Concerts Reviews
Teddy Swims Brings the Fire and Feels to Laval – Live Review
On May 24th, 2025, a rainy day in Laval, Quebec, Teddy Swims took the stage at a sold-out show at Place Bell to begin his 11th stop of the I Tried Everything But Therapy Tour. The show kicked off with “Not Your Man” the opening track of his latest album I Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2), and the crowd immediately roared to life and sang along. Wearing a combination of a stunning long, red jacket, a white tank top, a Scottish-style yellow tartan skirt and cheetah-print Doc Martens, Swims continued the set with a powerful performance of the crowd-favourite “Hammer To The Heart”, proving the tour to be more than just a concert, but also an emotional performance of powerful vocals that provide a deep connection to the audience who sing along and feel to every word.
Teddy Swims first gained attention in 2019 through his heartfelt covers on YouTube, which showcased his powerful voice and musical style. His early covers of songs like “Someone You Loved” resonated with a wide audience, and slowly led to his rise in the music industry. In 2023, Swims released his debut studio album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) which featured one of his most popular songs “Lose Control.” The album delved into themes of heartbreak and self-reflection, drawing from his personal experiences. Following up with I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) in 2025, he collaborated with artists like Giveon and Muni Long. Through his music, Swims has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and his journey toward mental health recovery, and his ability to be so candid about something so vulnerable has resonated with fans and critics alike.
This is Teddy Swims’ third time performing in Quebec, the first being at Théâtre Beanfield in Montreal, and the second being at Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal.
It is impossible to forget about Swims’ band, “Freak Freely”, who accompany the singer with guitar, drums, keys, and backup vocalists. Made up by Jairus Hardge on the keys, Jesse Hampton and Addy Maxwell on guitar, Christian Griswald on bass, and DeAndre Hemby on drums, the band provides just as much energy and soul as Swims, with beautiful displays of musical talent, like electric guitar riffs and drum solos.
As the setlist continued, the stage lit up with pyro during a performance of “Funeral”, which had the audience in awe at the special effects. Teddy Swims did an excellent job at keeping the crowd engaged throughout the night. The show provided a stunning stage set, complete with shining lights, red curtains and stairs up to a higher platform, as well as dynamic display screens on the jumbotron that matched with what song was playing. However, the real star of the show was Teddy Swims’ vocals, which were powerful and on-point for the duration of the night.
Midway through the set, Swims performed a beautiful rendition of his song with ILLENIUM, “All That Really Matters”. Fans held up their phone flashlights, swaying back and forth to the music, creating a sea of light and community. As an avid concert-goer, this is always my favourite moment in a set. It truly shows how music can unite, despite an individual’s background and identity. The moment certainly left an impact on Swims, as he broke down into teary sobs, expressing how he wished the crowd could see the lights from his point of view, and how he’ll never take these moments for granted and is endlessly grateful to the audience for allowing him to do what he does. It was a beautifully genuine moment of the otherwise energetic and lively night.
However, there were a few comedic moments as well, as during the set, the singer climbed the stairs back to his higher-level platform where a prop toilet was waiting for him. As he sang while he sat, fans laughed, not expecting what was to come! Getting up, Swims reached over and picked up fake feces, laughing at the shock on the crowds face. Then, he threw a piece into the crowd, which had everyone laughing, and one lucky fan having a very strange prop to bring home as a souvenir!
19 songs into the set, Swims explained the “Jukebox” part of the set, where he randomly picks a letter from A-H and a number from 1-4, and each combination refers to a different cover he has the chance to play. Laval’s pick was “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson! This was a huge hit with the crowd, and the energy continued as the set led to one of his most popular songs “Lose Control”, and as sparklers rained down on the set, the volume of voices proved that every fan in the venue knew the words.
Coming back for a 3 song encore, first performing “Bed on Fire”, and then moving on to a rock-like, electrifying performance of “Goodbye’s Been Good To You”. The set ended with Teddy Swims’ second popular hit, “The Door”, and once again, every fan in the room screamed and danced to each word. As orange confetti rained over the crowd, Swims and his band took their final bows, as Swims thanked the crowd in a way that truly felt genuine and heartfelt. After taking some time to sign a few items from people in the front row, Teddy left the stage.
Fans headed out of the venue, holding pieces of merchandise such as shirts, hoodies and hats, and completely buzzing with excitement after such a powerful night. From the multi-talented band, Freak Freely, the elaborate stage design and comedic moments, tearful and heartfelt speeches, and Teddy Swims powerful voice, singing to songs that so many in the room could connect to in some way, this was a concert that no one will forget any time soon.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: AC/DC – Hell’s Still Bellin’
AC/DC. Christ. What’s left to say? Everything’s been said, screamed, tattooed on someone’s bicep already. Doesn’t matter. That’s the whole racket, they never changed, never blinked, and more than fifty years later they’re still the loudest gang in the room.
Growing up, they felt ancient already. I am a 2001 kid. Turns out the joke’s on me: they’re still out there, riffing like it’s ’79, refusing to retire into legend status.
Princess Auto Stadium was packed with about 35000 attendees. Everyone was wearing red twinkling devil’s horns. To warm up the night, The Pretty Reckless started with one of the hits “Death by Rock and Roll.” Some support acts play like they’re grateful for the slot. Taylor Momsen played like she owns the stadium. The hair falling forward, somehow the less you can see of her face the more magnetic she gets. Stage presence isn’t something you learn. She’s just got it.
The band didn’t sound like an opener. Every riff landed with the swagger “Going To Hell” and “Since You’re Gone” kept it burning, and “About You” brought it down to something rawer before the lights cut. By the time The Pretty Reckless walked off, the audience were already screaming AC/DC! AC/DC!
Winnipeggers stood stunned through AC/DC‘s whole set. Angus Young, 71 years old still in that signature blue schoolboy uniform and yellow-and-blue cap, ran wild across the stage, duck-walking like no time had passed at all, genuinely, a dream come true to watch in person.
Meanwhile, the rest of the band, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, bassist Chris Chaney and drummer Matt Laug stayed largely in the background, keeping the engine running for Angus and Johnson to tear apart.
The production matched the legend, “Hells Bells” arrived with an actual giant bell hanging over the stage. The setlist ran deep: “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Shot in the Dark,” “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Highway to Hell,” “Jailbreak,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” Almost every song sounded just as good as the album version. The crowd tore their vocal cords apart singing along to “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “TNT.” “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” closed things out with cannons blasting into the night sky.
The house lights came up and nobody moved right away. Smoke still hanging over the stage, ears ringing, horns still lit up red across the stands. Bands this old aren’t supposed to sound this dangerous. They aren’t supposed to still mean it. But AC/DC never got the memo about slowing down, and honestly, thank God for that. I walked out hoarse, deaf, and completely satisfied.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
AC/DC
THE PRETTY RECKLESS
All Photo Credit: Nischal Karki
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Party On, Vancouver: Dogstar Sells Out the Vogue Theatre
The Vogue Theatre was packed wall to wall on September 16 as Dogstar rolled into Vancouver, and the excitement was impossible to miss. New York rock band The Backfires kicked things off with a lively opening set, warming up the room before Bret Domrose, Robert Mailhouse and Keanu Reeves stepped onto the stage. Naturally, hundreds of phones immediately went up when Reeves appeared, because Vancouver was not about to let this extremely Keanu moment go undocumented.
Reeves held down the bass, Domrose took on guitar and vocals, and Mailhouse powered the night from behind the drums. While one member may come with a little more star power, Dogstar quickly felt like a proper three-piece instead of a celebrity side project. The chemistry between them was relaxed and natural, with plenty of smiles, glances and little interactions that made it clear they were genuinely happy to be playing together. Reeves frequently wandered across the stage to jam alongside his bandmates, occasionally making his way toward the front and sending another wave of phones into the air.
Dogstar’s story stretches back to Los Angeles in 1991, when Reeves and Mailhouse first started making music together. Domrose later joined the band, and the trio released two albums before going their separate ways in 2002. More than two decades later, they reunited, returned to the stage and released Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees in 2023. Now, with their latest album All In Now and another tour underway, Dogstar are giving this chapter of the band far more than a quick nostalgia lap.
The set began with “Siren,” immediately setting an easygoing alt-rock tone for the night. Their cover of The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait” brought an extra burst of familiarity, while “Punch the Sky” landed with the kind of energy made for a full theatre. Rather than pausing for long speeches, the band kept things moving, letting the music and their chemistry do most of the talking. Domrose’s vocals stayed at the centre of the songs, Mailhouse gave them plenty of drive, and Reeves appeared completely locked into the groove on bass.
Yes, people cheered whenever Reeves moved closer to the edge of the stage. Yes, there was an undeniable thrill in seeing the internet’s favourite human casually rocking out a few feet away. But the attention did not stay on him alone. Domrose and Mailhouse were just as essential to the show, and together the trio delivered a performance that felt tight without becoming overly polished. There was still room for the songs to breathe, for the band to play off one another and for the night to feel a little spontaneous.
A fun surprise arrived during the encore with a roaring cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.” The band shared that they had only performed it live once before, making it a particularly unexpected way to close the night. The Vogue responded accordingly, singing, cheering and soaking up every last second before the trio left the stage.
More than 30 years after forming, and over two decades after calling it quits, Dogstar are back on the road and clearly having a great time together. That sense of fun was infectious, turning the sold-out show into something warmer and more memorable than a simple celebrity sighting. Vancouver may have arrived ready to see Keanu Reeves play bass, but by the end of the night, Dogstar had given the crowd plenty of reasons to stay invested in the whole band.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
DOGSTAR
THE BACKFIRES
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle