Concerts Photos
Citizen and a Stacked Lineup Bring Chaos to the Hollywood Palladium
Many assume Thursday nights are quiet in Los Angeles, but Citizen’s show at The Hollywood Palladium on September 17th proved otherwise. The venue was filled with an exceptional crowd. Featuring a lineup of three fantastic opening bands, the evening was sure to entertain everyone. Joining Citizen on their North American leg of the Halcyon Blues tour are Cryogeyser, Hotline TNT, and Anxious.
Cryogeyser, an LA-based band, opened the night with tracks like “Sorry,” “Stargirl,” “Angry,” and “Leach” from their self-titled second album, “Cryogeyser.” Led by Shawn Marom on vocals and guitar, with Zach Capitti-Fenton on drums and Samson Klitsner on bass, the album explores themes of personal reflection, growth, difficult adjustments, relationship struggles, and supporting your past self, highlighting the tension between heat and ice. Monster Children praised Cryogeyser as “a band you should know.”
Soon after Cryogeyser’s set, Hotline TNT took over the stage, injecting new energy into the night. The crowd’s excitement grew, turning into a mosh pit. Security shifted from assisting sluggish fans to catching those crowdsurfing over the barricade. Frontman Will Anderson said their latest album, “Raspberry Moon,” reflects a more mature sound. Unlike their earlier work focusing on youthful heartbreak, this album explores themes of falling in love, family, friendships, and understanding others’ perspectives.
Before Citizen could take the stage, one last band needed to perform: Anxious. This American emo-hardcore-pop group from Fairfield County, Connecticut, electrified The Palladium! With Grady Allen on vocals, Sam Allen on bass, Tommy Harte on guitar, and Jonny Camner on drums, the crowd was either in the mosh pit or crowd surfing. I was amazed I managed to capture in-focus photos of the band, despite their energetic jumping and running across the stage. Their set included songs from their 2022 debut album, Little Green House, and their latest album, Bambi, released in 2025.
How could the night get any better? Three incredible bands had just entertained the crowd, yet the restless crowd seemed to want even more! I soon realized that at 9:45 pm, the evening was only just commencing. As I stood in front of the stage, the room was filled with fans chanting “Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!” As the lights began to dim, Citizen
had finally taken the stage.
The band performed most of their new songs, such as “Good Fortune,” “I Can See You From Here,” and “Is It My Brain,” from their sixth album, Halcyon Blues. Fans crowded together, whether they knew each other or not. No matter how close they got to the stage, it still wasn’t close enough. Again, fans climbed on top of one another, passing along the tops of others, yearning to be as close to the band as possible.
While creating Halcyon Blues, lead singer Mat Kerekes and band members Nick Hamm (lead guitar), Eric Hamm (bass), Mason Mercer (rhythm guitar), and Ben Russon (drums) aimed to make it markedly different from their previous work. The album features a mature theme. Unlike their earlier records, which often show a youthful ignorance of life’s struggles, Halcyon Blues shifts from youthful frustration to a more sophisticated, mature perspective on life’s compromises. One of the album’s biggest takeaways is that peace can exist amid life’s discomfort. Discover tranquility through introspection within a tumultuous world.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CITIZEN
ANXIOUS
HOTLINE TNT
CRYOGEYSER
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer
Concerts Photos
Marianas Trench Pack History Ottawa, With Fionn Opening
Vancouver acts on both ends of the bill. Fionn opened and Marianas Trench headlined at History Ottawa on October 24, 2026.
Fionn, a pair of twins, had a room that was already nearly full by the time they hit the stage, which isn’t always a given for an opener. They made the most of it with a high-energy set that never let up, and with the two working well together, and feeding off each other’s energy. They were rocking out the whole way through, and it set the tone for the night.
Marianas Trench took the stage to a crowd that was loud from the start and sang along throughout, often seeming to carry the songs as much as the band did.
The set covered a wide range of their discography, from newer hits like “Down to You” to older fan favourites like “Stutter” and “Cross My Heart.” Longtime fans and newer ones got their moments, and the crowd knew every word either way.
Frontman Josh Ramsey, on lead vocals and guitar, controlled the room from start to finish. He was engaging and constantly connected with the audience, and his vocals were fantastic. Midway through the night he left the stage and walked through the crowd, a staple of his at many shows. It brought him face to face with the fans singing back at him, a moment I’m sure they’ll never forget.
It was a strong night for Vancouver music in Ottawa: an opener that came to play and a headliner that had the whole room with them.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
MARIANAS TRENCH
FIONN
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Concerts Photos
Epik High Turns Vancouver’s Orpheum Into a Hip-Hop Party
Epik High brought its 3.0 Tour 2026 to Vancouver’s Orpheum on October 20, delivering a night of sharp lyricism, ridiculous humour and plenty of crowd interaction. With BOBO.XX opening the show, the Korean hip-hop trio proved that more than two decades into their career, they still know how to make a concert feel like a party among friends.
BOBO.XX, a musician and photographer who works on Epik High’s video and content, warmed up the audience with a taste of his own sound before handing the stage over to the headliners. Anticipation grew during the break, and the theatre erupted when Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz appeared for “High Technology,” followed by “One.”
The group’s chemistry was clear to everyone. Their introductions quickly turned into a comedy routine, complete with DJ Tukutz’s sound effects and playful jabs at one another. Tablo might be the trio’s longtime leader, but Tukutz had recently claimed the title through a band competition, giving the three plenty of material to work with.
That humour carried through the night. Fan-submitted Post-it challenges put the members on the spot, leading to dance covers, awkwardly adorable aegyo and plenty of laughter. The challenges often involved bending the rules, with multiple notes taped together and presented as a single request. The trio’s willingness to make fools of themselves made the audience feel like part of the show rather than spectators.
The music never took a back seat. Tracks such as “ANTIHERO,” “Rosario” and “BURJ KHALIFA” kept the room moving, with the group’s tight delivery matched by DJ Tukutz’s work behind the turntables. The mood shifted for more emotional performances, including “1 Minute, 1 Second” and Mithra Jin’s solo “Will I Be Okay?,” showing a more vulnerable side to the performers.
The most meaningful moment came when Tablo spoke about the group’s long journey. His message was simple: if Epik High could keep pushing forward after 22 years, fans could overcome their own obstacles, too. It gave “Born Hater” an extra punch.
The trio closed with an encore of “EPIKISM” and “Don’t Hate Me,” sending the crowd home smiling. Epik High’s strength lies in the balance between serious musicianship and complete silliness. They can deliver an emotional message one minute and turn a fan-requested dance challenge into a comedy show the next. At the Orpheum, that combination made for a concert that felt personal, unpredictable and a whole lot of fun.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EPIK HIGH
BOBO.XX
All Photo Credit: Chaehyun Lim