Concerts Reviews
TWICE Kick Off the North American Leg of their THIS IS FOR World Tour With Two Hours of Joy
TWICE have spent the last decade growing from a bubbly K-pop rookie group into one of the most reliable live pop acts on the planet. Formed in 2015 through JYP Entertainment’s show Sixteen, the nine-member group (Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu) built their reputation on sharp choreography, sticky hooks, and a rare sense of longevity in an industry that moves fast. Their <THIS IS FOR> World Tour marks another big step, as their 10th Anniversary tour. Vancouver got the honour of opening the North American leg, with night one landing at Rogers Arena on January 9.
This show carried weight: it’s the first night of a new leg, first of two sold-out Vancouver dates, first time TWICE ever performed here. Or so they kept saying (more on that later).
Before the doors even opened, the sense of community hit hard. This was my first K-pop concert, and the concourse felt almost like a fan convention. ONCE (as TWICE fans are called) showed up early and prepared. Freebies were everywhere: fake Canadian bills printed with member faces, bracelets, banners, fake concert tickets as keepsakes. People traded gifts with strangers like it was normal, and it ruled. It reminded me of the exchange of bracelets at Taylor Swift’s shows.
Outfits ranged from full music video cosplay to subtle nods. Candy Bongs (TWICE’s lightstick) lit up the building in every direction. Someone even brought a giant inflatable Candy Bong that eventually made it onstage. Jihyo got her hands on it during “Scientist” and used it to whack her own members. No notes.
The lights dropped just after 8 p.m. “FOUR” played in the dark while Candy Bongs glowed across the arena. A massive 360-degree stage sat in the middle, with towering LED screens hanging above. The scale felt serious. TWICE rose into view and launched straight into “THIS IS FOR.” The scream from the crowd swallowed the mix.
Act I leaned heavy on confidence. “Strategy,” “MAKE ME GO,” “SET ME FREE,” and “I CAN’T STOP ME” landed clean and tight as this group moves with muscle memory built over ten years. The ments showed real excitement and a touch of nervousness. Kudos to the translator who helped both members and fans understanding each other as most members spoke mainly in Korean.
Act II raised the emotional stakes. “MARS” and “I GOT YOU” hit with warm vocals. “Gone” stood out for me, especially with the arrangement with the live band. Jihyo and Nayeon owned it. “CRY FOR ME” and “HELL IN HEAVEN” kept the intensity high. “RIGHT HAND GIRL” pulled huge cheers, proof that deep cuts still matter.
Then came the solos. This section turned the show into a full showcase. Tzuyu opened with “DIVE IN,” graceful and controlled. Mina followed with “STONE COLD.” Nayeon brought pop chaos with “MEEEEEE.” Jeongyeon surprised with “FIX A DRINK,” leaning into a country edge that somehow worked. The pink, glittery cowboy outfit was perfect for it. Dahyun played piano during “CHESS” and owned the room. Chaeyoung returned to the stage with “SHOOT (Firecracker),” and the welcome back energy was real. She had missed several dates earlier in the 1st leg of the tour, and you could feel the relief from then fans as the group back to OT9. Jihyo’s “ATM” confirmed what I already suspected. She has unreal stage presence and total command of the crowd. Sana softened the mood with “DECAFFEINATED.” Momo closed the solo run with “MOVE LIKE THAT,” pure movement and confidence.
Then it was time for the “TAKEDOWN” curveball. Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung debuted it live on this tour, pulled from the Netflix hit K-Pop Demon Hunters. The arena lost its mind. I knew and loved the song going in, but I did not expect that reaction. The honmoon was clearly sealed after that performance.
Act IV was wall-to-wall hits. “FANCY,” “What Is Love?,” “YES or YES,” and “Dance the Night Away” turned the arena into a giant singalong. The fan dance cam kicked in before the encore and ONCE showed up prepared with sharp choreography.
The encore opened with “SCIENTIST,” another tour debut. Before the final song, the members talked again about Vancouver. Nine years ago, they filmed the “Likey” music video in Vancouver. That explained why they ended the show “LIKEY,” an unusual closer that was direct nod to the city. The crowd loved it and screamed the lyrics back at the members.
I walked in knowing only a handful of songs and very little about the members, and I walked out with a bias (Jihyo earned that spot without debate) and a smile on my face. More than that, I left understanding why TWICE have lasted this long. Here’s to ten more years!
Upcoming THIS IS FOR Tour Dates:
1/10 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
1/13 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
1/14 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
1/17 – Oakland Arena – Oakland, CA
1/18 – Oakland Arena – Oakland, CA
1/21 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/22 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/24 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/25 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
1/28 – PHX Arena – Phoenix, AZ
1/31 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
2/01 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
2/13 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
2/14 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
2/18 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/20 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/21 – UBS Arena – Belmont Park, NY
2/24 – Xfinity Mobile Arena – Philadelphia, PA
2/27 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
3/03 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
3/06 – TD Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
3/07 – TD Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
3/27 – Kia Center – Orlando, FL
3/28 – Kia Center – Orlando, FL*
3/31 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
4/03 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
4/04 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
4/06 – United Center – Chicago, IL
4/07 – United Center – Chicago, IL
4/10 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
4/12 – Grand Casino Arena – Saint Paul, MN
4/14 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO
4/17 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
4/18 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
5/09 – MEO Arena – Lisbon, PT
5/12 – Palau Sant Jordi – Barcelona, ES
5/16 – Accor Arena – Paris, FR
5/17 – Accor Arena – Paris, FR
5/20 – Inalpi Arena – Turin, IT
5/23 – Uber Arena – Berlin, DE
5/26 – LANXESS Arena – Cologne, DE
5/30 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL
5/31 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL
6/03 – The O2 – London, UK
6/04 – The O2 – London, UK
More information on the tour here.
Concerts Reviews
KARD Gets Icky in Los Angeles
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to get “dumb litty”? Maybe you need a little cake in your life? If you were able to catch Kpop / hip hop group KARD on December 10th you most likely fulfilled both. Opening their DRIFT 2025 US Tour, KARD was back in Los Angeles after two years to show Hidden KARD (fanbase) how to turn up.
2025 has been a controversial year for KARD, with the group’s previous tour cancelled, many fans still dealing with the refund process months later and BM’s use of a racial slur earlier in the year. This controversy has left fans divided, some remain rightfully critical and have left the fandom due to his actions while others have shown support for the rapper’s remorse. Though not the group’s fault for refunds left unattended, some fans remain frustrated and hesitant to purchase tickets to their current tour as they still wait to get their money back.
KARD has continued on in hopes of regaining the trust of their fandom and delivering performances worthy of the wait. The co-ed group known for their mature lyrics and sultry style led the first stop of their US tour with tracks off their latest mini album DRIFT and some older favorites. The night was filled with highs but not without a few bumps along the way. Starting strong, KARD opened the performance with “Touch” before making everyone’s body temp rise with “Icky.” Taking it back to 2017, the group hit “Oh NaNA” and “Hola Hola,” bringing Hidden KARD back to their debut. Latest tracks “Top Down” and “Before We Go” showed off a softer side to the group.
Sprinkled in the set were a few solo and duet numbers, BM let out his “Freak,” while he and J.Seph showed us they “Been That Boy,” before Somin and Jiwoo took over the stage with “Enemy.”
Keeping the crowd engaged between performances, a VCR played showing the members answering trivia about one another, Jiwoo won the game, earning her the title of Team Leader, while BM ranked last, making him the intern. Though humorous, the video seemed to go on a bit longer than desired. These longer videos are often used as place fillers for newer groups with minimal releases, though KARD has a discography spanning long enough to reliably complete a well rounded production.
The four also took several moments throughout the show to chat with fans, and even play some games. Deciding between things like singing high notes 100 times or doing the same choreography 100 times, the group was split down the middle during the interactive game “This or That.” My Korean isn’t advanced but even I could tell there were some missteps as the translator struggled to keep up before BM had to take over several times throughout the night to make sure the members’ messages were being conveyed to fans correctly.
Despite there being a real technical difficulty earlier in the night when Somin’s mic stopped working, the group ran off stage mid show citing more difficulties – however faking it this time, only to arrive in Santa inspired gear to sing “Last Christmas” to the crowd. Literally shifting energy the group transformed into DRIFT dance track “Pivot,” sweeping the floor with their NSFW dance moves.
Making you want to skip dinner and head straight to dessert, steamy track “CAKE” rang through the venue as Hidden KARD screamed at the sound of the very first note. Everybody going stupid, dumb, fans used all their passion to jump and scream to hype track “Dumb Litty” as KARD jumped along across the stage. The two highly anticipated numbers brought their performance to a roaring climax, ending the night on a high. Bringing the show full circle the members came back for an encore, performing earlier tracks “You In Me” and “Don’t Recall” before closing out the night with an encore of “Icky.”
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KARD
All Photo Credit: Rebecca Rowe
Concerts Reviews
Papa Roach Open Their Canadian Run with Fire and Feeling
Papa Roach kicked off the Canadian leg of their Rise of the Roach Tour in Vancouver on November 25, and the timing couldn’t have been better. The band has been back in the headlines this year thanks to the 25th anniversary of Infest and the excitement around their new material, including Even If It Kills Me. The tour marks their first full cross-Canada run in more than a decade, and they opened the whole thing at Rogers Arena with the confidence of a band that never really left the spotlight.
Before the headliners stormed the stage, Sleep Theory warmed up the arena with a sleek, modern rock set that had the early crowd fired up. The Used followed and pulled everyone straight into their orbit. Their fans showed up loud, many wearing The Used merch from previous shows. By the time they finished, the room was ready for whatever chaos Papa Roach had planned.
And they definitely had a plan.
Instead of easing into things, Papa Roach went for a full jumpscare. The house lights dropped, a massive curtain crashed down, and the band exploded into “Even If It Kills Me.” The pyro blasted, CO₂ shot into high, and the video walls behind them stitched together moody visuals that felt like a short film. It was bold and theatrical in a way that fits them now.
Early on, Jacoby Shaddix made it clear he came to meet people. He climbed off the stage and went straight into the crowd, strolling through the lower bowl seats and singing inches from fans.
The middle of the set leaned into their emotional side. During “Falling Apart,” Shaddix talked openly about his history with suicidal thoughts and why speaking about mental health matters so much to him. It wasn’t preachy ; it felt like a human being leveling with a full arena. A short video on the screens followed, highlighting the Canadian phone line for suicide prevention. When the lights dimmed and Shaddix asked the crowd to raise their phone lights for “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” the whole floor glowed white. It looked like a vigil. This band can swing from chaos to connection in seconds, and it always hits hard.
Of course, the chaos returned fast. “Scars,” “BRAINDEAD,” and “Help” hit back-to-back, and Shaddix even ran deep into the stands again for “Help,” popping up in a section nobody expected. The crowd surfing picked up, the circle pit spun every time he yelled for one, and the band leaned into the fun.
For the encore, “Between Angels and Insects” and “Infest” took fans straight back to the early 2000s and Jacoby went back into the crowd. Then came the showstopper: the “Nu Metal Time Machine” medley. They ripped pieces of Deftones’ “My Own Summer (Shove It),” Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” and System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey,” all stitched together. The crowd turned into a single hive mind: shouting every lyric, fists up, bodies bouncing.
And then, obviously, “Last Resort” where the arena shook like someone kicked the floor out from under it.
Papa Roach’s reputation has shifted over the years, but seeing them live explains exactly why they’ve lasted. They’re workhorses. They care about the crowd. They don’t phone anything in, even on a Tuesday night. The show had layers of fun, nostalgia, grief, celebration, and it all felt honest.
If the rest of the Canadian dates keep this pace, the tour is going to stay loud all the way to Halifax. “Divorced dad rock” jokes aside, the night ruled. The Roach still bites.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Dec 02 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Dec 05 – Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum
Dec 06 – Kitchener, ON – The Aud
Dec 08 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
Dec 10 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
More information on the band’s website.
