Concerts Photos
Evan Honer at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles
Evan Honer is a country artist who auditioned for American Idol in 2023, and the judges gave him three no’s. Obviously, they made a huge mistake. With 2.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a song with 125 million streams, and a huge spring tour, it could have been a blessing in disguise. As an independent artist, he has made his way to a bigger venue in LA each time he tours. On the last tour, he performed at the legendary Troubadour.
After performing in CA cities from San Diego all the way to Bakersfield, Evan Honer made his way to Los Angeles on March 6, 2025. As he flipped onto the stage, he opened up the night with his new single “Everything I Wanted”. The audience went wild as they started to sing along to the upbeat song, which seems to take inspiration from the pop punk genre in the 2000s.
He then noted later in the night that most of his music is much more sad. Evan writes music that connects with people as vulnerability resonates with his fans. Some more songs of the night included: “Take Me As I Come”, “idk shit about cars”, “Wake up, Come Down,” and his most streamed song, “Jersey Giant”, a Tyler Childers’ cover. The atmosphere in the El Rey Theatre was unbeatable. Fans were dancing around, rocking out, and shedding tears.
He opened up and gave us insight into his songs multiple times throughout the night. One that stuck with me after the show was “Brother” and “Mr. Meyers”. Before performing “Brother”, he shared how he wrote the song for his brother who lives with schizoeffective disorder. This moment was highly vulnerable to share, yet telling these stories in your songs matters. Evan is a true songwriter. I got teary eyed when he sang the lyrics:
“Oh brother I don’t see what you see and it kills me not to know”
“Oh brother I don’t feel what you feel but it’s eating at your bones”
Being able to verbalize one’s feelings so effectively keeps fans coming back for more. I can’t wait to see where he performs next in Los Angeles, as it was a great night of music in our city.
Jacob Wright opened the night with his song “New Jersey”, a somber but freeing song about self-reflection after the end of a relationship.
Check out our favourite photos of the night or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EVAN HONER
JACOB WRIGHT
All Photo Credit: Colin Hancock
Concerts Photos
Alabama Shakes Bring the Soul Back to Vancouver
After nearly a decade away, Alabama Shakes returned to Vancouver on June 26 for a night that was both a reunion and a revival. Performing at the new Freedom Mobile Arch, the Alabama band wasted little time reminding the crowd why their blend of blues, rock, soul, and gospel made such an impact in the first place.
The band opened shortly after 8p.m. with immediate force, locking into the familiar rhythms that have defined their sound since their 2012 debut, Boys & Girls. As the daylight decreased, “Another Life” brought a warm shift to the rainy evening, with the crowd swaying together before “Hang Loose” kept the mood loose and upbeat.
At the centre of it all was Brittany Howard, whose voice remains as commanding as ever. Her ability to move from a delicate falsetto on “Future People” to a full-throated roar gave the songs a fresh edge without losing what made them special. “I Found You” brought out the band’s gospel and blues roots, while “Hold On” turned the venue into one massive singalong.
The set’s emotional high point came with “Gimme All Your Love,” as Howard and the band leaned into every groove. “Don’t Wanna Fight” followed with equal parts tension and release before the band left the stage.
Alabama Shakes‘ return showed that, after all these years, this band can still make a crowd rise.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ALABAMA SHAKES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Of Monsters and Men Bring ‘The Mouse Parade’ Tour to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver
Of Monsters and Men returned to Vancouver on June 25 with a packed show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, bringing their mix of indie folk, rock and cinematic pop to a crowd that was more than ready to welcome them back. After years away from the live stage, the Icelandic band showed no signs of rust, delivering a performance that moved easily between quiet, atmospheric moments and full-room singalongs.
The evening opened with American indie folk singer-songwriter, August Ponthier, who shared songs from their debut album Everywhere Isn’t Texas, as well as new unreleased material.
At 9p.m., the lights dropped and Of Monsters And Men emerged from the shadows, surrounded by haze and an eerie wash of light that matched the darker mood of their newer material.
The set leaned heavily on songs from their latest album, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, giving fans a chance to hear how the band’s sound has developed since their breakthrough. Tracks like “The Actor” and “Ordinary Creature” brought a more layered, reflective side of the group, yet they fit comfortably alongside older favourites.
Of course, the biggest reactions came when the band reached back into their catalogue. Both “King and Lionheart” and “Dirty Paws” had the audience singing along. Then came “Little Talks,” still one of the band’s biggest hits and an undeniable highlight of the night. The familiar opening instantly brought the room together, with the crowd handling a lot of the vocals.
At the centre of it all were Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, whose voices remain the band’s greatest strength. Their harmonies, paired with the group’s dynamic musicianship, made the long-awaited return feel completely worth the wait.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
OF MONSTERS AND MEN
AUGUST PONTHIER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer