Concerts Reviews
Melanie Martinez’s Trilogy Tour takes Toronto by storm!
June 9th, 2024
Melanie Martinez played a sold out show at the Scotiabank Arena in Downtown Toronto this past weekend, and wow…. It was magical to say the least. She was accompanied by openers Sofia Isella and Beach Bunny for the Toronto date, and they were both amazing acts! I had the most incredible opportunity to photograph some of the show as well as attend the concert. Melanie Martinez is very dedicated to her art and music, as well as telling a story with it. Her three albums, – Crybaby, K-12, and Portals – all tell the story of her character Crybaby as she grows up and experiences life, and.. death! All her work is accompanied by incredible and colourful visuals that I think really complete the story she tells through her music!
Before the show even began, walking around the train station by the venue and even outside the arena was so awesome. Pretty much every single person I saw was dressed up to match with one of Melanie’s three albums she has released, and people went all out! I had never seen anything like it! There were people in replicas of outfits Melanie has worn, to outfits inspired by different album artwork. I really applaud her fanbase for going the extra mile to make the atmosphere feel so bright and welcoming.
Sofia Isella was the first opener of the night and from what I saw of her set she had a cool and moody vibe to start. Her voice was great, and I really enjoyed watching her move around the stage, everything she did felt so intentional, and it made me not want to take my eyes off her! She ended up pulling out a violin and playing during one of her songs, which had my jaw on the floor. Sofia had such incredible stage presence, I can say with full confidence, she is a star. I cannot wait to see more from her and hopefully she makes a trip back to Toronto sometime soon!
The second opener was the band Beach Bunny, which consisted of five members. They came on stage ready to go. They immediately started into their first song and clearly, they were a fan favourite, they had a bunch of the crowd up and dancing and singing along! They were a bit more upbeat and pop-y sounding, very dance worthy music! I hadn’t realized I knew of their music until their second and third songs of the night were both ones, I knew the words to! They were a really fun band and I think they got the crowd all warmed up for Melanie to take the stage.
After what felt like a lot of waiting it was finally time for Melanie to take the stage!! Melanie’s team had asked us to photograph songs 7, 8, and 9, instead of the first three. I wasn’t surprised considering she did this as well when I took pictures at her Portals album tour. But, due to the fact we had songs 7, 8, 9, we had to wait off to the sides until it was time for us photographers to roll out and do our thing. I unfortunately didn’t get to see the songs 1-6 but even hearing them was great, Melanie’s voice sounded the best it’s ever been!
She had her set split into 3 sections, almost like one ‘act’ for each album. Each act had a different hair, makeup and outfit which was super cool. I got to my seat for the start of her K-12 album, she was already out in a whole new set of clothes and hair!! She played lots of songs from the K-12 album, and then at the end of her song ‘High School Sweethearts’, an arrow went right… through… her chest. The stage transformed into a graveyard, and she disappeared into the fog… only to emerge as the alien/fairy like creature from her third album Portals (the album depicted Crybaby dying and coming back as an otherworldly creature). She performed this act in a fully new costume, with the same 4 eyed creature mask she wore for her last tour. I saw the Portals tour last year and didn’t think it could get better, but it did. She not only met my expectations but exceeded them tremendously for this show.
Maybe its bias because I have loved Melanie Martinez and her music since the album Crybaby came out, but I think this was one of the best shows I have ever been to. You can tell so much care and thought is put into everything she does. Her sets were jaw dropping, truly so stunning and it made you feel as if you entered her world. Her backup dancers also add so much to the show, they highlight Melanie and compliment her on stage so well. Her band also never fails to impress me with how amazing they sound live. I was so surprised because it also was her first ever arena tour, and she has sold out so many dates, not just Toronto! Overall, I would say the show was magical and had such energy I have missed in concerts. Melanie Martinez deserves every bit of love she receives! If there is anyone wondering if they should get last minute tickets to see her….do it! You will not regret it!
Head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SETLIST:
Crybaby:
– Cry Baby
– Dollhouse
– Sippy Cup
– Carousel
– Alphabet Boy
– Soap
– Pity Party
– Play Date
– Mad Hatter
K-12:
– Wheels on the Bus
– Class Fight
– Show & Tell
– Nurse’s Office
– Strawberry Shortcake
– Lunchbox Friends
– Teacher’s Pet
– High School Sweethearts
Portals:
– DEATH
– VOID
– TUNNEL VISION
– FAERIE SOIREE
– LIGHT SHOWER
– SPIDER WEB
– BATTLE OF THE LARYNX
– THE CONTORTIONIST
– NYMPHOLOGY
– EVIL
– WOMB
All Photo Credit: Sarah Sharpe
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