Concerts Photos
The Scratch Bring ‘Pull Like A Dog’ World Tour to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Irish folk-metal chaos took over the Commodore Ballroom on May 22 as The Scratch delivered one of the loudest and most relentlessly energetic sets the venue has seen this year.
Fresh off the release of their third album, Pull Like A Dog, the Dublin four-piece arrived in Vancouver with the kind of reputation that makes people show up early and brace themselves for impact. Within seconds of opener “Pullin’ Teeth,” the floor split open into a swirling pit that barely stopped moving for the next hour and a half. The band’s mix of heavy riffs, acoustic guitars, trad Irish melodies, and raw punk intensity totally worked live.
Frontman and percussionist Daniel Lang spent most of the night perched on his battered cajón at centre stage, hammering away while barking vocals back at the crowd. Around him, guitarists Conor Dockery and Gary Regan and bassist Cathal McKenna pushed the room into full pub-session-meets-hardcore-show territory.
Tracks like “Pull Like A Dog,” “Cheeky Bastard,” and “Another Round” were highlights, turning the Commodore into a wall of jumping bodies. Yet the night wasn’t all chaos. A quieter run through Christy Moore’s “Joxer Goes to Stuttgart” and Dominic Behan’s “McAlpine’s Fusiliers” highlighted the band’s deep connection to Irish folk storytelling, giving the set some emotional weight beneath all the sweat and noise.
By the encore, which included a ripping cover of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades,” the room looked completely spent. The Scratch created the feeling that the entire room was in on something together, somewhere between a punk show and a pub singalong.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE SCRATCH
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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