Concerts Reviews
Lorna Shore Rips Through Vancouver with a Brutal, Chaotic, and Apocalyptic North American Tour
Before the first band even hit the stage, the atmosphere was already electric. Heavy rain surrounded the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, setting the perfect tone for a dark, chaotic night of metal. It was a storm within a storm as three titans of the scene unleashed pure mayhem. Leading the charge was New Jersey’s own Lorna Shore, joined by two of metal’s apocalyptic horsemen, The Black Dahlia Murder and Shadow of Intent. Sadly, Vancouver missed out on PeelingFlesh, whose border complications kept them from joining the carnage.
As the crowd flooded toward the pit, all you could see in the sea of long hair and black clothing were fans ready to unleash their rage and excitement. By 7:20 p.m., the wait was over. Shadow of Intent stormed the stage, and within moments, the Connecticut group had the arena in a frenzy. Crowd surfers flew, mosh pits erupted, and the chaos didn’t stop for the next half hour. Even as someone outside this genre’s usual orbit, it was impossible not to feel the adrenaline surge. When vocalist Ben Durr called for a “Wall of Death,” the crowd obeyed without hesitation. The pit split open, then collided at the song’s crushing breakdown like warriors in a medieval clash. It was a brutal, breathtaking spectacle that left everyone wondering what could possibly top it. By 8 p.m., we got our answer: The Black Dahlia Murder.
The Black Dahlia Murder are no strangers to the death metal scene. They are veterans who have toured the globe since 2001 and built a fierce reputation along the way. Vancouver can’t get enough of them either, and this night marked just over a year since their last appearance in the city. Back in October 2024, they tore up the Vogue Theatre with a set that was loud, relentless, and at times downright haunting. That same energy carried straight into the Doug Mitchell Arena without losing any of its power. Crowd surfers flew, circle pits spun with greater force, and even the veteran metalheads jumped into the chaos. The connection between band and fans was undeniable. Since stepping in for the late Trevor Strnad, Brian has carried the torch with respect and raw authority, honouring the band’s legacy while commanding every eye in the room. By the end, anyone who walked in unfamiliar with The Black Dahlia Murder likely left a fan or sprinted to the merch line to prove it.
And then came the main event, the catalyst of the night, Lorna Shore. You could feel the shift the moment fans started leaping from the stands to join the pit. The growl of the bass rumbled through the arena as the kabuki screen lit up, silhouettes of the band flickering behind an enormous glowing logo. When “Oblivion” hit, the crowd erupted. Energy surged like fire through every vein in the room, while more than twenty security guards braced for impact. For a split second, silence hung in the air before chaos exploded. Crowd surfers poured over the barricade faster than ever before, bodies moving like a storm. Frontman Will Ramos unleashed screams so raw and commanding they seemed to tear through the air itself. The performance was pure madness from start to finish, a relentless display of power that didn’t ease up until the final note.
“Glenwood,” “Unbreakable,” and “Prison of Flesh” were just a few of the heavy hitters from Lorna Shore’s latest release I Feel The Everblack Festing Within Me. The setlist also tore through fan favorites like “Cursed to Die,” “Pain Remains,” and “To The Hellfire.” Midway through the chaos came a surprise celebration for tech member Collin, as both the crew and the crowd joined in to wish him a happy birthday. Throughout the set, the band repeatedly showed appreciation for the security team, who worked nonstop to pull crowd surfers from the pit and keep everyone safe. They deserved every bit of that recognition. To close the night, Lorna Shore unleashed the full Pain Remains trilogy as the encore. Fans erupted in disbelief and joy, realizing they were witnessing the perfect finale to an unforgettable night.
Just last year, Lorna Shore packed the Commodore Ballroom to the rafters, leaving fans wondering what was next. This show answered that question in full force, proving the band could dominate arenas with the same intensity and precision. The experience was unforgettable, and like many Vancouver fans, there’s already eager anticipation for whatever the band brings on their next visit.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Lorna Shore Tour Dates:
October 20 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center
October 21 Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
October 23 Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
October 24 Maplewood, MN @ Myth Live
October 25 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
October 27 Toronto, ON @ Great Canadian Casino Resort
October 28 Laval, QC @ Place Bell
October 30 New York, NY @ The Theater at Madison Square Garden
More information here.
LORNA SHORE
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
SHADOW OF INTENT
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno
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