Concerts Photos
Portugal. The Man Bring Alaska to The Wiltern on Their Denali Tour
Alaskan natives, Portugal. The Man hit the road for their twenty-show Denali 2025 tour across North America. This past Sunday, November 16th, the alt/rock group set up camp at the historic Wiltern in Los Angeles. The Wiltern was completely sold out, filled with eager fans excited to see their favorite band perform.
Ya Tseen, an indie/alternative artist from Alaska known for blending psych-pop with political themes, performed with Portugal. The Man for the evening. Ya Tseen, also known as Nicholas Galanin, is a musician of Tlingit/Unangax̂ heritage who seems to remain constantly active.
The creative visual artist Ya Tseen draws inspiration from time spent outdoors and with family, while also blurring the lines between music and art. He states that his new album, Stand On My Shoulder, “builds on connection and revolutionary love as the foundation for collective liberation that ran throughout [his previous album] Indian Yard.”
Portugal. The Man took the stage shortly after Ya Tseen’s set. As the lights began to dim, the crowd roared. A colorful visual of Alaskan nature spread across the stage as each instrument was covered in LED screens, seamlessly creating the illusion of being out in Alaska’s vast nature. The band’s tenth studio album, Shish, is an ode to Alaska, as evidenced by its artwork and song titles, such as “Denali,” “Angoon,” and “Kokhanockers.”
With heavy reference to the icy cold, John Gourley, the singer, stated that “Mush is about survival and ambition in rural life.” At the same time, the track “Tanana” acknowledges the reality of generational sadness and the never-ending search for meaning.
While Portugal. The Man has expressed their fondness for Alaska; it was only after releasing tracks like “Tanana” and “Mush” from their album that it became clear that Shish was essentially a tribute to their home state. Originally from Wasilla, the band has showcased its love for Alaska throughout its 20-year career and ten studio albums. This album is also the band’s first album under their own label imprint, KNIK. The label operates under the distribution company Thirty Tigers.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Nov 19 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
Nov 21 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Nov 22 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed / Beyond Hunger Benefit
Nov 23 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s
Nov 25 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov 26 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Nov 27 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
Nov 29 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Nov 30 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
Dec 2 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Dec 3 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
Dec 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Dec 5 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Dec 7 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
Dec 8 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Dec 9 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Dec 11 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
Dec 12 – Austin, TX – ACL Live – Moody Theater
European/ UK Tour Dates
Feb 23, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – National Stadium
Feb 24, 2026 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Galvanizers
Feb 25, 2026 – Manchester, UK – New Century
Feb 26, 2026 – London, UK – The Roundhouse
Feb 28, 2026 – Paris, France – Elysee Montmartre
Mar 1, 2026 – Luxembourg – den L’Atelier
Mar 2, 2026 – Antwerpen, Belgium – De Roma
Mar 3, 2026 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium
Mar 5, 2026 – Hamburg, Germany – Inselpark Arena
Mar 6, 2026 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
Mar 8, 2026 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
Mar 9, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
Mar 10, 2026 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola
Mar 11, 2026 – Prague, Czech Republic – ARCHA+
Mar 13, 2026 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique
Mar 14, 2026 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Les Docks
Mar 15, 2026 – Zurich, Switzerland – KOMPLEX 457
Mar 17, 2026 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
More information on the band’s website.
PORTUGAL. THE MAN
YA TSEEN
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer
Concerts Photos
Alestorm Turns Commodore Ballroom Into One Giant Pirate Party
Last night, I had the chance to photograph Alestorm at the Commodore Ballroom, and honestly, it was one of the most fun shows I’ve shot in a long time.
From the second the band hit the stage, the energy in the room was unreal. The crowd was singing every word, throwing their hands in the air, and fully embracing the pirate-themed chaos that Alestorm is known for. It felt like one massive party where everyone was in on the same joke.
As a photographer, this show was packed with great moments. Between the colourful lighting, the band’s larger-than-life stage presence, and the nonstop crowd interaction, there was always something happening. Every time I thought I had captured my favourite shot of the night, another moment would unfold right in front of me.
One thing that really stood out was how connected the band was with the audience. You could tell the fans weren’t just there to watch. They were there to be part of the experience. Looking around the room and seeing hundreds of people singing together made it clear why Alestorm has built such a loyal following over the years.
My favourite photos ended up being the ones that captured that connection. The laughter, the singalongs, the raised hands, and the pure excitement on people’s faces told the story of the night better than any stage setup ever could.
Alestorm brought the music, the fun, and the chaos in the best possible way. If you ever get the chance to see them live, be ready for a night that’s equal parts concert and pirate adventure.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
ALESTORM
All Photo Credit: Raphael Arthur
Concerts Photos
LIVE REVIEW: Qveen Herby Brings Her ‘Isle of Qveen’ Tour to the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver
The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver | May 28, 2026
THOT Squad
Opening for Qveen Herby was rapper and songwriter THOT Squad (also known as Blvck Bunnie) who is best known for their 2023 viral hit “Pound Cake” which recently featured in the hit video game “Dispatch.” It’s great, THOT is great, we were late to the party, and we blame everyone we have ever talked to. Why didn’t anyone tell us?
The best way to describe a THOT Squad show (if it can be described) is that Harvey is 50% rapper, 50% singer, and somehow checks math also an additional 64% personality. They’re a lot! Wigs, tops, boots, there’s a lot going on (and in another gut punch to reasonable math) somehow even more coming off. Does removing multiple layers count as costume changes? We’ve no idea!
While leaning up against the edge of what’s appropriate for some of the younger people in the audience (was this an all-ages show?) the crowd was certainly down to sing along with THOT Squad, although one song did consist of a single word (c*nt) repeated for several minutes over and over. Their songs are dripping with emotion and heartfelt content, clearly written during points of their life where scream singing about an ex-partner or punching the stage was the best form of relief available.
Their props were excellent (we don’t understand how her shape light wands worked) and it’s great anytime an artist gets into the crowd with their fans. Entertaining doesn’t begin to describe the set, we just know they need to be booked at every festival this summer because their energy is a perfect match. What a fun opener, and a great way to settle in for a night at The Vogue.
Qveen Herby
The star of the show and the artist everyone stood in line to see (the sold-out show was absolutely PACKED to capacity before THOT Squad even took the stage, not something you see at every show these days) was rapper, singer, songwriter and, as far as I can tell, burlesque sensation Qveen Herby. Making her first ever tour stop in Vancouver at the always amazing Vogue Theatre, Qveen Herby brought her enthusiastic, over-the-top show to fans that have been waiting an ETERNITY to see her perform live.
Starting behind a screen for a song’s worth of shadow dancing, Qveen Herby bounced through “Sensational” before boarding her cruise ship for a quick ride and another song. We’ve seen artists that take their visuals extremely seriously, and Qveen does that. We’ve also seen artists who have a budget for set design and props, and you can tell Qveen’s people have put in both time and effort. What sets her show apart is the tone; more than anything else, Qveen Herby wants her show to be joyful. Colorful costumes, playful backdrops, everything has a little bit of whimsy. There is a volcano! Sailors to assist her! Nothing is dull, or lazy, or overcomplicated.
Must Hear Songs by Qveen Herby (In Our Humble Opinion):
- “The Fool” ft/ THOT Squad (Isle of Qveen, 2026)
- Overnight ft/ Richard Carter (Single, 2026)
- Happy Healed Hoe (Single, 2026)
Vocally, Qveen Herby is a masterpiece. She can rap – proper, speedy rap – and it has defined the later half of her career. But then, after a quick costume change, she is lounging on an inflatable clamshell and singing songs from The Little Mermaid. And it works! It wasn’t until some light researching that I discovered she was part of Karmin, who’s hit single “Brokenhearted” topped some American charts over 10 years ago. I swear to God I thought that song featured Kesha! Qveen Herby is an incredible talent and a joy to watch perform live.
Our Qveen Herby joked that she had never played Vancouver before and seemed genuinely taken aback at the warm reception, getting emotional several times during her lengthy setlist. We hope she enjoyed her night at least as much as we did, and we can’t wait for another chance to see her. Come back soon!
Qveen Herby Setlist:
- Intro
- Sensational
- Self Aware
- My SZN
- Vitamins
- Pure Imagination
- The Fool
- Magic
- Hacky Sack
- Thank Goddess
- Taboo
- Little Mermaid
- Preroll
- Beautiful
- F Myself
- Brokenhearted
- Mission
- Sugar Daddy
- Rabbit Hole
- Aura Poppins
- Housewife
- Abracadabra
- Medicine Woman
- High Priestess
- 5D
- Lucky
- Busta Rhymes
- Sade in the 90s
- Overnight
- Marie Antoinette
- Mint
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us, and for checking out our review!
QVEEN HERBY
THOT SQUAD
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin