Concerts Photos
Nate Smith at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver
Nate Smith rolled into Vancouver last night for the second-to-last stop of his Through The Smoke tour, and the Orpheum crowd gave him a full-throttle welcome. With festival season around the corner and just one show left in Victoria, this one felt like a send-off party—and Smith brought the heat.
The night kicked off with Preston James, who wasted no time showing off his mix of country, soul, and gritty Southern charm. A Tennessee native with a powerful voice and easy charisma, he won the crowd over fast. His set included heartfelt originals and a cover or two that had people pulling out their phones. I
Then, just after 9, Smith hit the stage like a man on a mission, wearing an amazing custom Canadian leather jacket adorning the O Canada lyrics on one sleeve. No giant video walls. No crazy lasers. Just a full-throttle country rock show. He tore into “Whiskey on You” early in the set, getting the entire crowd on their feet singing—and honestly, it could’ve ended there and people would’ve left happy.
But he kept it going. New single “Nobody Likes Your Girlfriend” hit hard, and “Sleeve” brought a quieter, emotional moment. He then covered “Chasing Cars” in a way that somehow didn’t feel cheesy. He made a giant theatre feel small for a second.
By the time he closed with “World on Fire” and “I Like It,” phones were up, fists were pumping, and Smith looked like he’d left everything he had on stage. Country fans in BC got a treat last night—and if Victoria’s the finale, it’s going to be a hell of a night.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NATE SMITH
PRESTON JAMES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Holly Humberstone Brings ‘Cruel World’ Tour to Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
On June 25th, English indie-pop singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone brought her Cruel World North American Tour to a sold-out Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
After Humberstone enthralled the Commodore with her emotional and delicate vocals and created a warm atmosphere, keeping it personal, sharing stories with the audience.
The Grantham native is touring in support of her newest album, Cruel World, of which we got a sneak peek of during her performance at All Things Go early June. While her music remains deeply introspective, the new material carries a greater sense of confidence, shifting between quiet vulnerability and soaring choruses that the audience, getting to hear it live for the first time, can’t help but sing along.
Mixing songs into the set from Cruel World, Humberstone performed the instantly catchy “White Noise,” the gothic-inspired “Die Happy,” and fan favourite “To Love Somebody,” among many other tunes.
Throughout the night, she also sprinkled in career-defining tracks like “Falling Asleep At The Wheel,” “Scarlett,” “Deep End,” and “The Walls Are Way Too Thin”.
Holly Humberstone balanced a raw, commanding vocal delivery with the tight musicianship of her band, expanding familiar tracks into a fuller live sound that made the most of the Commodore Ballroom’s rich acoustics.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE IN VANCOUVER
All Photo Credit: Hunter Soo
Concerts Photos
Snail Mail Took Over Le Trabendo in Paris for ‘Ricochet’ Tour
Snail Mail, Lindsay Jordan’s indie rock solo project, took over Le Trabendo in Paris, France on June 23.
As fans slowly made their way to the venue, they were welcomed by the bedroom pop sounds of singer-songwriter Unflirt. The emerging London-based artist, whose real name is Christine Senorin, performed both new and old songs. From her first single “Crush” to a few songs from her album Fleeting, fans were lucky enough to also hear her new unreleased song, “New York.”
At 9pm, it was then time for Snail Mail to hit the stage. Four years since their last headline show in France, fans were so excited to see them again that many braved the heat wave—fittingly also the title of one of the songs performed that evening. By the first song, the venue was crowded and buzzing, and Snail Mail delivered a high-energy show despite the melting heat.
Ricochet, the band’s third album, was released in March of this year, and fans got to hear it in its entirety throughout a carefully crafted setlist. Starting with “Tractor Beam,” Snail Mail performed a mix of songs from their entire discography, from the critically acclaimed single “Valentine” to “Thinning,” the opening track of her debut EP. The night ended with “Pristine,” jokingly called “Paris-tine” for the night.
The Ricochet Tour, started in April in America, is now coming to an end with its last shows in the United Kingdom. Snail Mail will then embark on a co-headline tour with Soccer Mommy across the United States next fall.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SNAIL MAIL
UNFLIRT
All Photo Credit: Manon Pothin