Concerts Photos
The Academy Is… Bring ‘Almost Here’ 20th Anniversary Tour to Los Angeles
Attention! Attention! All your eyes and ears are turned towards the Belasco Theater on a cold Friday night in Downtown Los Angeles in December, as The Academy Is… comes to Los Angeles in front of a capacity crowd at this historic 1926 venue. TIA were playing a huge set on this tour, with a lot of songs coming off the album Almost Here, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The band was joined by Slow Joy, fronted by mastermind Esteban Flores. The band was energetic and really got the crowd moving and interacting. Their live set is punchy pop rock mixed in with heavy rock, emo, and bit shoegazy at times. Definitely something the crowd at this show could easily get behind. The band played with nothing to lose, making sure to remind everyone that while you came to see TAI, you would not forget Slow Joy. Not one bit.
The Academy Is… stepped onto the stage, only to be illuminated into light once “ATTENTION ATTENTION” kicked in to a much higher gear, and the crowd really started to chant and sing along with singer William Beckett making sure to ask the crowd if they were here to have fun and get involved in singing as loudly as humanly possible.
The band moved into “Seasons,” which got the crowd dancing with its sublimely fun guitar harmonic parts, and danceable drum beat that moves into a soaring chorus that you’d sing at the top of your lungs. Beckett moved onstage with such ferocity and suave, as he danced and preened his way into the crowd that was clearly having the best times of their lives, and we’ve only just started.
The band moved into “Slow Down,” with its ambient sound, absolute pristine, and heavier live. Beckett moves onstage like a pied piper, singing “kiss me like an over dramatic actor, that’s starving work”, perhaps a simple nod to the nature of the not so simple lives of Hollywood and the industry as a whole.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE ACADEMY IS…
SLOW JOY
All Photo Credit: John McCrary
Concerts Photos
The Midnight Bring ‘Time Machines’ Tour to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver
The Midnight turned the Queen Elizabeth Theatre into a glowing neon escape on May 10 as part of their Time Machines tour. Backed by sweeping synths and plenty of saxophone solos, the duo delivered a warm cinematic show.
By the time The Midnight hit the stage at 8pm, the Quennie was packed with fans spanning multiple generations. What stood out right away was how present everyone seemed. Phones stayed mostly down as the crowd soaked in every synth line, beat drop, and saxophone run.
Tyler Lyle was calm and conversational throughout the night, often encouraging singalongs that the audience happily delivered. The setlist balanced older fan favourites with newer tracks from 2025’s Syndicate. Songs like “Friction,” “Jason” performed with Harlee Case of New Constellations, and “Change Your Heart or Die” gave the show an energetic pulse, while “Los Angeles” and “Vampires” brought out the emotional core that has made the band so beloved in the synthwave world.
Visually, the show leaned into rich blues, purples, and neon pinks without going overboard. The production never distracted from the music itself. Instead, it amplified the feeling that The Midnight creates so well: nostalgia for a place that maybe never existed at all.
By the encore, the crowd was singing every word back as the band closed out a night that felt heartfelt and immersive.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE MIDNIGHT
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Fit For A King Brings ‘Lonely God’ Tour to Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Texas metalcore veterans Fit For A King turned the Commodore Ballroom into absolute chaos on May 8, bringing their Lonely God tour through Vancouver with support from Invent Animate, TEN56, and Acres. From the first breakdown of the night to the final crowdsurfer during “Witness The End,” the packed ballroom barely had a second to breathe.
Acres kicked things off. The UK group managed to pull the crowd in almost immediately. Tracks from their latest album The Host landed well, especially during the massive singalong sections that had even casual listeners joining in. By the end of their set, the first wave of crowdsurfers was already moving toward the barricade.
TEN56 followed with one of the heaviest sets of the night. The Paris band delivered punishing breakdowns and thick bass lines that rattled the Commodore floor. The pit only grew more chaotic with every song.
Invent Animate brought a completely different energy, leaning into atmosphere, but without sacrificing heaviness. The band sounded incredibly tight live, creating huge walls of sound that filled every corner of the room.
Then came Fit For A King. Opening with “Begin The Sacrifice,” the Texas band wasted no time sending the crowd into chaos. Frontman Ryan Kirby commanded the stage with nonstop energy, while bassist Ryan O’Leary drew huge reactions with his wild stage presence. Songs like “No Tomorrow,” “Breaking The Mirror,” and “When Everything Means Nothing” triggered deafening singalongs, while “God of Fire” and “Backbreaker” kept the pit spinning.
By the time Fit For A King closed with “Witness The End,” the Commodore looked exhausted but completely satisfied. Heavy metal music in Vancouver is alive and well.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
05/10 Billings, MT @ Pub Station
05/12 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
05/13 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
05/15 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
05/16 Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
05/17 North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
05/19 Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
05/20 Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
05/22 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
05/23 Albany, NY @ Empire Live
05/24 Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Capitole
05/26 Ottawa, ON @ The Bronson
05/27 London, ON @ London Music Hall
05/29 Rochester, NY @ Anthology
05/30 Harrisburg, PA @ Capitol City Music Hall
05/31 Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
More information on the band’s website.
FIT FOR A KING
INVENT ANIMATE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer