Concerts Photos
Kerry King at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
On January 20, Kerry King turned the Commodore Ballroom into a thrash metal haven last night, and it was everything fans could have hoped for. The Slayer legend brought his new solo band to Vancouver, and it was an absolute riot.
The setlist hit that sweet spot between old-school Slayer bangers and fresh tracks from King’s solo debut, From Hell I Rise. They opened with “Where I Reign,” and right away, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a tame night. When the band launched into “Raining Blood,” the pit went wild—it felt like pure chaos in the best way. And just when you thought you had the vibe pegged, they threw in a couple of Iron Maiden covers, “Purgatory” and “Killers,” giving them a thrashy twist that somehow worked perfectly.
King didn’t come alone; his band is stacked with heavyweights, including Paul Bostaph on drums, Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, and Mark Osegueda on vocals. Together, they brought serious energy and made sure the room stayed electric all night. The fiery red-and-black lighting gave the whole show a wicked vibe, with King looking every bit the metal icon he is.
Opening acts American crossover trash band Municipal Waste and New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry got the crowd hyped and moshing early, but when King and his crew hit the stage, it was next-level. This show was a solid reminder that thrash metal is still kicking hard.
Kerry King and his band will be on tour all over North America, ending in Los Angeles on February 22 before heading to Europe in July. More info on his website.
Check out our favourites photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KERRY KING
MUNICIPAL WASTE
ALIEN WEAPONRY
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Wave To Earth Bring ‘the pieces tour’ to Vancouver
By the time Wave to Earth took the stage at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena on September 4, Vancouver was already buzzing. A lineup stretched around the block as fans waited to see the South Korean indie-rock trio kick off the first date of their the pieces tour in the city.
The band’s stage setup immediately set the tone, arranged to look like a cozy living room, complete with windows that opened onto a constantly changing view of the world outside. The clever screens showed footage filmed just outside the arena, creating the illusion that the stage was looking out onto the neighbourhood. Periodically, TransLink buses could be seen passing by, an unexpectedly Vancouver specific detail that made the arena feel intimate.
That sense of intimacy carried into the band’s entrance, with lead singer Daniel Kim stepping onto the stage wearing a UBC Arts cap, a small but memorable nod to the city and its university community.
From the opening notes, Wave to Earth leaned into the warm, laid-back atmosphere that has made their music resonate with fans around the world. The contrast between the arena’s size and the deliberately homey stage design made the show feel like being invited into the band’s living room.
As the opening night of the pieces tour, the Vancouver show set the tone for what promises to be a visually thoughtful and atmospheric run of dates.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WAVE TO EARTH
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Concerts Photos
Goose Brings their ‘Summer Tour’ to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Goose brought their 2026 Summer Tour to Vancouver on Tuesday night, turning the Commodore Ballroom into a sweaty, late-night dance party that stretched well past 11 p.m.
The Connecticut-based quartet — Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach, Trevor Weekz and drummer Cotter Ellis — has built a reputation for letting songs breathe onstage, and Vancouver got the full treatment. The band played two sets and an encore, giving the crowd plenty of room to settle into the grooves and watch the songs take unexpected turns.
The first set opened with “Yeti” before moving through “All I Need,” “Turbulence & The Night Rays” and “Time to Flee.” “Everything Must Go” kept things moving before “Hungersite” closed the set with one of the night’s bigger stretches of improvisation.
After a break, Goose returned and launched into “Electric Avenue,” a crowd-pleasing choice that had the Commodore singing along.
There was little interest in rushing through the evening. Goose gave each section space, moving from tight grooves to loose instrumental passages without making the show feel like a collection of extended solos.
For a band coming off a European run and heading into some of its biggest U.S. shows, Vancouver felt like another strong stop on the way. The Commodore may be a much smaller room than Madison Square Garden or SPAC, but Goose seemed perfectly happy to stretch out inside it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOOSE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer