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
The Charlatans at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
There is something special about watching a band that has been doing this for decades step onstage and look like they are having just as much fun as the people watching them. That was The Charlatans at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on September 11.
Frontman Tim Burgess remains one of the most naturally charismatic figures in British alternative rock. From the opening moments, he was constantly connecting with the crowd, arms raised, dancing across the stage and soaking in every response. There was no sense of going through the motions. The joy looked genuine.
The set balanced the band’s latest album, We Are Love, with a deep run through their back catalogue. “We Are Love,” “Deeper and Deeper” and “For the Girls” sat comfortably beside classics like “North Country Boy,” “Weirdo,” “Tellin’ Stories,” “One to Another” and “Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over.”
Tony Rogers’ Hammond organ remained one of the band’s secret weapons, adding that unmistakable swirl to the songs, while Mark Collins’ guitar and Martin Blunt’s bass gave the set its groove. The chemistry between the musicians was just as enjoyable as the songs themselves. At times, it felt less like watching a tightly scripted rock show and more like being invited into a really good studio jam.
“North Country Boy” and “One to Another” produced some of the biggest reactions of the night, but “The Only One I Know” was the obvious crowd-pleaser. They closed the encore with “Sproston Green.”
More than 30 years into their career, The Charlatans are not simply selling nostalgia. They are still making new music, still taking chances onstage and, perhaps most importantly, still look like they genuinely love playing together. Vancouver got a reminder that some bands age, but the Charlatans just keep playing.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE CHARLATANS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Kaleo Brings Icelandic Fire to History Ottawa
Icelandic blues rock band Kaleo played History Ottawa on Tuesday night, headlining a bill that also introduced the city to opening act the Pernikoff Brothers in the duo’s first-ever Ottawa performance.
Pernikoff Brothers Open with Storytelling Performance
The Pernikoff Brothers took the stage first, tasked with winning over a crowd that had never seen them play live in the city. The band built its set around a strong narrative thread, framing songs with between-song storytelling.
A highlight of the night came from their drummer, whose solos punctuated the show and drew some of the loudest reactions of the opening slot.
Kaleo Headlines with Focus on Music Over Spectacle
When Kaleo walked out, there was no need for spectacle, the band let the music do essentially all of the talking. Just a tight, focused set built around the thing that’s made them a global name: those vocals.
Guitar work added a bluesy edge throughout, and the band’s dynamic range, moving between restrained verses and full-band choruses, kept the audience engaged without relying on elaborate production or extended stage talk.
The Icelandic band will finish their Canadian leg of the tour in Prince Edward Island September 11th, before continuing their international tour into 2027.
New Venue
The show also served as an early test for History, Ottawa’s newest live music venue. The room handled both acts well, supporting the Pernikoff Brothers‘ more stripped-down sound as well as Kaleo‘s fuller electric set. Based on this performance, the venue appears well-positioned to become a regular stop for touring acts.
Tuesday’s show paired a promising Ottawa debut from the Pernikoff Brothers with a focused, vocal-driven headline set from Kaleo, all inside a new venue that proved itself capable of hosting both.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KALEO
PERNIKOFF BROTHERS
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport