Concerts Photos
Peach Pit & Briston Maroney at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby
You couldn’t have asked for a better night. The sky was blue, the grass was dry, and the vibes were dialed in as Briston Maroney and Peach Pit co-headlined the Long Hair, Long Life Tour at Deer Lake Park. If the show had any flaws, no one noticed. Everyone was too busy dancing, yelling lyrics, and taking mental screenshots of a night that just felt good.
BNNY set the tone with a short set, mixing softness with sharpness. It felt like the calm before the storm, and sure enough, Briston Maroney came charging onstage like someone had dropped a Mentos into his Coke. “Real Good Swimmer” cracked the night open with a rockier edge than fans might expect from his records. The crowd responded with instantly, dancing, clapping, and feeding off Maroney’s everything-all-at-once stage presence.
From there, he bounced between rock ragers and slow-burn heart-tuggers. A mid-set breather brought out Pacoustic version of “Land of Light” and “Caroline”. It was an unexpected but welcome mood shift that hit especially hard as golden hour started to lit up the park. Later, he closed his set with “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate,” which turned into a massive, arms-in-the-air chorus.
Peach Pit followed and never let the energy dip. The Vancouver hometown heroes got a hero’s welcome, especially when they kicked off with a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” before sliding into the groove of “Magpie.” Neil Smith was his usual goofy, charming self, trading jokes with the audience, dancing like no one was watching, and somehow managing to make chaos feel effortless.
Their setlist hit all the fan-favourite checkpoints: “Give Up Baby Go,” “Alrighty Aphrodite,” “Shampoo Bottles.” And the crowd was all in, singing every word, jumping along, and forming little dance pits across the lawn. The newer tracks from Magpie landed strong too.
The encore was more than just an extra song. Smith came out solo to share how the band started and played the original version of “Peach Pit.” Then came “Tommy’s Party,” with both Smith and Wilton’s dads joining in. A great ending to the set.
Briston Maroney and Peach Pit are very different performers, but that’s what made the show work. One brings the whirlwind, the other brings the sway. Together, they turned a warm, beautiful night at Deer Lake Park into something unforgettable.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sat Jun 07 – Troutdale OR – McMenamins Edgefield
Tue Jun 10 – San Francisco CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Wed Jun 11 – Los Angeles CA – Greek Theatre
Fri Jun 13 – San Diego CA – Park at the Park – Petco Park
Sat Jun 14 – Phoenix AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Mon Jun 16 – Austin TX – Moody Amphitheater
Tue Jun 17 – Dallas TX – South Side Ballroom
Wed Jun 18 – Houston TX – 713 Music Hall
Fri Jun 20 – Atlanta GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sat Jun 21 – Charlotte NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Jun 22 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem
Tue Jun 24 – Boston MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Wed Jun 25 – Shelburne VT – The Green at Shelburne Museum
Thu Jun 26 – Toronto ON – Budweiser Stage
More info about the tour here!
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BRISTON MARONEY
PEACH PIT
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan
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