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
Epik High Turns Vancouver’s Orpheum Into a Hip-Hop Party
Epik High brought its 3.0 Tour 2026 to Vancouver’s Orpheum on October 20, delivering a night of sharp lyricism, ridiculous humour and plenty of crowd interaction. With BOBO.XX opening the show, the Korean hip-hop trio proved that more than two decades into their career, they still know how to make a concert feel like a party among friends.
BOBO.XX, a musician and photographer who works on Epik High’s video and content, warmed up the audience with a taste of his own sound before handing the stage over to the headliners. Anticipation grew during the break, and the theatre erupted when Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz appeared for “High Technology,” followed by “One.”
The group’s chemistry was clear to everyone. Their introductions quickly turned into a comedy routine, complete with DJ Tukutz’s sound effects and playful jabs at one another. Tablo might be the trio’s longtime leader, but Tukutz had recently claimed the title through a band competition, giving the three plenty of material to work with.
That humour carried through the night. Fan-submitted Post-it challenges put the members on the spot, leading to dance covers, awkwardly adorable aegyo and plenty of laughter. The challenges often involved bending the rules, with multiple notes taped together and presented as a single request. The trio’s willingness to make fools of themselves made the audience feel like part of the show rather than spectators.
The music never took a back seat. Tracks such as “ANTIHERO,” “Rosario” and “BURJ KHALIFA” kept the room moving, with the group’s tight delivery matched by DJ Tukutz’s work behind the turntables. The mood shifted for more emotional performances, including “1 Minute, 1 Second” and Mithra Jin’s solo “Will I Be Okay?,” showing a more vulnerable side to the performers.
The most meaningful moment came when Tablo spoke about the group’s long journey. His message was simple: if Epik High could keep pushing forward after 22 years, fans could overcome their own obstacles, too. It gave “Born Hater” an extra punch.
The trio closed with an encore of “EPIKISM” and “Don’t Hate Me,” sending the crowd home smiling. Epik High’s strength lies in the balance between serious musicianship and complete silliness. They can deliver an emotional message one minute and turn a fan-requested dance challenge into a comedy show the next. At the Orpheum, that combination made for a concert that felt personal, unpredictable and a whole lot of fun.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EPIK HIGH
BOBO.XX
All Photo Credit: Chaehyun Lim
Concerts Photos
Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto
There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.
Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age.
Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
COLIN LYNCH
LYDIA MAES
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan