Hotel Mira @ Commodore Ballroom -- January 19, 2024

The very first time I saw Hotel Mira (back when they were still JPNSGRLS) they were the opener of three bands on a bill at the Commodore. Flash forward ten years, a name change, and a few albums -- and hit singles -- later, and now they are not only headlining the Commodore for the first time, but a sold out Commodore at that!

Thanks to an early show that evening, I missed the first opener Holy Felix, getting there to catch the tail end of Fake Shark. While the Vancouver band hasn’t always been my jam personally, I cannot deny they have a palpable energy for their fast-paced alt-rock. Especially singer Kevvy, who had the crowd in the palm of his hand, singing along to singles like “Fake Friends” and “Bummer Summer” off their recently released album Afterglow. They also ended the set with a surprise, Matt Webb from Marianas Trench to join in on “Loser”.

After a break, the lights dimmed and “Total Eclipse of the Heart” hit the speakers (crowd obviously singing along) as the members of Hotel Mira took stage; Mike Noble on bass & synth, Clark Grieve on guitar, drummer Cole George, and singer Charlie Kerr.

They started off with “King of the World” and “Alone in America” from their latest album, I Am Not Myself, for a set that weaved through that album as well as 2020’s Perfectionism. From explosive songs like “Everything Once” and “The Eyes on You”, to the harmonies of “Vampire” and “Jungles”, the band hardly let off the gas for their hour-long set.

And they were definitely a good companion to Fake Shark, because if anyone can match Kevvy's vibrancy, it’s Charlie Kerr. They got the crowd riled up and singing along with some hits, “Better On Your Own” and “This Could Be It For Me” early on, and it was clear everyone onstage was feeding off the sold out crowd, but especially Kerr as he waded into the audience for “Speaking Off the Record”, ended with him crowdsurfing.

They wrapped up the main set with the incredibly catchy & frenetic “Fever Pitch”, but were of course back out a few minutes later, first with the more melancholic “The Age of Detachment” before cranking the energy again while reaching back to the JPNSGRLS days for a perennial favourite, and one last singalong, “Southern Comforting”.

One of my favourite things about following local bands is watching them evolve. And it’s definitely been cool to see the lads in Hotel Mira go from opening slots and smaller, more intimate venues, to headlining a sold out Commodore (and beyond?)

setlist
King Of The World
Alone in America
Better On Your Own
This Could Be It For Me
Everything Once
Eventually
Amanda
Silver Lake
Mama
Vampire
Jungle
The Eyes on You
Speaking Off the Record
Dancing With the Moonlight
Fever Pitch
encore
The Age of Detachment
Southern Comforting

Hotel Mira @ Hollywood Theatre -- June 24, 2023

On the tail end of their ‘Dancing With The Moonlight’ Tour, Hotel Mira returned home for a sold out evening at the Hollywood Theatre. It was an early show (even for usual ‘early show’ standards) and I missed opener Dust Cwaine, but luckily arrived just before the night’s host, the established Shanda Leer, introduced the band with a quick drag number to Celine Dion’s “That’s the Way It Is”.

Shortly after, “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS blasted over the speakers as Hotel Mira hit the stage; Mike Noble on bass & synth, Clark Grieve on guitar, drummer Cole George, and singer Charlie Kerr. They launched immediately into one of their new singles “Everything Once” and then crowd favourite “Fever Pitch”, which was also a fitting description for the audience that night, as the sold out room sang, yelled, and screamed along, hanging on Kerr's every word (and thrust).

Always a frenetic ball of energy on stage, Charlie Kerr was no different this night as he danced, writhed, lost his shirt, and interacted with the crowd. He perched on the edge of the stage & reached his hand out for whoever wanted to hold it during “Speaking Off the Record”, and asking who had recently been dumped so everyone could give a cathartic “Fuck James!” before “Better On Your Own”. And the rest of the band matched his energy for the show, as Kerr introduced each throughout the night when they had their own solos.

Other highlights included my favourite from their Perfectionism album “Jungle”, showcasing the band’s harmonies; the manic and infectious newer song “Dancing With the Moonlight”; and “The Eyes On You”, which was fittingly introduced by a quick cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.

The main set ended off with the another older favourite “Southern Comforting”, before Charlie & Clark were quickly back for “A Song for Daisy”, lighters held aloft for the softer tune. They were then re-joined by Mike & Cole, to cap off the night with an old favourite, the chaotic “Oh My God”, Charlie wading into the audience to cap off the evening.

As the band took a bow there were chants for a genuine encore. But while the foursome seemed to consider it, the looming curfew probably put a stop to it. I’m not sure if it was the vibes in the room, the hometown show, or the end of their tour — or all of the above — but the band was on top of their game last night, possibly the best I’ve seen them perform.

setlist
Everything Once
Fever Pitch
Eventually
Circulation
Silver Lake
Better On Your Own
Ginger Ale
Jungle
The Eyes On You
Dancing With the Moonlight
This Could Be It For Me
Speaking Off the Record
Southern Comforting
(encore)
A Song for Daisy
Son-in-Law
Oh My God

Dear Rouge with Hotel Mira @ Vogue Theatre -- December 10, 2022

It's been a busy year for Dear Rouge. After releasing their third studio album Spirit, they've played festivals, opened for Metric, and just finished a cross Canada tour with Hotel Mira, ending with a show at the Vogue Theatre here in Vancouver.

Unfortunately I missed the first opening set from Mauvey, arriving slightly before the intro of Metallica’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls” rang throughout the theatre, signalling the entrance of Hotel Mira. Kicking off with “You Know Best”, the band played a selection off their latest album Perfectionism, as well as teasing some new tunes, and hitting older songs from the band’s previous incarnation, JPNSGRLS, like ”Southern Comforting”.

As ever, each member had a high energy, especially frontman Charlie Kerr, as he danced, gyrated, and even waded into the crowd on a few occasions. I don't think I've ever seen him stand still for more than five seconds while on stage.

Highlights including “Better on your Own” which Kerr dedicated to a recent breakup in the crowd, the raucous harmonies of “Jungle”, and the infectious “Fever Pitch”, where Charlie plucked a ‘Listen Bitch’ sign out of the audience for the chorus.

They finished it off with another old favourite, the frantic and chaotic “Oh My God”, and I’m willing to wager that it won't be long before the group is headlining the Vogue themselves.

The stage was dark and smoky when the members of Dear Rouge, all clad in black, came out. Interestingly enough, both bands started with the lead singer in a long black coat, which they doffed a few songs in -- though Danielle's outfit under the coat was much more sparkly than Charlie's undershirt.

Starting off with “Relationship Problems”, their hour-and-a-half set spanned their three album, from the frenetic “Boys & Blondes”; to the soft & tender “Life Goes By And I Can't Keep Up”, which spotlighted Drew McTaggart's vocals; to the giant singalong for “I Heard I Had”.

Danielle McTaggart stalked the front of the stage for “Modern Shakedown”, and “Black to Gold” saw the stage bathed in an amber light. In fact, with the large rig behind then — that included a disco ball and big neon ‘Dear Rouge’ sign — the lightning did a great job setting the mood throughout the evening.

Near the end of the set, they were joined by special guest Jessia to duet with Danielle on the song “That’s It, That’s All”, before closing with the anthemic “Gimme Spirit”.
But of course, the group was back out with a couple more, ending the night with the incredibly fun and quirky “Meet Me At The Rio”, which broke down into a cover of Le Tigre's “Deceptacon”, before a big finish.

It seems like the last few times I’ve seen Dear Rouge — even going back before the pandemic — had been either as an opening band or in the middle of a festival, so it was nice to see them be able to spread their wings as the headliner. And then you add Hotel Mira into the mix, and it’s an fantastic double-bill spotlighting a pair of Vancouver’s hottest acts.

Dear Rouge setlist
Relationship Problems
Fake Fame
Live Through The Night
Boys & Blondes
You Rattle Me
Dream Dreamer
Modern Shakedown
Wanna Love
Life Goes By And I Can't Keep Up
Black to Gold
I Heard I Had
Facedown
That's It, That's All (Jessia)
Tongues
Gimme Spirit
(encore)
Stolen Days
Meet Me At The Rio (feat. Deceptacon by Le Tigre)

Hotel Mira setlist
You Know Best
Better On Your Own
This Could Be It For Me
Eventually
Everything Once
Son in Law
Jungle
The Eyes on You
Speaking off the Record
Southern Comforting
Fever Pitch
Oh My God

Hotel Mira @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 02/29/20

Two weeks after the release of their latest album Perfectionism, Hotel Mira returned to the Biltmore to play a sold out, hometown show.

Backlit by a square of colour-shifting lights, the band kicked off with the album's lead track, the eponymous "Perfectionism", starting with a high energy and barely looking back from there. Especially singer Charlie Kerr, who hardly stood still throughout the show; the personification of a ball of electricity, as he moved around the stage, up on the sides, and even into the crowd at a couple points.

The set spanned from tracks off the brand new album -- which had the crowd singing along despite only being out a couple weeks -- to older songs like "Bully For You" harkening back to the former iteration of the band, as JPNSGRLS. Highlights included the infectious chorus on "The Eyes On You", the raucous harmonies on "Jungle", as well as "Better On Your Own", featuring bassist Mike Noble and guitarist Colton Lauro hitting the falsetto backups performed by Vancouver duo Harlequin Gold on the album.

As the graphically personal "Speaking Off the Record" drew to a big, dark-80s-synth finale, they capped off the main set with another huge singalong to an old favourite "Southern Comforting", before coming back for the obvious encore. Starting soft with the heartfelt "A Song for Daisy", they then exploded into "Oh My God" and finally, ended the night with their current (hit) single, "This Could Be It For Me".

Hotel Mira seems to have a rocket strapped to them over the last few months, and if the barely-room-to-move crowd inside the Biltmore was any indication, that's the last they've seen of the venue. And with the performance they put on, it's well deserved.

setlist
Perfectionism
You Know Best
Better On Your Own
Arcade Heart
Circulation
Bully for You
3am Lullaby
Ladies and Gentlemen
Son-in-law
The Eyes On You
Jungle
Speaking Off the Record
Southern Comforting
(encore)
A Song for Daisy
Oh My God
This Could Be It For Me