Concerts Photos
FLESHWATER at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles
Having just come off opening for a legendary band such as the Deftones, you think FLESHWATER would be riding high and resting on their laurels for what they’ve been accomplishing lately. You’d be far from wrong. FLESHWATER strolled in for 2 nights back to back at the Henry Fonda Theater, and brought along absolute chaos with them in openers BALMORA and CHAT PILE.
Opening the night would be Connecticut’s BALMORA. Bringing that nasty, yet tasty European / black melodic metal influence that is coming back around, the band proceeded to bring a nice blend of heavy and brutal music with a few traditional hardcore breakdowns. They may have been the openers, bathed in dark light, to showcase not only their mood, but their incredible live energy.
CHAT PILE brought some of the craziest and sludgiest noise I’ve personally ever seen. Formed just before the pandemic in 2019 in OKC, the band has a no prisoners attitude live on stage and record, truly showing how violent, yet honest their music can be. Raygun Busch decided to lose his shirt about 2 songs in, and never quite needs shoes to kick ass onstage. If you dig chaos, CHAT PILE is your jam.
Up next was Boston’s FLESHWATER. Featuring members of VEIN.FM, this band is an audio and visual assault live, and you can tell that touring with Deftones has possibly rubbed off on the band’s touring production. The band started off with “Drowning Song,” and exploded into “Green Street.” The band fired off snow into audience, while commencing into “Jetpack,” a song with a killer video on their recently released album 2000: In Search of The Endless Sky. Anyone that is a fan of Deftones and moodier groove tunes will find FLESHWATER in their music rotation.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
FLESHWATER
CHAT PILE
BALMORA
All Photo Credit: John McCrary
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