Concerts Photos
Benee’s Album Release Party in Los Angeles
On November 7th, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery was alive with both the living and the dead, as BENEE launched her new album: Ur an Angel, I’m Just Particles. Her highly anticipated second album features 12 tracks, including singles like ‘Sad Boiii’, ‘Cinnamon’, ‘Off the Rails’, and ‘Underwater’.
BENEE was joined by LA native Ed Axel on this special night. The hip hop/rap artist took the stage at 7:30 pm, warming up the crowd and getting everyone ready to dance the night away.
Many remember BENEE’s viral, double platinum hit ‘Supalonely’ from 2020. Whether you were listening on your phone while showering or filming a TikTok dance, ‘Supalonely’ was a beacon of light during uncertain times, making everyone want to dance. The New Zealand-born, LA based singer-songwriter skillfully blends genres such as pop, electronic, indie, and alternative.
You could feel the floors shake as BENEE encouraged the crowd to dance and jump. The energy remained constant throughout the night, even when she brought young fans on stage to help sing some of her songs.
While the album encourages dancing, it also explores deeper themes. The tracks address anxiety, existential dread, love, and identity, building on her debut album, ‘Hey u x’ (2020), which explored loneliness, anxiety, and relationships in a more personal, diary-like style.
BENEE describes the album’s title and themes as a dichotomy, combining mature, existential concerns with the whimsical, ethereal spirit of youth. She explained: “I also want to think about the fantastical side of things, this ethereal, creative world. I have this theme of childlike wonder throughout the album.”
Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles delves into existential dread, where love, identity, and meaning feel like slipping sands. Each track explores the burden of existence—feeling small in a vast world, questioning if connection is real or an illusion. The album carries a sense of urgency and longing to escape, yet with nowhere to run. It blurs the lines between self-destruction and survival, euphoria and emptiness. Songs unfold like diary entries, tracing cycles of obsession, heartbreak, and fleeting joy, while confronting inner demons and the fear of fading into noise. It’s an album for the sleepless, overthinkers, and those staring into the void, wondering if it’s looking back.
Besides her new album, BENEE closed out the night, performing some 2020 hits at the end of her set, including ‘Supalonely’, ‘Glitter’, ‘Beach Boy’, and ‘Green Honda’. It was an amazing night of celebration. ‘Ur an Angel, I am Just Particles’ is a remarkable album filled with raw, catchy, and emotionally moving lyrics and beats.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BENEE
ED AXEL
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer
Concerts Photos
Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto
There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.
Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age.
Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
COLIN LYNCH
LYDIA MAES
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan
Concerts Photos
Sabaton Bring Fire and Fury to Vancouver on North American Tour Finale
After many many years away from Vancouver, Sabaton returned to the PNE Forum on October 8 for a fiery night of heavy metal, military-themed theatrics and massive sing-alongs. The Swedish metal band chose the city to close out its North American tour, and it went out with a bang.
Opening the night was Pop Evil, whose modern hard rock offered a different sound from the headliner’s power metal. Tracks like “Trenches” brought plenty of energy, giving the crowd a reason to get moving before the main event. Their heavier riffs and commanding stage presence made for a solid start to the evening despite the low lighting.
Sabaton wasted little time making its return count. Kicking off with “Ghost Division,” the band delivered a wall of sound backed by pounding drums, sharp guitar riffs and bursts of fire that lit up the Forum. The stage, complete with military-inspired hardware, gave the performance the feel of a full-scale production rather than a standard metal concert.
Frontman Joakim Brodén led the charge with his unmistakable voice and natural sense of showmanship. Songs like “The Last Stand,” “Stormtroopers” and “Night Witches” showcased the band’s knack for turning historical stories into anthems built for thousands of voices. The crowd happily did its part, singing along throughout the night.
The spectacle never distracted from the music. Flames punctuated the band’s heaviest moments, adding extra intensity to “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “The Attack of the Dead Men.” For the latter, the band leaned into the song’s subject matter with gas masks, adding another theatrical touch to an already explosive set.
The closing stretch was pure Sabaton. “Swedish Pagans” brought another huge audience sing-along before “Primo Victoria” and “To Hell and Back” sent the Forum into the night at full volume.
After seven years, Sabaton gave Vancouver plenty of reasons to welcome them back. Closing the North American tour with a performance this tight, loud and entertaining was a fitting end to the run. With commanding vocals, memorable choruses and enough pyro to warm the entire Forum, the band left little doubt that its next visit cannot come soon enough.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SABATON
POP EVIL
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer