Concerts Photos
Iron & Wine + Band of Horses at the Wiltern in Los Angeles
One of my favorite places to listen to any genre of music has and will always be the Wiltern. Doesn’t matter if its metal, pop, or folky catchy songwriter music. Iron and Wine fits this demo perfectly, as they stopped by, along with co-headliner Band Of Horses, for a headlining date on their current tour together. This show did not disappoint, as Samuel Ervin Beam (better known affectionately as Iron & Wine), took to the mic and calmly went into “On Your Wings,” and followed it up with “Yellow Jacket.” The band is an amazing mixture of musicians, with Samuel leading the way amongst an incredibly talented backing band. The Wine to his Iron, you might say. Such effortless song writing lends to his wonderful voice, evoking childlike flashbacks you’d see in a movie somewhere, playing and running in an open field. I&W give you that feeling, watching something very special unfold live. Nothing too flashy, just exceptional raw talent in every member of Iron & Wine.
Band Of Horses singer Ben Bridwell was already sharing the stage with Iron & Wine, as both himself and Iron & Wine have collaborated on an EP of covers that redefine what their original versions sounded like. BOH blasted right into “The First Song,” literally the first song on their 2006 album Everything All The Time. Following up that indie rock energy with “NW Apt,” the band seems to be having fun, and their bassist Matt Gentling is bouncing all over the stage with that quintessential pop punkness of bands doing this with far less time then BOH. The band brought the energy down for the tear jerking pain of lost love in “No Ones Gonna Love You.” The crowd was singing along with the band, becoming a choir at times, turning the Wiltern into a cathedral of emotion wrapped in color.
The bands continue on this tour for a few more weeks. Make sure to catch them when you can, be it together, or separate. Both are exceptional live.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/26 Del Mar, CA @ The Sound at Del Mar
9/27 Las Vegas, NV @ Bel-Aire Backyard
9/28 Chandler, AZ @ Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass
9/30 Flagstaff, AZ @ Pepsi Amphitheater
10/2 Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim
10/3 Santa Barbara, CA @ The Arlington Theatre
More information here.
IRON & WINE
BAND OF HORSES
All Photo Credit: John McCrary
Concerts Photos
Bôa Brings ‘Whiplash’ Tour to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
British alternative rock band Bôa closed out the North American leg of their Whiplash tour with a memorable sold-out performance at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on June 27. Making their long-awaited Vancouver debut, the trio was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd that had clearly been waiting years for this moment.
Opening the evening was Vancouver-based Taiwanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Jia. Blending dream pop, indie rock, earthy Americana, and cinematic influences, her set created the perfect atmosphere before the night’s headliner. Songs from her album Technicolour showcased her haunting vocals and thoughtful songwriting, earning warm applause from an audience that quickly settled into the evening.
When Bôa took the stage, the room erupted. Frontwoman Jasmine Rodgers immediately drew the audience in with her effortlessly expressive vocals, balancing softness and strength throughout the band’s set. Her voice remains the defining element of Bôa‘s sound, carrying emotional weight that translated beautifully in a live setting.
The band moved through fan favourites including “Twilight,” “Fool,” “Drinking,” and newer material from Whiplash, proving that their recent resurgence is built on far more than nostalgia. During “Drinking,” phone lights illuminated the Commodore, creating one of the night’s most memorable moments as fans swayed together.
One of the night’s biggest surprises came when legendary classic rock singer Paul Rodgers, best known as the frontman of Free and Bad Company, made a brief appearance on stage. Joining his daughter Jasmine Rodgers for a touching father-daughter moment, the special guest appearance was met with loud cheers from the Commodore Ballroom crowd.
Despite it being the final stop of a lengthy North American tour, the band played with remarkable energy. Smiles were constant across the stage, and it was clear they were enjoying every minute of their Vancouver debut.
The encore delivered exactly what fans had hoped for. As the opening notes of “Duvet” rang out, the entire venue seemed to sing in unison. The song’s renewed popularity may have introduced a new generation to Bôa, but hearing hundreds of voices fill the Commodore proved its emotional impact has never faded.
For a first visit to Vancouver, Bôa left a lasting impression. Their final North American show was equal parts intimate and powerful, ending the tour on a high note while leaving fans hoping they won’t wait as long before returning.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
bôa
JIA
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Holly Humberstone Brings ‘Cruel World’ Tour to Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
On June 25th, English indie-pop singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone brought her Cruel World North American Tour to a sold-out Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
After Humberstone enthralled the Commodore with her emotional and delicate vocals and created a warm atmosphere, keeping it personal, sharing stories with the audience.
The Grantham native is touring in support of her newest album, Cruel World, of which we got a sneak peek of during her performance at All Things Go early June. While her music remains deeply introspective, the new material carries a greater sense of confidence, shifting between quiet vulnerability and soaring choruses that the audience, getting to hear it live for the first time, can’t help but sing along.
Mixing songs into the set from Cruel World, Humberstone performed the instantly catchy “White Noise,” the gothic-inspired “Die Happy,” and fan favourite “To Love Somebody,” among many other tunes.
Throughout the night, she also sprinkled in career-defining tracks like “Falling Asleep At The Wheel,” “Scarlett,” “Deep End,” and “The Walls Are Way Too Thin”.
Holly Humberstone balanced a raw, commanding vocal delivery with the tight musicianship of her band, expanding familiar tracks into a fuller live sound that made the most of the Commodore Ballroom’s rich acoustics.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Hunter Soo