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DRAMA Brings ‘Platonic Romance Tour’ to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver

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Chicago duo DRAMA brought their Platonic Romance tour to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on March 2, turning the storied dance floor into a warm, late-night therapy session you could move your hips to.

The pair, producer Na’el Shehade and vocalist Via Rosa, are touring behind their third album, Platonic Romance, released Jan. 9. The record leans into what they’ve always done well: sleek Chicago house grooves under vocals that feel intimate and unguarded. The title, coined years ago while on tour with SG Lewis, speaks to deep friendship and chosen family.

They opened with the title track, setting the tone with Rosa’s soft but steady presence. DRAMA has built a reputation for their “happy sad” balance, and it was on full display. Songs like “Make It Look Easy” and “Dollar $hort” pulsed with club energy, yet there was always an emotional undercurrent running beneath the beat.

Rosa doesn’t oversell a lyric, she lets it land. On “Savannah” and “Here With Me,” her voice floated over Shehade’s house rhythms, creating that blurry space between a packed dance floor and a 2 a.m. confession. “Here With Me,” in particular, felt like the emotional centerpiece.

The duo’s chemistry is the anchor. There’s an ease between them that can’t be staged. Shehade stayed focused behind the decks, layering basslines with precision, then stepping forward to hype the crowd when the moment called for it. Rosa moved with a calm confidence, smiling at the front row, occasionally closing her eyes as if she were back in the studio.

Mid-set, they nodded to longtime fans with “Low Tide,” and “Drama,” reminding the room how far they’ve come since their early EP days. A cover of “Dancing On My Own” drew a singalong, and their take on “Nobody” and “You’ve Done Enough,” both tied to their history with Gorgon City, were a hit with the crowd.

There’s something satisfying about watching a duo that has stayed independent grow into rooms like this. DRAMA has supported arena acts like ODESZA, yet at the Commodore they felt right at home. The venue’s springy dance floor seemed built for their grooves, bouncing in time during “Billy,” “Long Night,” and “Hopes Up.”

They closed the main set with “You’ve Done Enough,” leaving the crowd buzzing before returning for an encore that included “Years” and “3AM.”

What makes DRAMA stand out is restraint. They don’t chase drops for the sake of it. They build moods and trust the tension. On this tour, that approach feels refined and confident, like artists who know exactly who they are.

Check out our favourite photos of the night or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 3 – Seattle – The Showbox
March 4 – Portland – Roseland Theater
March 6 – Oakland – Fox Theater
March 7 – Los Angeles – The Wiltern
April 17-19 – Indio – Coachella
More information on DRAMA‘s website.

DRAMA

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

Concerts Photos

Joost Klein Brings World Tour With Chaos and Heart in Vancouver

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Joost Klein

Fresh off two sets at Coachella 2026 — a historic milestone as the first Dutch-language artist to ever grace that stage — Joost Klein brought his world tour to Vancouver’s Harbour Event & Convention Centre on Monday night. If the Southern California desert crowds were a warm-up, Vancouver got the real thing.

From the opening notes of Ome Robert to a euphoric, arms-in-the-air Europapa, Klein delivered nearly 30 songs worth of controlled chaos. The Frisian artist operates in a genuinely singular space, somewhere between Dutch hardcore, punk fury, and emotionally devastating party music. And the packed room at Harbour centre felt every single frequency. Sweat was basically precipitation by the midpoint of the set.

The mosh pits were, predictably, unhinged. Klein summons that energy. Circle pits tore open during Gabberland and BOOM BOOM!!!!!, and the crowd obliged every invitation. Yet between the mayhem, there were quieter moments. A gorgeous Zonder Jou hushed the room before Klein rebuilt the roof again.

Highlights were abundant: a wild TRAFIK! (his take on Käärijä’s banger), and an abridged Friesenjung that turned into a full remix by the encore.

This is a guy who started as a teenage Dutch YouTuber, got disqualified from Eurovision 2024 for comments that some judged controversial, and somehow ended up headlining a world tour on five continents. Nobody saw it coming, Klein included. The rest of the world better be ready for this tour.

Joost Klein will be on tour in North America, Europe and Australia until December 2026. Head to his website for all the information.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

JOOST

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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Concerts Photos

Wheatus Play their Debut Album in Full at The Pearl in Vancouver

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Wheatus

On April 13, Wheatus rolled into Vancouver and made a strong case that they’ve outgrown rooms like The Pearl. The show was sold out, shoulder-to-shoulder, and honestly felt like it could’ve filled the Commodore Ballroom across the street without breaking a sweat.

Opening support from Chief State and Brain Bent set the tone early, but once Brendan B. Brown and company hit the stage, the night turned into a loose, fan-driven ride. True to form, the band leaned into spontaneity, pulling from a deep catalogue with help from the crowd, before the show even started. “Leroy,” “Truffles,” and “Wannabe Gangstar” landed fast, while “Hump’Em N’ Dump’Em” slipped in a cheeky nod to Madonna.

Covers were a big part of the night. Their take on Erasure’s “A Little Respect” turned into a full-room singalong, complete with a “My Girl” tag, and “Basket Case” by Green Day brought a jolt of energy mid-set. A Canadian highlight came with “My Music at Work,” a respectful nod to The Tragically Hip that hit especially well with the local crowd, followed later by a heartfelt “Time Stand Still” from Rush.

The deeper cuts, “Lemonade,” “Fourteen,” and “I’d Never Write a Song About You, ”showed the band’s range, balancing humour with real vulnerability. Then came “Teenage Dirtbag.” No surprise, it turned into mass karaoke, with every fan in the room locked in from the first line.

Instead of ending big, they closed small. Brown returned alone for an off-mic acoustic “Desperate Songs,” quiet enough that you could hear the room breathe. It was a simple finish that summed up the night: warm and completely in sync with the crowd.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

WHEATUS

CHIEF STATE

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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