Concerts Photos
The Blue Stones at The Park Theatre in Winnipeg
The Blue Stones brought their North America Metro tour to Winnipeg on May 29, with support from The Darcys. The Ontario-based duo of Tarek Jafar and Justin Tessie left The Park Theatre with a distinct taste of indie-rock and a night to remember. With their first show being sold out, they had added a second Winnipeg show the day before.
Before the show started, the duo brought one VIP ticket holder cake as special gesture. That commitment and closeness sums up why The Blue Stones is going places.
First, The Darcys took the stage opening with “Dreaming.” The Toronto/ LA duo did a phenomenal performance. Vocalist Jason Couse kept the crowd locked in, entertaining the crowd and making them laugh. The fans responded by changing his name “Couse” to “Booooos” as a joke! Still, songs like “1986,” and “Talking” took the spotlight.
Then it was time for the main event, The Blue Stones. Before they hit the stage, they played “Metro 47” and as soon as it ended they played “Your Master.” The smooth transition was seamless, very similar to listening to the album. Some of the songs from Metro instantly hit it off to the crowd such as “Come Apart,” “Happy Cry.” Obviously, the set leaned hard on newer tracks, but for the encore they performed some of their OG songs like “Black Holes,” “Let it Ride,” and “Don’t Miss.”
Before the show, they brought one VIP ticket holder cake as special gesture. That commitment and closeness sums up why this duo is going places.
The Metro album now stands as one of their greatest releases. The sold-out show is proof of how hard they’ve worked to connect with fans. Catch them live if you want to experience a Canadian indie-rock duo.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE BLUE STONES
THE DARCYS
All Photo Credit: Nischal Karki
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