Concerts Photos
James Barker Band Ends ‘Buckle Up Tour’ at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
James Barker Band wrapped their Buckle Up Tour in Vancouver on Sunday night. The Ontario crew has been stacking hits and new singles all year, so closing things out in a packed, rowdy room suited them. With a fresh chart-topper in “You Didn’t Hear It From Me” and their newer track “Somebody I Know” buzzing, they walked in with momentum and played like a band happy to empty the tank.
Alli Walker and Mitch Zorn kicked off the night with warm, rootsy shows that set the tone without stealing the spotlight. Special shout-out to Alli Walker for playing her bagpipe giving her set a special touch. By the time JBB hit with “Caught Me at a Good Time” and “It’s Workin’,” everyone was ready to yell every word. The band kept the pace tight, moving through “On the Water,” “Somebody I Know,” and the still-massive “Chills” before firing up “Blue Lights” and “There’s a Drink for That.”
One of the highlights came mid-set when they stitched together a run of covers from “She Talks to Angels” to “Pink Pony Club,” a weird mix on paper that somehow worked. The crowd didn’t care about logic, they loved it. The band’s own catalogue carried the rest: “Meet Your Mama,” “Love On You,” a fun nod to Jade Eagleson with “Shakin’ In Them Boots,” and the fan-favourite combo of “Wastin’ Whiskey” and “Keep It Simple.”
The encore sealed it with “Living the Dream.” They closed with “Lawn Chair Lazy,” which felt right, both laid-back and catchy.
All night, James Barker Band looked and sounded amazing, and fans were loud. As far as final nights go, this one felt like a proper send-off.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
JAMES BARKER BAND
ALLI WALKER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Syd Taylor at The Belasco in Los Angeles
On Tuesday, March 31st, The Belasco in Downtown LA was packed with fans from both near and far. Syd Taylor, an indie-rock artist from Michigan, supported Goldie Boutilier on her North American tour, The King of Possibilities. From February 24th to April 4th, Syd opened for Boutilier at sixteen sold-out shows.
As Syd’s bandmates stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted with cheers and chants of “Syd, Syd, Syd!” Soon after, Syd Taylor confidently walked across the stage in her stylish outfit, smiling brightly. She kicked off her set with songs from her new album, “After the Fact,” starting with “Love of Your Life,” then “Time to Go,” and “Leave Me Out of It.”
After parting ways with Stereo Jane, a band heavily inspired by ’90s rock—formed by Syd and her twin sister Emilia, known as Mia—Syd felt a strong desire to find her own artistic and personal identity.
Inspired by bands like Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, Syd finally broke free from external expectations—no longer told which genre to pursue, whom to share her demo with, or how to present herself on stage. As her own producer, songwriter, and guitarist, she spent three months drawing inspiration from her Los Angeles apartment and charting her own creative path. This ultimately led to her releasing her debut album “After the Fact.”
Syd once said that, during the process of making this album, she felt this was “the first time that [she had] been able to sit down and create something for [herself].” Syd had previously felt like she was prioritizing others and wanted to get as far away from that mindset as possible.
To create an album as raw and reflective as “After the Fact,” Syd needed to discover her artistic style. This led her to find confidence in this new era of her career.
Head to Syd‘s website for more information on upcoming tour dates.
Check out our favorite photos of her set below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SYD TAYLOR
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer
Concerts Photos
LIVE REVIEW: Goldie Boutilier In Vancouver Is That Artist You Wish You Found Sooner
There is a very good chance we are in love with Goldie Boutilier.
Are we trying to hook you into reading a concert review with a strong opening statement? Yes. Are we telling the absolute, no-nonsense truth? Also, yes.
One of the least appreciated perks of seeing a favourite band or singer live is finding a new artist that you might not have discovered on your own. Theres a lot of music out there! This is how we found Goldie Boutilier last year: casually cool, confident, and opening for Orville Peck. You can’t say she stole the show – Orville is a Big Voice with Big Feels – but she didn’t just fill out the timeslot, either. That’s why we waited for her return so patiently ever since, and honestly? Worth it.
Goldie Boutilier, now headlining her own tour in support of her most recent album Goldie Boutilier Presents… Goldie Montana, sold out Vancouver’s Hollywood Theatre this week. And we don’t mean “no more tickets” sold out. We mean “the floor was packed for the opener” sold out. People got dressed up and through the doors early sold out. It’s the most crowded I’ve seen The Hollywood Theatre as everyone cleared the upper bar and were pressed together on the floor. People wanted to get close.
We don’t think Goldie is hard to describe, exactly, but we’re having a hard time find the words to get our feelings across. If you were there, you know! Maybe photographers should stick to their medium? Deep thoughts.
The best we can do is say that Goldie, above all else, is effortlessly cool. “The Angel and the Saint” has an “Oceans 11” vibe going on, and is easily our favourite song. It will make you put sunglasses on and drive slow. You’ll lean back and feel the sun on your face. It’s just an incredible song, part rock, part pop, part jazz, maybe.
Must Hear Songs by Goldie Boutilier (In Our Humble Opinion):
– The Angel and the Saint (The Actress (EP), 2024)
– King of Possibilities (Goldie Montana, 2025)
– Pretending (Emerald Year (EP), 2023)
Her songs have a beat, and are smooth, and they hit you. On stage she becomes something… other. She leans back, strikes a pose, and flirts unabashedly with the audience. She has that Kylie Minogue allure that draws you in, begging you to see past the glasses. Then she switches it up and turns into a pop-rock variation of Carly Rae. Or maybe Lauren Mayberry, from Chvrches, as she spins and spins her way across the stage from outfit to outfit? It’s wild. Check out our photos below, and you’ll see what we mean.
Goldie has a presence when she speaks. She’s Canadian, which we appreciate, and lived in Vancouver, which we loved to hear, and everything seems to come natural to her. She engages with her fans, and every song is part of a story, more than anything else. We will always, always find a way to her shows and we hope she returns again soon – she’d kill on a larger stage, just think of what she could do at the Orpheum! To dream.
Goldie Boutilier Setlist (Probably Mostly):
At the End of the War
The Angel and the Saint
Snake Eyes
Body Heat
Terrible Things
Favorite Fear
Penthouse in the Sky
King of Possibilities
Pretending
I Am the Rich Man
The Actress
The Ways I Punish Myself
Neon Nuptials
Cowboy Gangster Politician
Check out our favourite photos of the night below, or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery! Thanks for attending the show with us, and for checking out our review!
GOLDIE BOUTILIER IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin