Concerts Reviews
The Quiet Power of Alessia Cara on Full Display in Vancouver – Live Review
We were on hand at Vancouver’s Centre for the Performing Arts this week to see Alessia Cara close out the Canadian leg of her Love and Hyperbole tour. Check out our review and photos below!
Alicia Moffet
Opening for Alessia Cara was fellow Canadian and The Next Star winner Alicia Moffet. What was The Next Star you ask? Unfortunately for everyone, that’s a question I can answer, as I spent the last 10 minutes going down a rabbit hole. Apparently, TNS was a Canadian talent show that ran for 7 seasons on YTV. Being a man of a certain age, I am not shocked that I’d never heard of it. To balance my ignorance, I will say that Alyssia Reid is the only other contestant I’ve ever heard of from this show, and she is incredible, so good on her and Alicia for escaping the curse that was this production.
Alicia Moffet. Did I know who Alicia was before I got to the show? Yes, actually! Did I have to search her name in my Apple Music library to be reminded what she sang? Also yes! But that’s less about her music and more of a “everything is shuffle now, I don’t look at my phone, what am I even listening to” problem. You get it.
If you are new to Alicia Moffet’s work, I strongly suggest you start with “Lullaby.” It plays as a smoother, cooler-than-you version of “ABCDEFU’ if that song was your thing a summer or two ago. Alicia can slow it down, and layer her voice, and really record something special.
“Open Up” is the second song you’ll want to find. You’d think it was Some Popular DJ ft/ Alicia Moffet, it has that sort of chorus and is very EDM-adjacent. Excellent, fun song. Add to playlist, mark as favourite.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Canadian of talent with several catchy hit songs, Alicia served as an excellent opener for Alessia, throwing herself around the stage and interacting with the audience. You really couldn’t ask for more, and I hope this supporting tour is just her way of preparing for a 3rd album release soon, because we are overdue
Alessia Cara
Alessia gets overlooked a lot, although I don’t understand how this could possibly be the case. She should be everywhere, all the time! She has had some hits – real, non-trivial hits. “Stay” is a banger and a track I’ve had on multiple playlists over the years. Did she sing it Monday night? Of course she did. Was it a slowed down, almost jazzified version? That was a thing that we didn’t expect to hear. I assume this only happened because Zedd is playing a European club somewhere to 75 ultra-wealthy socialites and so wasn’t available for an all-ages show in Vancouver. It is what it is.
Alessia’s show was intimate and engaging, filled with uplifting anecdotes and a theme of… Perseverance? Hope? In a world of artists creating art and letting others find their own interpretations, Alessia is comfortable telling her stories of heartbreak, and how she wrote a song, and why. She will tell you that if you are going through something similar that you need to be brave, because it’s going to be ok. This was her vibe the last time I saw her as well, and it’s endearing.
Alessia is a gem, well on her way to becoming a national treasure. “Scars to Your Beautiful” is beautifully produced, we’re going to get more of that from her. “Wild Things” has that “today’s youth” vibe, and “Rooting for You” is cute in the best way possible. She’s starting a new phase, that second decade that is so good to so many musicians that fly ever-so-slightly under the radar, like Carly Rae Jepsen or CHVRCHES. Just quietly putting out amazing music until something goes viral every now and then, because of course it does, because, again, excellent.
We had a great time at the show, and we hope you enjoy a few photos below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ALESSIA CARA
ALICIA MOFFET
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
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