Concerts Reviews
Radical Optimism, French Edition: Dua Lipa in Paris – Live Review
Paris, France @ Paris La Défense Arena on May 23, 2025
Dua Lipa turned Paris into a giant dancefloor last Friday, kicking off two back-to-back sold-out nights at La Défense Arena. With 90,000 fans packing the venue across both shows, the energy was massive and so was the setlist.
I had a Fosse OR ticket for night one, which meant access to the golden pit. Knowing how chaotic this venue can get, I showed up early (as in five hours early) to grab a good spot. The line was actually a good time. I met some great people and swapped stories about past shows. But once the doors opened, things got intense. Folks pushed, elbowed, and ignored any sense of personal space. It made me miss the (relatively) polite pit culture back in Canada. Still, once Dua hit the stage, the crowd mayhem faded fast.
She launched the show with “Training Season,” and the tone was set. Dua’s stage presence is smooth but commanding. There are no a lot of theatrics, just sharp visuals, solid vocals, and great choreography. “End of an Era” and “Break My Heart” came next, making it clear she wasn’t easing into things. This was a full-on sprint through her discography.
One of the most fun moments came before “These Walls,” when Dua made her way down to the barricade to chat with fans and take selfies. She even played rock paper scissors with someone in the front row. After that, she walked down to the end of the thrust and carried on.
The Radical Optimism tracks hit just as hard live as the hits she’s best known for. “Whatcha Doing,” “These Walls,” “Maria,” and “Illusion” all landed with big reactions. But the surprise of the night (and my personal highlight) was her cover of “Lolita” by Alizée. It’s part of her ongoing tour tradition to cover one song from the country she’s in, and in Paris, she absolutely nailed it. The crowd freaked, phones went up, and fans sang every word.
Later, she brought the house down with high-energy staples like “Physical,” “Electricity,” and “Hallucinate.” But instead of closing the main set with a big club banger, she brought it in closer with “Be the One.” Once again, she returned to the barricade and sang it with fans, making the moment special.
Then came the encore, and she didn’t hold back. “New Rules” kicked it off, and the crowd instantly snapped back into full voice mode. “Dance the Night” kept the party going, while “Don’t Start Now” had the whole arena jumping like it was 2020 all over again (her now-famous dance move nowhere to be seen sadly – it was a nice little iykyk moment on her Future Nostalgia tour). She wrapped the night with “Houdini.” It was the perfect cap to a set that hit every high, and then some.
Dua’s Paris crowd was wild, but they showed up for the right reasons. She’s got a grip on what a pop show should be in 2025. Smart pacing, big hooks, and just enough surprise to keep you talking about it days later. Just Dua Lipa owning the stage and reminding everyone why she’s one of the best doing it right now.
I’ll be catching her again in Seattle this October, where she wraps her North American leg. Hopefully the pit will be a little less pushy, but if it’s not, I’ll still be there. Worth it.
More info on the Radical Optimism tour here.
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Evan Honer Turns the Commodore Into a Living Room Singalong
On March 30, 2026, Commodore Ballroom felt less like a historic venue and more like someone’s packed house party with Evan Honer at the centre of it all.
The night opened with Sam Burchfield, whose warm, rootsy set eased the crowd in. His style leaned into folk and Southern textures, setting a tone that fit neatly with what was coming next.
Honer’s rise still feels a bit unreal when you line it up. A few years ago, he was balancing college life and Division I swimming. Then his cover of “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers exploded online, pulling in hundreds of millions of streams and flipping his life overnight. Fast forward to now, and he’s running his own label, recording out of a garage studio, and touring internationally with a catalogue that keeps growing.
That momentum showed up immediately on stage. Honer kicked off his set with a burst of energy (and yes, a backflip!) setting the tone for a night that bounced between chaos and quiet reflection. Backed by a 5-piece band, he moved easily between acoustic moments and full-band arrangements, switching guitars and moods easily.
A big part of the set leaned on his latest album, Everything I Wanted, which marks a shift in his sound. The Americana roots are still there, but there’s a stronger pull toward indie pop and mainstream country. Tracks like the title song turned into full-on crowd moments, with the audience shouting back every word.
What stood out most was how little it mattered whether a song was new or old. Fans knew everything. Tracks from West On I-10 landed just as loudly as newer material, and songs like “Foolin’ Ourselves” and “Too Far Gone” felt like staples rather than throwbacks.
Mid-set, Honer slowed things down and stripped it back. Alone on stage, he played “Brother” and “Mr. Meyers,” both heavy, personal songs. You could feel the room quiet. It’s a risky move in a high-energy set, but it paid off.
He didn’t let things stay heavy for long with “Jersey Giant.” It’s still the song that introduced him to a massive audience, and live, it feels like it belongs to both him and the crowd now.
The encore leaned unexpected, with a cover of “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy that somehow worked perfectly. Honer closed with “IDK Shit About Cars,” sending the room out on a high.
Beyond the music, the night carried a bit more weight. Honer has partnered with PLUS1, with $1 from every ticket supporting the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance. It’s a small detail, but it adds context to an artist who clearly thinks beyond the stage.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 31 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox
April 1 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
April 3 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
April 4 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey Theatre
April 5 – San Diego, Calif. @ The Observatory North Park
April 7 – Flagstaff, Ariz. @ Orpheum Theater
April 10 – Tucson, Ariz. @ La Rosa
April 11 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Van Buren
April 15 – Tulsa, Okla. @ Cain’s Ballroom
April 16 – Dallas, Texas @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
April 18 – Georgetown, Texas @ Two Step Inn
More information on Evan Honer’s website.
EVAN HONER
SAM BURCHFIELD
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: The Goo Goo Dolls Deliver Nostalgic Hit-Filled Night at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg
When I arrived at the Canada Life Centre right before doors opened for The Goo Goo Dolls headlining concert on Saturday night (March 28th), the scene outside already said everything about what this night meant. The general admission line had completely wrapped around the block, and people were already lining up hours before the show. By the time the doors opened, I could see the excitement in people’s eyes, and you could feel the energy building even before stepping inside. It makes sense, though. The Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a lot to the American rock songbook, and connected with millions of fans around the world over the years.
With Dashboard Confessional on the bill, the night started without any delays. At first, Chris Carrabba came out alone with his guitar and started singing, which gave the set a more intimate start. Then the rest of the band joined him, and once the full band was on stage and the lights came on, the entire band was seen performing with electrifying energy. They started with “The Best Deceptions” and “The Sharp Hint of New Tears,” followed by “Southbound” and “Sinking.” Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and people around me were talking about how incredible Chris sounded that night. The crowd was already warmed up by that point, singing along and reacting to every moment. They ended their set with all-time favorites like “Hands Down” and “Vindicated,” leaving the audience fully ready for the main act.
The Goo Good Dolls fans were so ready to sing with the band that day. Following the release of the Goo Goo Dolls’ 2025 EP, Summer Anthem, the band has been trending and it showed in the crowd’s reaction. They started with “Naked,” “Home,” followed by “Slide” which brought a wave of nostalgia. Few songs from Summer Anthem touched the hearts of audiences such as “Ocean,” “Run All Night,” and “Not Goodbye.” Things got little bit melodic when they played “Acoustic#3,” “Sympathy” and “Name”. With “Iris” dominating every social media post lately, it was refreshing to hear “Name”. During those songs, John shredded on his guitar and performed solos. The setlist jumped around quite a lot but whatever they did was the best. Later, “Better Days” followed by “Broadway” where they introduced the whole band. Everyone applauded and shouted when they introduced themselves.
Before “Iris” started, everyone turned on their flashlights. It was marvelous to see thousands of flashlights waving throughout the arena. Everyone sang along and didn’t miss a single note. What a great way to end the Saturday night. The band and all the crowd truly seemed to be relishing at the Canada Life Centre. The set list was solid that night.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 30, 2026 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – GFL Memorial Gardens
April 1, 2026 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre
April 2, 2026 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum
April 4, 2026 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
April 6, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
April 8, 2026 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
April 10, 2026 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
April 11, 2026 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
April 18, 2026 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn 2026
May 15, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 16, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 20, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 22, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
May 23, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
More information here.
GOO GOO DOLLS
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
All Photo Credit: Nischal Karki