Concerts Photos
Tom Morello at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Tom Morello kicked off his electric full band tour at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on July 10 & 11 with a show that felt part protest, part family affair, and all rock fury. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist, known for turning distortion into a weapon and solos into statements, wasted no time. Flanked by his Freedom Fighters Orchestra, he kicked things off with “Soldier in the Army of Love” alongside his teenage son Roman, who shredded like a seasoned vet with his guitar above his head and a grin that matched his dad’s.
Before Morello took the stage, Haisla Nation hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids set the tone with a set packed with punchy bars, pointed politics, and mosh pit antics. Their last high-profile Vancouver performance was during the Juno Awards celebrations, and they proved once again they can hold a crowd with energy and message.
Morello’s set was a greatest-hits whirlwind. Rage Against the Machine medleys (“Testify,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Bombtrack”) bled into tributes to Audioslave and MC5. But it was the crowd-led scream-along of “Killing in the Name” that blew the roof off.
He closed his set with a cover “Kick Out the Jams” and brought back Snotty Nose Rez Kids on the stage.
Upcoming show dates:
07/16 Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest
07/17 Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
10/18 Oakville, ON – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
10/19 Mississauga, ON – Living Arts Centre
10/24 Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
10/25 Kingston, ON – Kingston Grand Theatre
10/26 Guelph, ON – River Run Centre
10/28 North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre
10/29 Ottawa, ON – Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
11/01 Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theatre
11/02 Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell
More information on his website at tommorello.com.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TOM MORELLO
SNOTTY NOSE REZ KIDS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Olivia O’Brien Brings ‘The Pixie Tour’ to Pacific Electric in Los Angeles
While many people would likely agree with Garfield about hating Mondays, fans at Pacific Electric on Monday, November 2nd, probably disagreed. Eager fans of both Sophie Cates and Olivia O’Brien filled the room. Dressed in fairy wings and princess crowns, the night was guaranteed to be whimsical.
As the clock struck 8:00 pm, the lights began to dim. The crowd screamed as Sophie Cates took the stage. Singing songs from previous albums and from her upcoming album, this would be the first time that Sophie had been on stage in a couple of years. After releasing her debut album, Yikes! in 2019, Cates was later signed to RCA Records. Since then, she has released multiple EPs and her second studio album, “SUPERNOVA.” Sophie joined Olivia O’Brien on her North American tour for her new album, Pixie.
As we waited for Olivia to take the stage, some fans passed around little slips of purple paper. As each member of the crowd received a slip, a message was passed along: “When Icarus comes on, place this piece of paper in front of your camera light.” The sense of community among the fans felt surreal. To most, the purple cardstock creates a cool lighting effect, but to the fans, it creates an emotional atmosphere.
Soon after everyone received their slip of purple paper, Olivia was ready to take the stage. Dressed in her album’s theme, she wore a beautiful slip dress and her iconic pixie wings. O’Brien’s sophomore album, Pixie, is a 15-track record that explores projection and fantasy while confronting the manipulative patterns of past relationships. With questions about self-worth and identity, Olivia acknowledges her past relationship dynamics and struggles with letting go. Pixie also highlights the sense of betrayal and emotional abuse that come from toxic dynamics.
While Pixie may have been written about past relationship struggles and learning to navigate life as a girl in her mid-twenties, Olivia also drew inspiration from her childhood innocence. Stories like Percy Jackson sparked the fascination and curiosity that brought back a piece of childlike wonder.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
OLIVIA O’BRIEN IN LOS ANGELES
SOPHIE CATES
All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer
Concerts Photos
Jungle Bring Their World Tour to Accor Arena in Paris
Last Friday, Jungle kicked off the night in Paris to the sound of “Smile”, opening the show in front of a crowd ready to celebrate.
Their signature basslines swept through the venue, making every one of the 20,000 souls packed inside vibrate. It is hard to find the words for what makes Jungle so magical, other than the spell cast by a sound that blends electronic, reggae and hip-hop influences, one that gives you goosebumps and sets your body in motion. Simply put, it is impossible to hear their music without dancing, smiling and feeling good.
Fast tempos, intricate rhythms and heavy basslines are the usual shorthand for their sound, but live, it becomes something more. Every song carried a touch of magic that no description quite captures, turning the arena into one giant dancefloor.
These photos try to capture what words can’t, a night where Jungle turned an arena into a shared celebration, and where the music did all the talking.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
JUNGLE IN PARIS
All Photo Credit: Jessica Camil