Concerts Reviews
Toronto Fans Sing Through the Storm with Twenty One Pilots
On September 21, 2025, the Ohio-based musical duo, Twenty One Pilots, consisting of singer/ musician, Tyler Joseph and drummer, Josh Dun, were set to play Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Canada, on their third night of The Clancy Tour: Breach. This would be their second night in Toronto.
The energy in the air was buzzing, many still living off the high of attending the concert the previous night, while others will about to experience the show for the first time. Many fans travelled for the show as well, some coming from countries in Europe, as well as Ukraine and Brazil, as the band doesn’t have plans to tour in these locations. Toronto is the only Canadian stop on the tour as well.
As fans trickled into venue grounds, it was clear that this band has a dedicated fan base. Nearly every single attendee had dressed up for the occasion, wearing outfits inspired by characters in the band’s lore, basing their outfit on an album, taping their shoulders and hands, wearing their iconic colours of red, black, yellow, and green, or simply wearing pieces of band merch. Even some staff members had bracelets to trade! You could also sense such a strong sense of community, as many fans brought small items to trade and give away, such as art pieces inspired by the band, bracelets, pins and patches, and photo cards.
Another highlight of the day was when the band’s creative/ content director, Mark C Eshleman, and photographer, Mase, came out to film content of fans. They filmed art, outfits, and fans singing along to the band’s song, “We Don’t Believe What’s on TV”, of which would be used later on in a fan video during the show.
As the gates to the venue finally opened, fans who had waited all day for the show rushed towards their seats and places in general admission, while others took the time to admire the “Bandito Camp”, set in the lawn of the venue. The lawn is where B-Stage was held, and Bandito Camp featured a couple of tents placed and decorated around the venue featuring items from their lore, such as Bandito recruitment posters, playable ukuleles, and a Toronto flag for fans to sign.
However, the stress of the night began as fans learnt that the opener, Dayglow, had their set cut due to severe storms approaching. This meant that Twenty One Pilots took to the stage at approximately 7:45, rather than their usual time of 8:45.
The concert opened with the band’s popular first single and opener to their album “Clancy”, “Overcompensate”, and the energy and volume of the crowd was unbelievable. The energy continued during the entire night, however, due to the storms, they were only able to play 16 out of their usual 28 song set. This meant that fan-favourites, such as “Heavydirtysoul”, “The Line”, and “Stressed Out” didn’t make it on the setlist for the night.
The band did not let the weather stop them from squeezing in as many songs as possible, as they performed “Tear in my Heart”, “Shy Away”, and a sparks-filled performance of “Heathens”. They also managed to play their B-Stage set, including setting a car on fire during a couple of the songs, and performed with fans who dressed up as their character “Ned” when they played “Chlorine”.
During a moment in the show, the drummer, Josh Dun, playing his role as “Torchbearer”, lit a torch from the flaming car, and picked up the flag from the Bandito Camp, which fans were able to sign, and attached it to a flagpole. He carried the flag and torch through the venue back to the main stage, where a curtain dropped to reveal the city of Dema, representing a very critical moment in the band’s lore.
They also had pyro during “Jumpsuit”, played their radio hit, “Ride”, and played their iconic closer song, “Trees”, while standing on a platform held by the crowd as confetti rained down.
Although fans were disappointed by the outcome of the night, they tried to make the most of it by leaving the venue singing songs from the band, and dancing outside with one another in the rain. Although sad, many were very grateful that the band chose to play at all, rather than cancel the show entirely.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Wed, Sep 24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Sat, Sep 27 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Sun, Sep 28 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Tue, Sep 30 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
Wed, Oct 01 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sat, Oct 04 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Sun, Oct 05 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Tue, Oct 07 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Wed, Oct 08 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Fri, Oct 10 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sat, Oct 11 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue, Oct 14 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
Wed, Oct 15 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Fri, Oct 17 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
Sun, Oct 19 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Mon, Oct 20 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu, Oct 23 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat, Oct 25 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium
Tickets and info at twentyonepilots.com/tour
TWENTY ONE PILOTS
All Photo Credit: Ashley Bellam
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: aespa Close North American Tour With a Futuristic Spectacle in Vancouver
My K-pop education continued on October 11 as aespa brought their SYNK : COMPLæXITY Tour to Rogers Arena in Vancouver. After seeing TWICE in January and IVE in August, this was my third concert foray into K-pop. I was excited to see how aespa would compare, and the answer was a little different from my first two experiences. Where TWICE brought the fun and IVE delivered its own polished pop spectacle, aespa leaned into futuristic visuals, heavy electronic production and choreography that rarely let up.
With no opening act, the stage belonged entirely to Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning. Vancouver marked the final stop of the North American leg before the group heads to Europe in January, making this the last chance for fans on this side of the Atlantic to see the production for a while.
There had been some concern about Giselle’s participation after she left the stage five songs into the group’s October 9 show at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Thankfully, she was back in Vancouver. Both she and Winter mentioned having a cold, but you wouldn’t have known it from their performances. Neither appeared to let it get in the way, and both delivered strong performances throughout the night.
The show opened with “LEMONADE,” immediately filling Rogers Arena with heavy bass, electronic beats and futuristic visuals. The production was massive, but the sound mix occasionally worked against the group. At points, the bass threatened to overpower the vocals, which was frustrating when four singers this capable were onstage.
“Switchblade” and “Whiplash” kept the momentum going before aespa reached back to its 2020 debut single, “Black Mamba.” The choreography remained sharp, and the group’s ability to move between demanding routines and vocal passages without losing its composure was impressive. “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” brought a harder hip-hop edge, with Giselle’s rap standing out against the heavy production.
