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: 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