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
Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto
There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.
Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age.
Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
COLIN LYNCH
LYDIA MAES
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan
Concerts Photos
Sabaton Bring Fire and Fury to Vancouver on North American Tour Finale
After many many years away from Vancouver, Sabaton returned to the PNE Forum on October 8 for a fiery night of heavy metal, military-themed theatrics and massive sing-alongs. The Swedish metal band chose the city to close out its North American tour, and it went out with a bang.
Opening the night was Pop Evil, whose modern hard rock offered a different sound from the headliner’s power metal. Tracks like “Trenches” brought plenty of energy, giving the crowd a reason to get moving before the main event. Their heavier riffs and commanding stage presence made for a solid start to the evening despite the low lighting.
Sabaton wasted little time making its return count. Kicking off with “Ghost Division,” the band delivered a wall of sound backed by pounding drums, sharp guitar riffs and bursts of fire that lit up the Forum. The stage, complete with military-inspired hardware, gave the performance the feel of a full-scale production rather than a standard metal concert.
Frontman Joakim Brodén led the charge with his unmistakable voice and natural sense of showmanship. Songs like “The Last Stand,” “Stormtroopers” and “Night Witches” showcased the band’s knack for turning historical stories into anthems built for thousands of voices. The crowd happily did its part, singing along throughout the night.
The spectacle never distracted from the music. Flames punctuated the band’s heaviest moments, adding extra intensity to “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “The Attack of the Dead Men.” For the latter, the band leaned into the song’s subject matter with gas masks, adding another theatrical touch to an already explosive set.
The closing stretch was pure Sabaton. “Swedish Pagans” brought another huge audience sing-along before “Primo Victoria” and “To Hell and Back” sent the Forum into the night at full volume.
After seven years, Sabaton gave Vancouver plenty of reasons to welcome them back. Closing the North American tour with a performance this tight, loud and entertaining was a fitting end to the run. With commanding vocals, memorable choruses and enough pyro to warm the entire Forum, the band left little doubt that its next visit cannot come soon enough.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SABATON
POP EVIL
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer