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
The Offspring Bring ‘Supercharged World Tour” to Vancouver
Born in the *very* early 80’s, I was probably the perfect age to experience The Offspring when they hit it big. I remember when “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” was exploding, and “Why Don’t You Get a Job” was pretty much everywhere for a minute. Remember when Much Music was still a thing that featured music? But for me, the 90’s was the decade of punk/rock songs finding their way into video games and I can’t hear “All I Want” without thinking about Crazy Taxi. I think I played that game to hear that song! Probably not what the game designers had planned, but what do they care? I bought the damn game, take the win!
The Offspring launched 2026 by bringing their Supercharged World Tour to Canada earlier this month, with their second show here in Vancouver. The Offspring are one of those bands you think about when you think of 90’s punk. We just enjoyed Sum 41’s farewell tour last year, and while I hate that they’re gone, others carry on. We’ll never forget you, GOB! Supporting their new record brought their fans out in droves, packing Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.
The Offspring have no shortage of hits, and they rocked their way through them all. Their fans – liberty spikes front and center – had no opportunity to sit or rest from the moment the main attraction hit the stage. Tracks like “Bad Habit,” “Hammerhead,” and “Make It All Right” hit hard. Everyone knew the words, and everyone sang along. Often loudly. Proudly!
Check out our favorite photos of the night below!
Upcoming The Offspring: SUPERCHARGED WORLDWIDE in ‘26 Tour Dates:
Tue Jan 27 — Prince George, BC — CN Centre
Wed Jan 28 — Grande Prairie, AB — Bonnetts Energy Centre
Fri Jan 30 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
Sun Feb 01 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
Thu Feb 05 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre
Fri Feb 06 — Fargo, ND — FARGODOME
Sat Feb 07 — Sioux City, IA — Tyson Events Center
Tue Feb 10 — Evansville, IN — Ford Center
Wed Feb 11 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
Fri Feb 13 — Hamilton, ON — TD Coliseum
Sat Feb 14 — London, ON — Canada Life Place
Tue Feb 17 — Peterborough, ON — Peterborough Memorial Centre
Thu Feb 19 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre
Sat Feb 21 — Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
Mon Feb 23 — Moncton, NB — Avenir Centre
Tue Feb 24 — Halifax, NS — Scotiabank Centre
More information can be found at TheOffspring.com.
THE OFFSPRING
BAD RELIGION
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Concerts Reviews
The Offspring Supercharge Victoria With A Night of Hits
The Offspring kicked off the Canadian leg of their Supercharged World Tour in Victoria on January 22, and from the jump, it felt like more than just another tour stop. For decades, they’ve stood tall in punk rock history, firmly planted on the genre’s Rushmore alongside Green Day, NOFX, and Bad Religion. They even helped spark the rise of one of Canada’s own legends, Sum 41. The timing of this tour couldn’t be better either, landing right after the release of Supercharged, an album that pulls together different eras of the band into one fast, loud, and familiar rush. With a fresh record to celebrate and a hit-stacked catalog that spans generations, it’s easy to see why thousands showed up to sell out the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre.
Even before stepping inside, the night already felt alive. Fans swarmed the area, and more than a few leaned fully into the fun, rocking full Pretty Fly Guy fits. Once inside, that energy expanded. What felt like hundreds instantly turned into thousands, and you could feel it was one of those passing the torch kind of nights. Fans who grew up blasting Smash, Self-Titled, and Ignition brought their kids along to experience the music that helped shape their own teenage years. It didn’t take long to realize this crowd was ready to go off. But before The Offspring hit the stage, punk royalty took over.
“We promised you we’d play here again Victoria, sorry it took us 25 years.” With that, Bad Religion had the room eating out of their hands. The Cali punk icons ripped straight into classics like “Punk Rock Song,” “Recipe For Hate,” and “American Jesus,” keeping the energy sky high from start to finish. Every song hit hard, every chorus was shouted back, and by the time they wrapped up, Victoria was fully primed for what was coming next.
Then, it was go time. The Offspring burst onto the stage and wasted no time, opening with “Come Out and Play.” The reaction was instant. Fans were on their feet in seconds, screaming every word and even belting out the guitar riff like it was second nature. There was no warm up period here, just straight chaos. Noodles made his presence felt without saying a word, flashing Abolish ICE on the back of his guitar, a quiet but powerful reminder of punk’s roots. Front and center, Dexter was unstoppable. Locked in, bursting with energy, and sounding every bit as sharp as he did in the 90s. Any doubts about whether he still had it were gone before the first song even ended.
The setlist was deep, stretching across 20 tracks and touching nearly every major chapter of the band’s career. Smash, Americana, Rise and Fall, and Supercharged all got their moment. Songs like “Bad Habit,” “Hammerhead,” and “Make It All Right” sent the crowd into full meltdown mode. Fans didn’t just sing along, they gave everything back, lyric for lyric, letting the band know exactly how much these songs have meant over the years. The Offspring also kept things unpredictable, tossing in covers that somehow fit perfectly into the madness. “Hey Jude,” “I Wanna Be Sedated,” and even “In the Hall of the Mountain King” popped up. One of the most powerful moments of the night came when Dex sat down at the piano for “Gone Away,” pulling the entire arena into a quiet, emotional pause that hit just as hard as the chaos.
As the night raced toward its finish line, things went nuclear. The final stretch was pure fan service in the best way possible. “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy),” sent the place into celebration mode, and when the encore rolled around with “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” before closing it all out with “Self Esteem,” the building was shaking. During “Far Kid,” a zeppelin balloon floated across the arena flashing the iconic “Dance Fucker Dance” line and the crowd happily obeyed. Confetti erupted during the final chorus, turning the moment into total chaos in the most perfect way. Between moments like that and the relentless energy these legends brought to the stage, it’s easy to understand how they’ve stayed at the top of the genre for so long. The Offspring gave Victoria a night it won’t soon forget, and if this was just the start of the Canadian run, the rest of the country is in for a wild ride.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming The Offspring: SUPERCHARGED WORLDWIDE in ‘26 Tour Dates:
Sat Jan 24 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
Sun Jan 25 — Kelowna, BC — Prospera Place
Tue Jan 27 — Prince George, BC — CN Centre
Wed Jan 28 — Grande Prairie, AB — Bonnetts Energy Centre
Fri Jan 30 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
Sun Feb 01 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
Thu Feb 05 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre
Fri Feb 06 — Fargo, ND — FARGODOME
Sat Feb 07 — Sioux City, IA — Tyson Events Center
Tue Feb 10 — Evansville, IN — Ford Center
Wed Feb 11 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
Fri Feb 13 — Hamilton, ON — TD Coliseum
Sat Feb 14 — London, ON — Canada Life Place
Tue Feb 17 — Peterborough, ON — Peterborough Memorial Centre
Thu Feb 19 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre
Sat Feb 21 — Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
Mon Feb 23 — Moncton, NB — Avenir Centre
Tue Feb 24 — Halifax, NS — Scotiabank Centre
More information at TheOffspring.com.
THE OFFSPRING
All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno