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: Jackson Wang Brings MAGICMAN II’s Theatrical Spectacle to Vancouver
If you didn’t know Jackson Wang before Sunday night, you definitely left the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre knowing exactly who he is.
Jackson Wang is a Hong Kong-born artist who first gained international recognition as a member of K-pop group GOT7 before launching his solo career in 2017. Since then, he’s built a reputation that extends far beyond music, headlining global tours, performing at Coachella, and founding his own fashion label, Team Wang. He’s also been unusually candid about the pressures of the entertainment industry, and his 2025 album MAGICMAN 2 marked a return after a year-long hiatus, offering a more introspective and emotionally raw body of work than its predecessor.
I’ll admit I wasn’t deeply familiar with Jackson Wang‘s discography going into this show. But I’d heard the hype that his concerts were more theatrical productions than standard arena performances, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
Walking into the venue last night, you could feel the energy form the fans. This was a sold-out crowd, and the devotion of Wang‘s fanbase was evident before the lights even dimmed. No opener meant all eyes were fixed on that stage from the moment doors opened. Though lightsticks weren’t permitted, fans improvised with small finger lights, creating that signature sea of glowing lights you’d expect at a K-pop show.
When the venue went dark, the screams were immediate ; the fans behind me already losing their voices. A cinematic intro played across the massive screens. The MAGICMAN II tour is structured almost like a film, divided into narrative arcs with video interludes bridging each section. Then Wang appeared, suspended mid-air on wires, a single spotlight cutting through the darkness. “High Alone” kicked off the night with him literally running in place above his dancers before descending to join them.
From there, the production only intensified. “Access” brought flames shooting from the stage, deep red lighting washing over the arena, and dancers in black with matching dark eye makeup mirroring Wang‘s MAGICMAN alter ego. The choreography was sharp, the atmosphere thick with smoke and lasers. It looked like a visual album brought to life in front of us.
The emotional turns came quickly. “Hate to Love” slowed things down as fog rolled across the stage, and by the end of the song, dancers were physically restraining Wang, pulling at his clothing until he reemerged in a mesh tank top under red light. I lived the drama of it all as Wang leaned into the theatricality of vulnerability here.
Then came the fan service. Wang invited audience members onstage (first one, then a group of four) seating them at centre stage while he and his dancers performed around them. The choreography was sensual, almost Magic Mike-esque, complete with body rolls and hip thrusts. The participants looked both shocked and thrilled, and the crowd absolutely lost it. A girl behind told her friends “I would do anything to be on that stage with him.”
Another video interlude shifted the mood again. Onscreen, Wang appeared in crisis, drinking heavily, breaking down emotionally, his dark alter ego looming. When he returned to the stage in a loose, straitjacket-inspired white outfit, it was clear we’d entered the most introspective portion of the night. “Blue” and “Everything” hit hard, with dancers floating around him in slow, fluid movements. For “Dopamine,” he asked the audience to raise their phone (and finger) flashlights. It was genuinely beautiful.
The hip-hop segment that followed brought the high energy back up. Wang and his dancers returned in baggy sweats and baseball caps, launching into “BUCK,” “Let Loose,” “TITANIC,” and “GBAD.” “Get your fucking ass up, Vancouver. You guys worked hard, you deserve to fucking have fun!” he told us before the bass dropped. The crowd obliged right away.
A nearly ten-minute video monologue preceded the final act, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and Wang reflecting on his year away from music, reconnecting with himself, with his parents, with what actually matters. When he returned to perform “Sophie Ricky,” a ballad dedicated to his parents, childhood photos flickered across the screens in a tender and earnest moment.
The encore was less a traditional finale than a full-blown afterparty. Green lasers flooded the venue, and Wang, living up to his party man reputation, went down in the pit and pulled fans onstage. For nearly thirty minutes, the arena became a dance floor. His parting message was simple: be yourself, and cherish the people around you.
Walking out into the night, I understood the devotion. Jackson Wang shared a raw version of himself with us during this show. And that kind of honesty, wrapped in this much spectacle, is rare.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming MAGICMAN II tour dates:
04/08 Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
04/10 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
04/12 Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum
More information via Ticketmaster.
JACKSON WANG IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A Sold-Out Night for Sticky Fingers in Vancouver
Sticky Fingers made their long awaited return to Vancouver this past Saturday, April 3rd at the PNE Forum.
For those unfamiliar, Sticky Fingers can best be described as the gateway drug into the world of Australian Indie/Psych Rock. When I first heard of the band in 2016, I was working at a ski resort surrounded by Australians and it only felt right that 10 years later seeing them live, I’d be once again in the company of a sold out crowd, full of Aussies.
The opening act was none other than Ruby Waters. The Juno Award Nominee, Ontario-grown and current Whistler local, has been making waves for some time now. She previously opened up for bands like City & Color and Ocean Alley and has been selling out her own tours across Canada, US, UK and Europe.
Ruby has this raw, emotional, soulful tone that has been compared to the likes of Amy Winehouse, and I totally see why. She performed crowd favourites like Wet T-Shirt and Sweet Sublime, and even performed a new unreleased record.
Sticky Fingers came out and kicked off their set with Land of Pleasure and just kept performing hit after hit. Outcast At Last, Cool & Calm, These Girls (which apparently hasn’t been on their setlist in over a decade), Gold Snafu and even the much loved acoustic set of Cyclone.
Stepping in for lead vocals on this tour is Claude Bailey. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Camino Gold. I can’t imagine stepping into this role comes without its pressures, but Claude absolutely crushed it. He was able to perfectly capture the Sticky Fingers sound that everybody fell in love with and deliver an incredible performance. The OG members include – Paddy Cornwall (bass/vocals), Seamus Coyle (lead guitar), Beaker Best (drums/percussion), and Freddy Crabs (keys/synth).
This concert was much anticipated and it exceeded all expectations. Everyone go listen to Ruby Waters, Sticky Fingers, and Camino Gold!
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Mon Apr 06 | San Francisco, CA | The Masonic
Wed Apr 08 | Anaheim, CA | House of Blues
Thu Apr 09 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Palladium
More information here.
STICKY FINGERS
RUBY WATERS
All Photo Credit: Claudia Whittaker