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: David Lee Roth Brings the Party to Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre
Some artists play a concert. David Lee Roth puts on a show.
The legendary Van Halen frontman took over Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre on July 13 for nearly two and a half hours of classic rock, storytelling, and larger-than-life personality. From the moment he stepped on stage, it was obvious Vancouver still holds a special place in his heart. Throughout the night, he reminisced about recording here over the years and shared fond memories of his time at the Nelson Place Hotel, where, judging by the grin on his face, he had more than a few unforgettable nights.
If you’ve ever seen Diamond Dave, you know the music is only part of the experience.
Roth’s storytelling was in peak form, with tales between songs that seemed to wander wherever his brain felt like taking them. The longest detour of the night eventually landed on “Ice Cream Man,” with Roth picking up an acoustic guitar and easing into the Van Halen classic. Moments like that are exactly why he’s never been just a singer; he’s a showman through and through, and the crowd was loving every minute of it.
At one point, Roth referred to himself as “35 years old… times two,” and honestly, the man has enough energy to make people half his age question their cardio. He powered through almost two and a half hours with barely a pause, constantly moving across the stage with his signature Muppet-like swagger, dramatic poses and facial expression, and even a limbo under his microphone stand just because… he’s David Lee Roth. As a self-proclaimed “paper cup of whiskey,” Roth couldn’t have described himself more perfectly: a little rough around the edges, endlessly charismatic, and impossible not to enjoy.
The setlist delivered exactly what Vancouver came to hear, with Van Halen classics including “Panama,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Jump,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” One of the evening’s standout moments came during “Unchained,” where Roth busted out a harmonica solo, adding his own twist to one of the band’s heaviest anthems.
The crowd was all in from the opening song, singing every chorus back to the stage, cheering between stories, even telling Roth to “gimme a break” when the time came (iykyk). While his voice doesn’t quite reach the same sky-high notes it did in the ’80s, that hardly mattered. Rather than chasing perfection, Roth leaned into what has always made him such a captivating performer: personality, humour, spontaneity, and an undeniable love for being on stage. You could genuinely feel how much fun he was having, and that enthusiasm spread through the theatre.
His backing band kept the iconic songs sounding tight and full of energy, while the backup vocalists were an absolute highlight of the night. They were impossible not to watch, dancing through every song, interacting with each other, and laughing along with Roth‘s antics. The moment one of the backing vocalists sauntered across the stage to jump behind another set of synth keys, you knew the crowd was about to be transported straight into synth heaven. Their chemistry with one another and with Roth added another layer of excitement to an already lively performance, making the stage feel alive from start to finish.
With plenty of videos from earlier stops on the tour circulating online, Vancouver’s performance felt like one of the strongest of the run. Roth looked relaxed, sounded confident, and seemed genuinely excited to be back in a city that’s clearly been an important part of his career. Whether it was the hometown memories, the electric crowd, or simply one of those nights where everything clicked, the show had an extra spark that carried through from start to finish
David Lee Roth may not sound exactly like he did four decades ago, and honestly, that’s okay. What hasn’t changed is his ability to command a stage, make thousands of people smile, and turn a concert into a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll party. For diehard Van Halen fans, it was a chance to relive the classics. For everyone else, it was a reminder that great songs are one thing, but a true showman knows how to make them unforgettable.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full glallery!
DAVID LEE ROTH IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A$AP Rocky’s Tour Finale Brings Out 50 Cent, Ice Spice, and the A$AP Mob
Coming off the hype of his long-awaited fourth studio album Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky has been turning up shows and electrifying audiences across major venues in North America. On Saturday, he was performing at the Prudential Center, which is near his hometown of New York. Eager fans packed into the venue, greeted by a warning on the big screen that read, “Please be advised that this performance includes SWAT performers and strobe effects. Enjoy the show!” The message felt direct yet somewhat chilling.
When the moment finally arrived, A$AP Rocky stormed onto the general admission floor accompanied by police officers and masked bodyguards sporting AWGE tactical gear. Unlike most concerts, this one kicked off in the middle of the crowd. When he shouted, “Open that shit up!” the crowd erupted, and all hell broke loose.
As fans piled in to get as close as possible to the rapper, the once-spacious venue transformed into a massive mosh pit. It was organized chaos, much to A$AP‘s delight, as he seemed to feed off their energy, a true ringleader in the mayhem. Most rappers wouldn’t dare start a show this way for obvious safety reasons. But not A$AP, he enjoys being right in the middle of the action.
Performing some of the more energetic songs from his new album, like “Helicopter” and “Order of Protection,” he danced, jumped, and pushed back against the crowd. This felt like a special show, as the hometown kid finally got to celebrate with his New York and New Jersey fans.
Joining him for this event were several special guests, including Ice Spice, Uncle Murda, 50 Cent, Skilla Baby, and various members of the A$AP Mob, blessing the crowd with favorites like “Deli,” “Many Men,” and “Thick One.” With this final show, Rocky concluded his United States and Canada run of the Don’t Be Dumb tour with a banger. We can only look forward to more surprises and epic moments as he takes the show to Europe. Rocky will be taking no prisoners as he embarks on this extended leg. I just hope those fans heed the warning and come ready to turn up with the mob.
Check out our favorite photos of the show below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
A$AP ROCKY
All Photo Credit: Anthony Grant