The concert was divided into five acts, with cinematic video segments building on the group’s fictional universe. The story occasionally felt like a lot to keep up with, particularly for someone who hasn’t followed every chapter of aespa‘s mythology. Still, the visuals gave the show a clear identity. The production had a narrative thread running through it.
The second act offered a welcome change of pace. Karina introduced “Count on Me” on a piano, leading into a softer arrangement that let the members’ voices take centre stage. “Camouflage” and “Angel #48” continued the dreamier stretch. These moments were a reminder that aespa doesn’t need a wall of bass and flashing screens to hold an audience’s attention.
The solo and duet stages were among my favourite parts of the night. Giselle and Ningning brought a relaxed feel to “Lollipop,” while Karina and Winter took a more energetic approach with “Serenade.” Each pairing had its own character, making the performances feel distinct rather than like variations on the same routine.
The four solo performances gave the members even more room to show what they could do. Ningning’s “I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go” built from restrained verses into soaring high notes, while Karina’s “16 Bit” relied on a more understated, moody delivery. Giselle showed a softer side on “BYEB4HELLO,” moving beyond her usual rap role, and Winter’s “Saddle Up” put her choreography and stage confidence front and centre.
These performances made a strong case for the individual personalities within aespa. The group’s sleek, coordinated image is part of its appeal, but seeing the members step outside that format made the concert more interesting.
The heavier material returned with “Armageddon” and “Bite,” followed by a run of choreography-driven performances including “Next Level,” “SHAKIN’” and “Supernova.” The dancers added scale to the show, and the synchronized routines looked particularly effective against the digital scenery. By this point, the production had made its point: aespa knows how to turn its music into a full arena experience.
The pre-encore dance challenge was a fun change of pace, with cameras scanning the crowd and giving fans a chance to show off their moves on the big screens. The segment ended with an (shy) audience singalong to “Roll” before aespa returned for “Yeppi Yeppi” and “’Til We Die.”
As someone still getting to know K-pop, I appreciated the range. The spectacle was impressive, but the quieter songs and individual stages stopped the night from becoming one long sensory overload. The sound mix could have been better, and some of the storyline went over my head, but those were minor complaints in a show packed with strong performances.
TWICE got me curious about K-pop, and IVE gave me another reason to keep exploring it. aespa made a convincing case for sticking around. Their Vancouver show was loud, visually striking and full of personality, with four performers who could hold Rogers Arena’s attention even when the production threatened to steal it. That’s a solid way to close out a North American tour.
Upcoming Aespa – SYNK : COMPLæXITY’ World Tour Dates:
01/14 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ AO Arena
01/16 – London, United Kingdom @ The O2
01/19 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
01/22 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
01/24 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
01/26 – Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena
01/29 – Milan, Italy @ Unipol Dome
01/31 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
02/02 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
More information here.
Concerts Reviews
LØLØ Brings her ‘God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour’ to the Pearl in Vancouver
LØLØ brought her second headlining tour – aptly named “God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour” – to Vancouver this week, a first for the Canada-born artist. We’ve been a fan since we first heard “Death Wish” back in 2021, which seems like it was yesterday, and we aren’t going to overthink that right now. That being said, we’ve been waiting a long time for this night, and what a show!
We’ve been frequenting The Pearl more and more lately, and like so many others this show was sold out and packed wall-to-wall. There was a small mob for the first opener of the night, Dawson Gamble, and the floor was packed by the time Con the Artist took the stage. When LØLØ appeared, it was all plaid miniskirts and devil horns from the stage to the merch booth.
When the lights went down, LØLØ’s voice boomed over the speakers, narrating excerpts from a journal. LØLØ is not a choreographed, over-polished pop princess. Like so many artists that grew their audience from nothing, she does her best to connect with individuals in the audience. She takes her time, holds their hands, and during one memorable song, brings them on stage to dance.
“I think that people don’t want perfection,” she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “They just want to see a live show and a special moment.”
LØLØ was very upfront about her adventures online, finding her voice, and time spent during COVID, and from the vibe you have to assume the audience had been there with her the entire time. From “The Floor is Lava” to “Faceplant,” all the hits were covered and sung along to. Speaking of which…
Must Hear Songs by LØLØ (In Our Humble Opinion):
• “death wish” (Single, 2021)
• “Hot Girls in Hell” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “u turn me on (but you give me depression)” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “Let It Go” (A Whole New Sound (Disney), 2024)
Fun fact: LØLØ was featured on a 2024 Disney punk album alongside Simple Plan, Magnolia Park, and Yellow Card, to name a few iconic bands. Check out her version of “Let It Go” from “Frozen.” It’s unexpected and a lot of fun.
LØLØ ‘s first moment of viral fame was her cover of “Hey There Delilah,” updated and sung from Delilah’s perspective. Pulling Con the Artist back on stage for a duet gave the crowd a wonderful, heartfelt moment that was honestly quite touching. Not everyone’s favorite song, but a lovely moment for everyone in the audience.
LØLØ, with several incredible songs in her library and with a stack of “Warped Tour” appearances already in the books, seems poised to breakthrough to the next level. She’s electric on stage, and animated, and we can only dream of the day she is given more space to play. Until then, another highlight concert of 2026, and something to think about until her next visit!
LØLØ Setlist:
• the devil wears converse
• pretty little wreck
• god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!
• THE FLOOR IS LAVA!
• debbie downer
• me with no shirt on
• the punisher
• 2 of us
• u turn me on (but u give me depression)
• faceplant
• Hey There Delilah
• death wish
• delusional darling
• junkie
• DON’T!
• dumbest girl in the world
• wish i was a robot
• hot girls in hell
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us and for checking out our review!
LØLØ
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin