Concerts Photos
The Fray at the Wiltern in Los Angeles
On August 23rd, The Fray brought their How To Save A Life: The 20th Anniversary Tour to The Wiltern in Los Angeles for a completely sold-out show.
The night kicked off with an opening performance from Landon Barker, who has joined The Fray as a special guest for a few shows so far on their tour. Halfway through his set, Landon stunned the audience by bringing out his dad, Travis Barker, to perform a song with him.
The Strike, a pop-rock trio, then took the stage, putting their all into an entertaining and excitement-filled 40-minute performance. There were lots of jumping around and liveliness from this LA-based group, which got fans excited for the rest of the night.
A little after 9pm, the lights dimmed and a single lightbulb dropped down from the ceiling, its warm glow mimicking the album cover of The Fray’s 2005 hit album, How to Save a Life. And then The Fray finally took the stage. Emerging from the shadows, the band started strong by performing “She Is,” the opening track on their debut album. Exhilaration buzzed all throughout the venue as lead singer Joe King, who took on the role after Isaac Slade left the band in 2022, absolutely nailed the vocals. With Dave Welsh on the guitar and Ben Wysocki on the drums, along with a few other background instrumentalists, fans were blown away by the endless talent of The Fray.
After the band left the stage and the overhead lights turned back on, the feeling of nostalgia lingered in the air. The Fray did an incredible job of transporting the crowd back to the early 2000s with their music, leaving everyone with unforgettable memories.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
09/26 Ocean City, MD – Ocean’s Calling Festival *
11/01 Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
11/02 Berlin, Germany – Huxleys Neue Welt
11/04 Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet
11/05 Oslo, Norway – Union Scene
11/07 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
11/08 Hamburg, Germany – Docks
11/10 Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
11/11 Cologne, Germany – E-Werk
11/13 Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
11/15 Glasgow, UK – SWG3 TV Studio
11/17 Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
11/18 London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
11/21 Belfast, Northern Ireland – The Telegraph Building
11/22 Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia
* with the Strike
More information on their website.
Check out our favorite photos of the night or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE FRAY
THE STRIKE
LANDON BARKER
All Photo Credit: Mallory Snyder
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