Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Said The Whale Celebrate 20 Years with Sold-Out Vancouver Homecoming
On Saturday, April 11th, indie hometown heroes Said The Whale brought their 20th Anniversary Tour to a sold-out Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver.
Friends, family, casual listeners and diehard fans (coined SaidHeads) packed the venue for a celebration of the band’s two decades of recording and releasing music. The band took the audience through the evolution of their seven studio albums, throwing it back all the way to Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia (2008) to their most recent studio release Dandelion (2021). The Vancouver five-piece consists of primary songwriters, guitarists, and lead vocalists Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester, alongside longtime members Jaycelyn Brown (keys, vocals) and Spencer Schoening (drums), with Lincoln Hotchen on bass.
It felt like a very personal and intimate show, with the band handling their own changeover after the opener’s set before returning to the stage to a warm welcome from the hometown audience.
Said The Whale opened the show with the deep cut “Love Is Art / Sleep Through Fire”, a track that captures the group at their core—beginning with Worcester’s acoustic intro before Bancroft joins on vocals, culminating with the whole band joining in on their signature rich harmonies. The song was later released on the 10th anniversary edition of their 2009 album Islands Disappear—a track that feels almost criminally absent from the original release. Worcester’s folk-leaning songwriting continued with deep cut “Fish and Stars II” and “The Banks of the English Bay” before shifting into Bancroft’s more rock-driven tracks, including “UnAmerican,” “Camilo (The Magician),” and “This City’s a Mess,” which got the crowd on their feet. Particularly, drummer Spencer Schoening shone during these faster-paced songs, adding tasteful fills and hitting the kit with power.
The night eventually moved into the acoustic section—often a dreaded moment at shows—but for Said The Whale, it’s something they do best. Bancroft took time to applaud the opening act, Blue Jay Valley, an elementary school punk band made up of students from grades 5 to 7. Their dads even stepped in as roadies, helping clear the gear after their set. Reflecting on his own kids, Bancroft then introduced “Level Best,” a song about his unconditional love for them. It was a truly beautiful moment, and a class act as well, with Bancroft noting that while they could have chosen any local opener, they instead gave the stage to kids who genuinely deserved the opportunity.
Usually not one to take centre stage, and often the quietest presence, keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown stepped into the spotlight as Worcester and Bancroft exited, performing the beautiful acoustic piano piece “February 15,” which she dedicated to her husband. Despite a minor flubbed note, Brown kept things lighthearted, joking that at least the audience knew it was live.
During “99 to the Moon,” the rhythm section re-entered, keeping the upbeat songs coming with “Wake Up”, “Black Day in December”, “My Government Heart”, “Honey Lungs,” and the electric “I Love You.” Ending the main set, the band perfectly chose “Goodnight Moon,” with Bancroft breaking out a ukulele, and the song culminating in an all-out sing-along. In true Said The Whale fashion, the band returned to a roar of applause, slowing things down with two fitting closers, “Dandelion” and the beautiful acoustic “Curse of the Currents,” leaving fans with warm hearts as they filed out.
The best part of a Said The Whale show is the unpredictability of the setlist. Ranging from big hits to deep cuts, the experience blends familiarity with surprise, letting fans hear favourites while discovering unexpected gems. It’s always such a treat when the band plays a hometown show, and it’s an intimate experience like no other.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SAID THE WHALE IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Hunter Soo