Fun story about Kylie V: about 6 years ago I went to a friend’s wedding, where she introduced me to her nibling who was just starting in music. We had a brief chat about local bands, and later in the night they went on to sing with the wedding band. Soon after, Kylie V broke into the Vancouver scene, and I’ve managed to catch them at a couple outdoor shows and as an opening act, but this was the first time I had seen them headlining. And not only that, it was also the first time making it to The Pearl, since the club had been rebranded from Venue!

Sadly I missed most of the opening bands, la lune and Dawson Gool (a little awkward when Kylie at one point joked they didn’t trust anyone that missed them), arriving just as the latter was wrapping up their final song.

Thanks to it being an early show, there was a very quick turnaround before Kylie V hit the stage, first accompanied by Nolan Fae for a brand new song, and then the rest of their band as they went into “On My Mind” from their first full length, Big Blue.

From there the set was a mix of older -- their soft voice floating through the room on title track, “Big Blue”, and the soaring, emotional “Runaway” -- as well as teasing some new material like “Crash Test Plane” and “Year of the Rabbit”, mentioning they were working on a new album.

Between songs, Kylie chatted, joked, and told the back stories of songs; from the funny (“Natural” inspired by a little too much Benadryl) to the more serious (the gorgeous song “Catherine” being written for one of their best friends).

After a cover of one of their favourites, “Is There Something in the Movies?” by Samia, and without bothering with the encore fakeout, Kylie wrapped u the set with another new song, “Lucky Streak”, which started chill before cranking up the enrgy, and was one of my faves of the set.

Even putting aside meeting them those years ago, Kylie V has genuinely become one of my favourite newer acts in Vancouver, and I am very excited to hear what they have cooking in the new year.

setlist
[New song]
On My Mind
Big Blue
Runaway
Crash Test Plane
Natural
Catherine
Anomaly
Year of the Rabbit
Is There Something in the Movies? [Samia cover]
Lucky Streak