Wed Jul 08 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sat Jul 11 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
More information here.
A$AP ROCKY in VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Lost Americana Finds a Home in Vancouver as MGK Hits With Fire, Heart, and Volume
Machine Gun Kelly has spent the better part of a decade refusing to stay in one musical lane, and his stop at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 29 proved that he’s no longer interested in explaining himself. The Lost Americana Tour doesn’t try to convince anyone that rap, pop-punk, alternative rock, country influences, and arena spectacle belong together. It simply throws them all on stage and dares you to keep up.
Before MGK appeared, Emo Nite warmed up the crowd with the kind of party they’re know for. Mod Sun followed with a set full of his usual infectious energy and charisma, bouncing between pop-punk hooks and hip-hop swagger while keeping the arena moving before the night’s main event.
One noticeable absence lingered over the evening. MGK explained more than once that his usual tourmate, Wiz Khalifa, had been unable to cross the border and wouldn’t be performing in Vancouver. He admitted it added pressure to his own set, since Wiz normally joins him during several songs, but hoped the crowd was still ready for a great night. Judging by the roar that followed, Rogers Arena wasn’t about to let him carry that weight alone.
The stage itself immediately set the tone. Dominating the production was an enormous Statue of Liberty head, complete with a cigarette hanging from its mouth beneath the glowing “Lost Americana” sign. It was a striking visual that matched the album’s themes of rebellion and search for identity. It looked fantastic, especially once the pyrotechnics, towering video screens, and relentless lighting package came to life.
MGK emerged from the Kabuki drop to open with “FIX UR FACE” and “Outlaw Overture,” wasting little time before launching into newer material including “Starman.” Those songs carried the early stretch of the show. Lost Americana borrows from every chapter of his career, and that’s exactly how the concert unfolded. Early in the set, he welcomed American singer-songwriter Honestav to the stage for a surprise duet that drew one of the night’s loudest reactions. It was an unexpected moment that fit perfectly with the free-flowing nature of the show.
Between songs, MGK dropped the rockstar persona long enough to share something more personal. Despite performing since he was 16 years old, he admitted he still gets nervous before every show, wondering if people will actually show up. Looking around Rogers Arena, he said it still amazes him that after playing amphitheatres for months on this tour, he now gets to headline arenas like this one.
That honesty has become part of MGK‘s appeal. One minute he’s slinging a guitar across his shoulder and leading an arena-sized singalong. A few songs later he’s back in full rapper mode, firing through verses with the confidence that first made his name. Instead of feeling scattered, the shifts felt natural. At this point, the different versions of MGK have stopped competing with one another. They’ve become part of the same artist.
Visually, the show rarely slowed down. Fire erupted across the front of the stage during the heavier songs, dancers filled nearly every transition, and air cannons arrived exactly when they needed to. It would have been easy for the production to overshadow the music, but MGK remained the focal point throughout. He sprinted from one side of the stage to the other, climbed platforms, leaned into the barricade to greet fans, and constantly challenged the audience to match his energy.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came during “Can’t Stay Here,” when thousands of phone lights illuminated Rogers Arena, transforming the venue into a sea of stars. The massive production suddenly gave way to something quieter, with the audience becoming just as important to the atmosphere as the stage itself
One of the smartest decisions in the set came midway through the show when MGK left the main stage for a smaller platform deeper inside the arena. The production suddenly shrank, replacing explosions with something much quieter. Songs like “Glass House” carried a vulnerability that often gets buried beneath the fireworks. In those moments, Rogers Arena felt surprisingly intimate despite the crowd size.
The emotional swings have become part of MGK‘s identity. He can spend one song encouraging crowdsurfing before turning around to deliver deeply personal lyrics that leave the arena almost silent. It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but somehow it always finds its balance.
There was plenty of humour mixed into the chaos. During “Everything Tatted,” MGK spotted a fan holding a sign announcing she had “FIX UR FACE” tattooed on her backside. The cameras immediately found her, and when she proudly revealed the tattoo, the arena erupted with laughter and applause while MGK could only shake his head in disbelief while smiling.
The covers landed just as well. His version of “Mr. Brightside” instantly became one of the loudest singalongs of the evening, proving that some songs have taken on a life of their own inside concert arenas. It was one of several moments where MGK stepped back and simply let the audience carry the performance.
The celebration continued during “My Bloody Valentine,” when roughly twenty female fans were invited onto the stage to dance alongside him. The standout among them was an energetic six-year-old girl who completely stole the spotlight, confidently dancing across the stage and earning one of the biggest ovations of the night.
Before launching into “My Ex’s Best Friend,” MGK paused to remove his shirt, joking, “I know Canadians can say sorry, but can you please?” as he tried to squeeze a little more noise out of the audience. Judging by the response, they were more than happy to oblige.
What continues to separate MGK from many of his peers isn’t that he blends genres. Plenty of artists do that now. It’s that he fully commits to every version of himself without apologizing for the contradictions. He’s still a rapper. He’s still a rock frontman. He’s still willing to lean into melodic pop songwriting. Rather than smoothing those edges out, the Lost Americana Tour puts them all under the same spotlight.
Closing with “Vampire Diaries,” MGK capped off nearly two hours that rarely lost momentum. Loud, theatrical, emotional, and occasionally chaotic, the show never felt interested in perfection. It aimed for something much more entertaining. Rogers Arena got a performance that embraced every corner of MGK‘s career, delivering a night that felt unpredictable from start to finish.
Whether fans came for the rap records, the pop-punk era, or the newest material, there was very little chance of leaving disappointed. MGK has become one of modern arena rock’s most unpredictable performers, and Lost Americana makes a strong case that his refusal to fit neatly into one genre is exactly what keeps his live shows so compelling.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
MGK
MOD SUN
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Joji’s Solaris Tour Makes an Impact in Montreal
For an artist whose music thrives on intimacy, melancholy, and emotional vulnerability, Joji’s concert at Montreal’s Centre Bell on June 20th, 2026 was no exception to these themes. With the size of the venue, holding roughly 16k fans for a concert, it is tough to set a scene intimate enough to make the room feel close and personal, but Joji seemed to pull it off with a polished ease. Supporting acts Nate Sib and Corbin also contributed to the evening’s tone. Their performances helped establish the night’s mood while introducing the audience to emerging artists whose work shares similar lyrical moods and music style with Joji’s discography. By the time Joji took the stage, the Centre Bell crowd was fully engaged and erupting in cheers from the moment the lights went down.
The Montreal stop came early in Joji’s highly anticipated Solaris Tour, a massive North American and European run supporting his latest album Piss In The Wind. Longtime fans could tell this was more than just a regular tour for Joji, but more so a reminder of how far he has come since emerging from internet culture as George Kusunoki Miller, the creator behind “The Filthy Frank Show” on YouTube and Pink Guy personas, before reinventing himself as one of contemporary music’s most distinctive alternative R&B voices. He even popularized the Harlem Shake dance!
Many initially viewed the transition with skepticism, assuming his musical ambitions wouldn’t reach the same heights as his online persona, but instead, Joji steadily established himself as a real artist, releasing acclaimed projects including BALLADS 1, Nectar, SMITHEREENS, and most recently, Piss In The Wind.
His music blends alternative R&B, lo-fi production, electronic textures, and pop songwriting, creating a distinctive sound that is deserving of the success he found. Today, he stands as one of the great examples of an internet creator successfully reinventing themselves as a legitimate recording artist.
By the time the lights dimmed, the smoke started pouring in the venue and the massive background screens lit up, the roar of the crowd was deafening. Joji’s strength as a performer has never been theatrics, elaborate props or choreography. Instead, he succeeds through creating an intimate scene that highlights the emotions in his music. His songs explore loneliness, heartbreak, longing, and self-reflection, themes that resonate deeply with audiences navigating similar emotions. Throughout the night, the singer demonstrated an ability to shift seamlessly between vulnerable ballads and more energetic moments, maintaining an emotional connection with the audience despite the size of the arena.
The setlist reflected the full range of Joji’s catalog while featuring the most songs from “Piss In The Wind” and “Nectar.” The show opened with a bang, with performances of “PIXELATED KISSES,” “Sojourn,” and “Ew,” then continuing with popular fan favourites including “Glimpse of Us,” “Daylight,” and “Like You Do.” After a 25 song setlist featuring some interludes, the concert closed in a powerful rendition of “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK, ” a song that remains one oft he defining works of Joji’s career and one that transformed the Bell Centre into a sea of illuminated phone screens and a shower of confetti.
One of the night’s highlights was when Joji brought out a robot during “Last of a Dying Breed.” The robot danced next to him during the song, which added humour to an otherwise very emotional concert. During the rest of the set, Joji delivered a performance that emphasized emotion over technical perfection. His voice carried a rawness that complemented the themes of the material, particularly during quieter moments. In an era when many arena performers rely heavily on choreography or elaborate staging to maintain audience engagement, Joji’s greatest asset remains his capacity to communicate vulnerability. Other than a few props, such as the robot, a t-shirt cannon and confetti at the end of the set, Joji’s sole “prop” was the large screens behind him. The visuals were very psychedelic, putting the audience in what felt like a trance to fully convey the experience and emotions in the songs he was performing.
The Solaris Tour is not the first time Joji has performed in Montreal. His performance at Osheaga Music Festival in 2019, and in 2022 at MTELUS (a much smaller venue than Centre Bell) largely helped him establish a fanbase in Montreal. Throughout the night, fans sang every lyric, reinforcing the idea that Joji’s music functions as more than entertainment; for many listeners, it serves as a way to cope with deeply personal experiences and as a reminder that they aren’t dealing with these experiences alone.
As the final notes faded and fans slowly made their way toward the exits, many stopping to pick up merch before they left, the atmosphere showed that Montreal had witnessed more than a routine tour stop. Despite Montreal’s show being one of the first stops, the Solaris Tour already proved itself one to be not necessarily polished in the way a usual arena performer’s elaborate set is, but designed perfectly to represent what each song’s meaning calls for. As the tour continues, audiences can expect a production that combines captivating visuals, emotional songwriting, and a performer who continues to redefine expectations the public sets on him. For Montreal fans, the concert on June 20th, 2026 offered a compelling reminder of Joji’s unique ability to transform deeply personal music into a communal experience—one capable of filling an arena while still leaving you feeling like you were the only one in the crowd.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
JOJI
NATE SIB
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam