Concerts Reviews
Trousdale’s Harmonies Soar at The Pearl in Vancouver – Live Review
Trousdale brought their Growing Pains Tour to The Pearl in Vancouver on June 16. The LA-based trio, made up of Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones, put on a set that was both musically tight and emotionally open. The room was packed with fans who knew every word.
The night kicked off with a unique opening set featuring three artists (Beane, Nia Ashleigh, and buffchick) who shared the stage and passed the figurative mic between them. Each brought something different to the table, taking turns performing original songs. It was a collaborative vibe that worked, and all three left strong impressions.
Around 9pm, Trousdale arrived on stage and opened with “Lonely Night” immediately locking in the crowd. It’s a slow build with vulnerable lyrics, and a chorus that hits like a group hug. From there, they rolled straight into “Growing Pains,” the title track from their sophomore album. That one evoked hints of early HAIM.
Trousdale’s chemistry was incredible. Every member took turns at lead vocals, but their harmonies were where the magic lived. Even live, they hit those blends that most bands only pull off in the studio.
They didn’t shy away from talking in between songs either, joking about their adventures at the Canadian border last time they were here and how they lost all their merch (and a few band members), forcing them to go to the Salvation Army to buy pink, blue and green outfits. The vibe was casual, and they made The Pearl feel like a living room full of friends.
The set was mostly stacked with tracks from Growing Pains, including crowd favourites like “Second Hand Smoke,” which hit a quieter, more introspective note. They also dipped into older songs like “Movie Star,” their soft ode to all-consuming love. They dedicated this song to a couple in the audience who had just gotten married.
One standout moment came when they played “How to be 18,” a song they’ve only performed once before in Texas. It was part of a collaborative project with other artists to raise funds against Project 2025, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. The song is about bodily autonomy and the right to choose. Hearing it live felt personal, pointed, and powerful. Then, like it was no big deal, they launched into a three-part Wicked medley, complete with “Defying Gravity.” No surprise: they nailed it.
The encore was effective. They closed with “The Ick,” a song about the moment someone gives you the creeps out of nowhere. Judging by the cheers, everyone could relate. Then came “Last Bloom” and the heartbreaker “If I’m Honest,” which they sang in unison, a cappella.
Trousdale isn’t just another harmony-driven trio with cute stage outfits (though they were colour-coordinated, as always, Quinn in green, Georgia in pink, Lauren in blue). They’re sharp songwriters, stellar performers, and clearly having the time of their lives. If this was your first time seeing them live, it won’t be your last.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
6/17 Seattle – Neumos
6/19 San Francisco – Chapel
6/20 Healdsburg – Little Saint
6/21 Los Angeles – El Rey Theatre
More info on their website.
Check out our favourite photos of the night or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TROUSDALE
BEANE, NIA ASHLEIGH & BUFFCHICK
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Let Your Freak Flag Fly: DEVO and The B-52s Bring the Weird to Rogers Arena
If there was ever a concert where you could show up wearing a red energy dome, a giant lobster costume, or something covered in sequins and somehow feel underdressed, it was Sunday night at Rogers Arena. DEVO and The B-52s brought their Cosmic De-Evolution Tour to Vancouver on September 27, turning the arena into a colourful, wonderfully weird collision of new wave, dance music, retro-futurism and pure camp. It was less like watching two bands from another era and more like being dropped into a very strange party that somehow never stopped being cool.
DEVO kicked things off with their signature visual style firmly intact. The yellow jumpsuits and unmistakable red energy dome hats made an appearance, along with a seriously impressive light show that turned the stage into a constantly shifting wall of colour and movement. There was a lot to look at, and the band clearly understood that half the fun of DEVO is the spectacle. At one point, they took things a step further by throwing red energy domes from the stage into the crowd, sending fans scrambling to catch one of their own. “Uncontrollable Urge” had the arena bouncing, while “Whip It” brought one of the biggest reactions of the night. Watching thousands of people lose themselves to a song that has been living in the cultural bloodstream for decades was pretty great.
Then came The B-52s, and suddenly Rogers Arena felt less like a hockey arena and more like the world’s biggest dance floor. Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider and Cindy Wilson brought the kind of energy that makes it impossible to simply sit and watch. “Planet Claire,” “Roam,” “Private Idaho” and “Love Shack” had the crowd singing and dancing along, but naturally, everyone knew what was coming. “Rock Lobster.” And yes, there was an actual lobster on stage. The giant crustacean made its appearance as the band tore into their gloriously bizarre classic, perfectly summing up what makes The B-52s so much fun. They have never seemed particularly interested in being normal, and thankfully, they still aren’t.
Their fans are just as committed. There was a definite cult-like devotion in the room, with plenty of retro outfits, dancing, big hair, wild accessories and people who clearly knew every single word. The crowd ranged from longtime fans who have been following the bands for decades to younger concertgoers discovering the music for themselves. That might be the most fun part of the Cosmic De-Evolution Tour. These songs have somehow escaped their original era. They still work. They still make people dance. And the bands themselves seem perfectly happy to keep letting their freak flags fly.
DEVO and The B-52s may have been formed nearly half a century ago, but there was nothing particularly nostalgic about the night. This wasn’t a museum piece or simply a trip down memory lane. It was loud, colourful, ridiculous and incredibly fun. With DEVO‘s futuristic visuals, flying energy domes and The B-52s‘ wonderfully unhinged stage presence, Rogers Arena got a little weirder on Sunday night, and Vancouver was better for it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
DEVO
THE B-52s
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: AC/DC – Hell’s Still Bellin’
AC/DC. Christ. What’s left to say? Everything’s been said, screamed, tattooed on someone’s bicep already. Doesn’t matter. That’s the whole racket, they never changed, never blinked, and more than fifty years later they’re still the loudest gang in the room.
Growing up, they felt ancient already. I am a 2001 kid. Turns out the joke’s on me: they’re still out there, riffing like it’s ’79, refusing to retire into legend status.
Princess Auto Stadium was packed with about 35000 attendees. Everyone was wearing red twinkling devil’s horns. To warm up the night, The Pretty Reckless started with one of the hits “Death by Rock and Roll.” Some support acts play like they’re grateful for the slot. Taylor Momsen played like she owns the stadium. The hair falling forward, somehow the less you can see of her face the more magnetic she gets. Stage presence isn’t something you learn. She’s just got it.
The band didn’t sound like an opener. Every riff landed with the swagger “Going To Hell” and “Since You’re Gone” kept it burning, and “About You” brought it down to something rawer before the lights cut. By the time The Pretty Reckless walked off, the audience were already screaming AC/DC! AC/DC!
Winnipeggers stood stunned through AC/DC‘s whole set. Angus Young, 71 years old still in that signature blue schoolboy uniform and yellow-and-blue cap, ran wild across the stage, duck-walking like no time had passed at all, genuinely, a dream come true to watch in person.
Meanwhile, the rest of the band, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, bassist Chris Chaney and drummer Matt Laug stayed largely in the background, keeping the engine running for Angus and Johnson to tear apart.
The production matched the legend, “Hells Bells” arrived with an actual giant bell hanging over the stage. The setlist ran deep: “Thunderstruck,” “Have a Drink on Me,” “Shot in the Dark,” “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Highway to Hell,” “Jailbreak,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” Almost every song sounded just as good as the album version. The crowd tore their vocal cords apart singing along to “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “TNT.” “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” closed things out with cannons blasting into the night sky.
The house lights came up and nobody moved right away. Smoke still hanging over the stage, ears ringing, horns still lit up red across the stands. Bands this old aren’t supposed to sound this dangerous. They aren’t supposed to still mean it. But AC/DC never got the memo about slowing down, and honestly, thank God for that. I walked out hoarse, deaf, and completely satisfied.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
AC/DC
THE PRETTY RECKLESS
All Photo Credit: Nischal Karki