Concerts Photos
Pixies at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver
On June 26, Pixies kicked off their two-night stand at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre with a full run-through of Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, giving longtime fans a dense, gloriously weird trip through their early ‘90s catalog with 30+ tracks of unrelenting, cosmic noise.
Kurt Vile & the Violators opened with a loose, hazy set that somehow made perfect sense. Vile’s drawl and winding guitar lines felt like a psychedelic preamble to the chaos that would follow. “Wakin’ on a Pretty Day” turned into a 10-minute trance, and the crowd, already heavy with nostalgia, swayed in sync.
Then came Pixies. Bossanova opened as it should with “Cecilia Ann” washing over the room in all its surf-rock glory. Black Francis barked and wailed through “Rock Music” and “Velouria,” while Joey Santiago shredded with surgical precision. Emma Richardson (of Band of Skulls), now on bass, slotted right in with her backing vocals adding layers to tracks like “The Happening” and “Down to the Well.”
After a short breather, they dove into Trompe Le Monde. If Bossanova felt dreamy, this was pure adrenaline. “Planet of Sound” shook the venue. “U-Mass” was brilliant. By the time they hit “The Navajo Know,” the Orpheum was fully converted.
They ended the show with a 4-song encore, and judging by the cheers from fans young and old, it hit the mark.
Night two will be the “Classic Pixies” set, so expect Doolittle bangers, newer tracks from The Night the Zombies Came, and probably that one song you’re thinking of.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Pixies Tour dates:
JULY 2025
8-9 MTELUS, Montreal, QC
12 Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa, ONT
15-16 Brooklyn Paramount, Brooklyn, NY
18-19 MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, MA
22-23 The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
25-26 The Anthem, Washington, DC
28-29 The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
31 Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN
AUGUST 2025
1 Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN
22 Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON (with My Chemical Romance)
27 Gallagher Square, San Diego, CA
28 The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
30 McMenamins Edgefield, Troutdale, OR
31 Kettlehouse Amphitheater, Bonner, MT
SEPTEMBER 2025
2 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
4 Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, OK
5 ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin, TX
6 White Oak Music Hall, Houston, TX
8 Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL
9 Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC
10 Asheville Yards Amphitheater, Asheville, NC
12 Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA
13 Bourbon & Beyond Festival, Louisville, KY
15 The Salt Shed – Fairgrounds, Chicago, IL
17 The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN
19 Shaky Knees Festival, Atlanta, GA
More info on their website.
PIXIES
KURT VILE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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