Concerts Photos
Fit For A King Brings ‘Lonely God’ Tour to Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Texas metalcore veterans Fit For A King turned the Commodore Ballroom into absolute chaos on May 8, bringing their Lonely God tour through Vancouver with support from Invent Animate, TEN56, and Acres. From the first breakdown of the night to the final crowdsurfer during “Witness The End,” the packed ballroom barely had a second to breathe.
Acres kicked things off. The UK group managed to pull the crowd in almost immediately. Tracks from their latest album The Host landed well, especially during the massive singalong sections that had even casual listeners joining in. By the end of their set, the first wave of crowdsurfers was already moving toward the barricade.
TEN56 followed with one of the heaviest sets of the night. The Paris band delivered punishing breakdowns and thick bass lines that rattled the Commodore floor. The pit only grew more chaotic with every song.
Invent Animate brought a completely different energy, leaning into atmosphere, but without sacrificing heaviness. The band sounded incredibly tight live, creating huge walls of sound that filled every corner of the room.
Then came Fit For A King. Opening with “Begin The Sacrifice,” the Texas band wasted no time sending the crowd into chaos. Frontman Ryan Kirby commanded the stage with nonstop energy, while bassist Ryan O’Leary drew huge reactions with his wild stage presence. Songs like “No Tomorrow,” “Breaking The Mirror,” and “When Everything Means Nothing” triggered deafening singalongs, while “God of Fire” and “Backbreaker” kept the pit spinning.
By the time Fit For A King closed with “Witness The End,” the Commodore looked exhausted but completely satisfied. Heavy metal music in Vancouver is alive and well.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
05/10 Billings, MT @ Pub Station
05/12 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
05/13 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
05/15 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
05/16 Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
05/17 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
05/19 Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
05/20 Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
05/22 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
05/23 Albany, NY @ Empire Live
05/24 Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Capitole
05/26 Ottawa, ON @ The Bronson
05/27 London, ON @ London Music Hall
05/29 Rochester, NY @ Anthology
05/30 Harrisburg, PA @ Capitol City Music Hall
05/31 Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
More information on the band’s website.
FIT FOR A KING
INVENT ANIMATE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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