Concerts Reviews
The Beaches Bring Arena-Sized Energy Home to Vancouver With No Hard Feelings Tour
The Beaches made one thing clear at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre on October 25: they’re not the next big thing, they are the big thing. The Toronto quartet, fresh off the U.S. leg of their No Hard Feelings tour, brought their first Canadian arena run to a sellout crowd in Vancouver, and they looked right at home under the bright lights.
Toronto band Valley kicked things off earlier in the night, and their set was the perfect warm-up. With their polished alt-pop sound and easy chemistry, they had the crowd swaying and singing long before The Beaches took the stage. Songs like “Like 1999” and MGMT cover “Kids” turned the arena into one big singalong. Frontman Rob Laska’s charm and sincerity carried through every song, while Karah James’ harmonies and percussion gave their sound extra punch. By the end of their set, Valley had the crowd fully on their side.
The Beaches opened with “Last Girls at the Party,” a punchy, synth-rock anthem that set the tone for the night: cheeky and full of energy. It rolled right into “Touch Myself,” which they playfully dedicated “to all the lovers of self-pleasure.” From there, the set moved between shimmering pop-rock and gritty guitar riffs, the band’s mix of polish and personality shining through every track.
Jordan Miller’s grin said it all. “We’re so fucking happy to be here!” she yelled, beaming. She reminded the crowd that the band has sold out every headlining Vancouver show they’ve ever played. This night felt like a well-earned victory lap.
Early in the night, Jordan invited a fan on stage for “Did I Say Too Much,” which they dedicated, with a laugh, to Don Cherry. Later, the mood turned a little more sentimental when the band dedicated “Lesbian of the Year” to Tegan and Sara, giving a heartfelt “TED Talk” about how the queer community has supported them. It was a rare quiet moment in a night that otherwise pulsed with electric energy, and it hit home. Jordan and guitarist Leandra Earl joked that “Edge of the Earth” kept with the “lesbian theme,” laughing as they kicked into the moody slow-burner.
That sense of honesty, mixed with humour and chaos, has always been their secret weapon. “Shower Beer” was hilariously dedicated “to everyone who’s ever got a bit too drunk,” and by the time they hit “Fine, Let’s Get Married,” the crowd was screaming every lyric back like a shared inside joke.
But the biggest cheer came before “T-Shirt,” when Jordan took a moment to reflect. “We’ve been touring the U.S. for so long, it feels so fucking good to be home,” she said. “To celebrate our first arena tour and 15 years as a band, we’re gonna do something special and play some older stuff.” The throwback stretch of “Fascination,” “Blow Up,” and “Give It Up” felt like a love letter to their day-one fans.
The final stretch of the main set was all hits: “Lame,” “Money,” “Jocelyn,” “Takes One to Know One,” and of course, “Blame Brett,” the viral breakup anthem that turned them from local heroes into national stars. Thousands shouted “Blame my ex!” in unison, a cathartic roar that shook the rafters.
After a short break, they returned for an encore of “I Wore You Better,” “Sorry for Your Loss,” and a reprise of “Last Girls at the Party.” Confetti filled the air and the band beamed as if they couldn’t quite believe how far they’ve come.
Fifteen years in, The Beaches sound tighter, louder, and more self-assured than ever. They’ve built their empire brick by brick, tour by tour, song by song, and Vancouver gave them the reception they’ve long deserved.
At this point, calling them “one of Canada’s top rock acts” feels like an understatement. The Beaches have officially graduated from festival slots and club gigs to arena headliners, and they did it their way, with humour and heart.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour dates:
10/27 Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Expo Centre
10/29 Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
10/30 Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
11/01 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
11/02 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
11/05 Ottawa, ON – The Arena at TD Place
11/06 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
11/09 London, ON – Centennial Hall
11/10 London, ON – Centennial Hall
11/13 Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
11/15 Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick
More information here.
THE BEACHES
VALLEY
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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