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
Arlo Parks Brings Her ‘Desire Tour’ to the Pearl in Vancouver
Arlo Parks brought her Desire Tour to Vancouver’s The Pearl on September 22, turning the intimate venue into something much bigger than its walls suggested. In support of her third album, Ambiguous Desire, Parks delivered a set that traded some of her earlier introspection for movement, warmth and a genuine sense of connection.
She opened with “Heaven,” immediately filling the room with energy. Parks moved across the small stage with an ease that matched her soft vocals, while low lighting and haze created the kind of atmosphere that has become part of her live identity. By the time the chorus arrived, the crowd was fully in it.
That sense of connection became the defining feature of the night. Parks was joined by just two musicians, yet the stripped-down setup never felt too small. During “Get Go,” the audience took over the vocals.
The shift in energy reflects Ambiguous Desire, Parks’ third album and the follow-up to 2023’s My Soft Machine. Her Mercury Prize-winning debut, Collapsed in Sunbeams, captured isolation, young love and the uncertainty of growing up. The new record keeps that emotional honesty but gives those feelings somewhere to move.
“2SIDED” brought the set to a fitting close, capturing the album’s push and pull between giving love and wondering if it is being returned.
Arlo Parks had given Vancouver a dance party, but more than that, she created a room where people could simply feel close to one another.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ARLO PARKS
BAIRD
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Citizen and a Stacked Lineup Bring Chaos to the Hollywood Palladium
Many assume Thursday nights are quiet in Los Angeles, but Citizen’s show at The Hollywood Palladium on September 17th proved otherwise. The venue was filled with an exceptional crowd. Featuring a lineup of three fantastic opening bands, the evening was sure to entertain everyone. Joining Citizen on their North American leg of the Halcyon Blues tour are Cryogeyser, Hotline TNT, and Anxious.
Cryogeyser, an LA-based band, opened the night with tracks like “Sorry,” “Stargirl,” “Angry,” and “Leach” from their self-titled second album, “Cryogeyser.” Led by Shawn Marom on vocals and guitar, with Zach Capitti-Fenton on drums and Samson Klitsner on bass, the album explores themes of personal reflection, growth, difficult adjustments, relationship struggles, and supporting your past self, highlighting the tension between heat and ice. Monster Children praised Cryogeyser as “a band you should know.”
Soon after Cryogeyser’s set, Hotline TNT took over the stage, injecting new energy into the night. The crowd’s excitement grew, turning into a mosh pit. Security shifted from assisting sluggish fans to catching those crowdsurfing over the barricade. Frontman Will Anderson said their latest album, “Raspberry Moon,” reflects a more mature sound. Unlike their earlier work focusing on youthful heartbreak, this album explores themes of falling in love, family, friendships, and understanding others’ perspectives.
Before Citizen could take the stage, one last band needed to perform: Anxious. This American emo-hardcore-pop group from Fairfield County, Connecticut, electrified The Palladium! With Grady Allen on vocals, Sam Allen on bass, Tommy Harte on guitar, and Jonny Camner on drums, the crowd was either in the mosh pit or crowd surfing. I was amazed I managed to capture in-focus photos of the band, despite their energetic jumping and running across the stage. Their set included songs from their 2022 debut album, Little Green House, and their latest album, Bambi, released in 2025.
How could the night get any better? Three incredible bands had just entertained the crowd, yet the restless crowd seemed to want even more! I soon realized that at 9:45 pm, the evening was only just commencing. As I stood in front of the stage, the room was filled with fans chanting “Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!Citizen!” As the lights began to dim, Citizen
had finally taken the stage.
The band performed most of their new songs, such as “Good Fortune,” “I Can See You From Here,” and “Is It My Brain,” from their sixth album, Halcyon Blues. Fans crowded together, whether they knew each other or not. No matter how close they got to the stage, it still wasn’t close enough. Again, fans climbed on top of one another, passing along the tops of others, yearning to be as close to the band as possible.
While creating Halcyon Blues, lead singer Mat Kerekes and band members Nick Hamm (lead guitar), Eric Hamm (bass), Mason Mercer (rhythm guitar), and Ben Russon (drums) aimed to make it markedly different from their previous work. The album features a mature theme. Unlike their earlier records, which often show a youthful ignorance of life’s struggles, Halcyon Blues shifts from youthful frustration to a more sophisticated, mature perspective on life’s compromises. One of the album’s biggest takeaways is that peace can exist amid life’s discomfort. Discover tranquility through introspection within a tumultuous world.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CITIZEN
ANXIOUS
HOTLINE TNT
CRYOGEYSER
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer