Concerts Photos
Megadeth at Rogers Forum in Abbostford
Megadeth rolled into Abbotsford’s Rogers Forum on February 17 with their Canadian farewell tour in tow, and they did not waste a second getting down to business. The lineup alone was enough to make any thrash fan sweat a little. Bay Area pioneers Exodus kicked things off with a gritty, no-frills set that immediately sparked the first mosh pits of the night, followed by NYC heavyweights Anthrax, who kept the circle pits churning and the energy climbing. By the time Megadeth hit the stage, the arena was buzzing and fully warmed up.
They came out swinging with “Tipping Point,” “Dread and the Fugitive Mind,” and a ripping “Hangar 18,” setting a fierce pace right away. The band sounded tight, confident, and completely in sync, tearing through a set that balanced longtime favourites with deeper cuts. On the floor, the pits kept opening and collapsing in waves, a constant swirl of bodies matching every rapid-fire riff.
About halfway through, the band made some tour debuts featuring “She-Wolf,” and “Poison Was the Cure”. Not too long after, fans were treated to one of their biggest hits “Symphony of Destruction” which turned into a full-arena moment, thousands of voices chanting in unison.
For two hours, Megadeth revisited decades of material with clarity and precision. If this really is the last run, Abbotsford got to see them exactly how they should be seen: loud and in full command of the chaos.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Feb. 20 – Calgary, Alberta @ Scotiabank, Saddledome
Feb. 21 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Rogers Place
Feb. 24 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ SaskTel Centre
Feb. 25 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ Canada Life Centre
Feb. 28 – London, Ontario @ Canada Life Place
March 1 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Centre
March 3 – Halifax, Nova Scotia @ Scotiabank Centre
March 4 – Moncton, New Brunswick @ Avenir Centre
March 6 – Quebec City, Quebec @ Videotron Centre
April 23 – Lima, Peru @ Costa 21
April 26 – Bogota, Colombia @ Movistar Arean
April 27 – Bogota, Colombia @ Movistar Arean
April 30 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ TBA
May 2 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Espaco Unimed
May 4 – Santiago, Chile @ Movistar Arena
May 5 – Santiago, Chile @ Movistar Arena
May 8 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Arena Monterrey
May 10 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Arena Ciudad de Mexico
May 11 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Arena Ciudad de Mexico
May 13 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ Arena Guadalajara
May 25 – Valencia, Spain @ Roig Arena
May 27 – A Coruna, Spain @ Coliseum
May 29 – Bilbao, Spain @ Bizkaia Arena-BEC!
June 2 – Hanover, Germany @ Heinz von Heiden Arena (supporting Iron Maiden)
June 6 – Maastricht, Netherlands @ South of Heaven Open Air*
June 7 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Amphitheater
June 10 – Hradec Králové, Czechia @ Rock for People*
June 11 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg @ Rockhal
June 14 – Ferrara, Italy @ Ferrara Summer Festival*
June 15 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622
June 16 – Vienna, Austria @ Gasometer
June 18, Dessel, Belgium @ Graspop Metal Meeting*
June 20 – Clisson, France @ Hellfest*
June 23 – Istanbul, Turkey @ Kucukciftlik Park
June 26 – Helsinki, Finland @ Tuska*
June 28 – Almaty, Kazakhstan @ Spartak Stadium
Aug. 8 – Sturgis, S.D. @ Sturgis Buffalo Chip
* = Festival date
More information on Megadeth’s website.
MEGADETH
ANTHRAX
EXODUS
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Photos
Alabama Shakes Bring the Soul Back to Vancouver
After nearly a decade away, Alabama Shakes returned to Vancouver on June 26 for a night that was both a reunion and a revival. Performing at the new Freedom Mobile Arch, the Alabama band wasted little time reminding the crowd why their blend of blues, rock, soul, and gospel made such an impact in the first place.
The band opened shortly after 8p.m. with immediate force, locking into the familiar rhythms that have defined their sound since their 2012 debut, Boys & Girls. As the daylight decreased, “Another Life” brought a warm shift to the rainy evening, with the crowd swaying together before “Hang Loose” kept the mood loose and upbeat.
At the centre of it all was Brittany Howard, whose voice remains as commanding as ever. Her ability to move from a delicate falsetto on “Future People” to a full-throated roar gave the songs a fresh edge without losing what made them special. “I Found You” brought out the band’s gospel and blues roots, while “Hold On” turned the venue into one massive singalong.
The set’s emotional high point came with “Gimme All Your Love,” as Howard and the band leaned into every groove. “Don’t Wanna Fight” followed with equal parts tension and release before the band left the stage.
Alabama Shakes‘ return showed that, after all these years, this band can still make a crowd rise.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ALABAMA SHAKES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Of Monsters and Men Bring ‘The Mouse Parade’ Tour to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver
Of Monsters and Men returned to Vancouver on June 25 with a packed show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, bringing their mix of indie folk, rock and cinematic pop to a crowd that was more than ready to welcome them back. After years away from the live stage, the Icelandic band showed no signs of rust, delivering a performance that moved easily between quiet, atmospheric moments and full-room singalongs.
The evening opened with American indie folk singer-songwriter, August Ponthier, who shared songs from their debut album Everywhere Isn’t Texas, as well as new unreleased material.
At 9p.m., the lights dropped and Of Monsters And Men emerged from the shadows, surrounded by haze and an eerie wash of light that matched the darker mood of their newer material.
The set leaned heavily on songs from their latest album, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, giving fans a chance to hear how the band’s sound has developed since their breakthrough. Tracks like “The Actor” and “Ordinary Creature” brought a more layered, reflective side of the group, yet they fit comfortably alongside older favourites.
Of course, the biggest reactions came when the band reached back into their catalogue. Both “King and Lionheart” and “Dirty Paws” had the audience singing along. Then came “Little Talks,” still one of the band’s biggest hits and an undeniable highlight of the night. The familiar opening instantly brought the room together, with the crowd handling a lot of the vocals.
At the centre of it all were Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, whose voices remain the band’s greatest strength. Their harmonies, paired with the group’s dynamic musicianship, made the long-awaited return feel completely worth the wait.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
OF MONSTERS AND MEN
AUGUST PONTHIER
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer