Concerts Photos
Gallery – Ministry + Gary Numan at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC
On March 3rd, Ministry brought their North American tour to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, with support from Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly.
Appearing at 7pm, Front Line Assembly and their leader Bill Leeb started the show early and got everyone in the right musical mood for the night despite some issues with Leeb’s microphone.
At 8pm, it was time for Gary Numan to take the stage to loud applause and screams, starting his set with “Everything Comes Down To This”. Numan is known to treat his performance as an art form and it showed. Numan and his band came on wearing their distressed stage outfits and the whole set up had strong theatrical gothic undertones.
Numan played songs from his entire catalog, including his latest album Intruder. The highlight of his set was when he played “Cars”, you could feel the excitement of the crowd. He ended with “A Prayer For The Unborn”, from the album Pure, that got everyone singing along.
For over an hour, Gary Numan never stopped moving and dancing, captivating the audience with his dynamic and high energy performance.
Seeing Ministry live on March 3rd was a special moment for all as it was only a few days after their 16th album Hopiumforthemasses released via Nuclear Blast. One by one – finishing with frontman Al Jourgensen, Ministry‘s band members appears on stage and kicked off their set right away with five new tracks off their latest album, starting with “B.D.E.” and “Just Stop Oil”. It was followed by a “Goddamn White Trash”, “Aryan Embarrassment”, and “New Religion”.
The audience’s excitement reached his highest peak when they played their most famous songs “N.W.O.”, “Just One Fix”, and “Stigmata”. They ended their set with “The Light Pours Out Of Me”, a Magazine cover. Ministry played for about 90 minutes during which Al Jourgensen engaged plenty with the fans.
This show was a perfect match-up of three legendary industrial bands all with deep catalogs to pull from and satisfy everybody. Be sure to catch Ministry, Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly this March/April. Click here for the tour dates and ticket info.
Check out the galleries below!
MINISTRY
GARY NUMAN
FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY
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