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
Concerts Reviews
Waka Waka en Baltimore: A Review of Shakira at CFG Bank Arena
The CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, has stood the test of time. From The Beatles playing sold-out shows in the 60s to Van Halen in the 80s and Prince in the 2010s, the arena has played host to the biggest names in music, sports, and history for over 60 years. Millions of fans have filled the seats built over the site where the Continental Congress once met. On Monday night, another historic name was added to the roster of CFG Bank Arena alumni. Playing to a nearly sold-out crowd, Shakira shook her hips and dazzled for hours of non-stop Latin pop fun.
The Colombian-born singer, with four Grammys, has wooed stages across the world for decades, and this latest stop along the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour was no different. Shakira has come a long way since her 1991 debut album, Magia. With dozens of awards, a Super Bowl Halftime show performance, and now the highest-grossing Latin tour ever, her fame has risen to previously unattainable levels for a Latin singer.
This tour, in support of her newest album, which shares the same name as the tour and was released in 2024, has brought Shakira to every corner of the globe. Her first tour in nearly seven years kicked off in Brazil early last year and is quickly coming to a close, with just seven US dates remaining before a 12-show residency in Spain to end the monumental run. But the tour could not finish up without Shakira’s first ever appearance in Baltimore.
The show unfortunately started almost an hour late, though that did give a chance for the energy and anticipation to reach a fever pitch. Hundreds of fans stood on their chairs hoping to catch a glimpse of the singer as she walked to the stage. Almost every person in the room had their phones out hoping to capture a moment they would never forget.
Shakira took the stage in a glittering gold jacket and sunglasses that she slowly took off while smirking. One lucky fan ended up with an eternal memento as she threw the glasses into the crowd. As the music began to play behind her, Shakira belted out the first notes of “La Fuerte.” Thousands of voices joined in unison for the rest of the night. The only people that were silent were too mesmerized by her beauty to form complete sentences.
The setlist for the night led fans on a tour of Latin pop history. Many fans’ parents weren’t even born yet when the first Shakira album was released, but everyone, old or young, enjoyed the night the same. The first half of the night included hits like “Girl Like Me” from her collab with the Black Eyed Peas, “Te Felicito,” “TQD,” “Copa Vacia,” and “La Tortura.” The vibes were absolutely immaculate through the first 12 songs, with hips shaking, bodies moving, and heads bobbing.
The energy went through the roof though as the intro to “Hips Don’t Lie” rang out. Arguably one of her most famous songs, the beat had everyone rocking. I have never seen fans embody the groove so quickly as when each song played on Monday night. It was quite impressive seeing the crowd transitioning from swaying emotionally with the soft songs to nearly jumping as high as the ceiling during the harder-hitting songs.
The back half of the setlist was filled with even more hits than the first half. One of the best moments of the night was a barn full of zoo animals joining Shakira on stage for her hit Zootopia 2 song “Zoo.” Continuing, “Ojos Asi” and “Underneath Your Clothes” were played and extremely well received! There was not a song on the set that didn’t receive screams from thousands of rabid fans.
As the night wrapped up, Shakira walked off the stage to “Waka Waka,” but that was not the finale. The night could not end without “She Wolf.” But when the night was over, it was extremely hard to clear the building as it seemed like everyone wanted a second encore and kept chanting Shakira’s name. Unfortunately, there would not be a second encore, but I think everyone got their money’s worth.
This was overall just an amazing show. Everyone knows what they are going to get at a Shakira concert and she did not let them down! The dancing was superb, Shakira’s voice sounded amazing, and the visuals were spectacular. I highly recommend seeing Shakira before the tour ends, because she does not come around often.
The tour will continue on in Boston and New York later this week, so if the Baltimore fans want a round two, it is only a short Amtrak ride to the next Shakira spectacle.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SHAKIRA IN BALTIMORE
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger