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: 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