PHOTOS: Shred Kelly @ Fox Cabaret - May 09, 2025
Shred Kelly
Fox Cabaret
May 09, 2025
See Kirk’s review by clicking here.
Shred Kelly @ Fox Cabaret -- May 09, 2025
For the past month, Fernie’s Shred Kelly has been all throughout the Pacific Northwest and BC on their One Day One Night Tour, along with Babes in Canyon. Last night they returned to Vancouver for a show at their “favourite venue in the city”, the Fox Cabaret.
I got there part way through the opening set from Seattle’s Babes in Canyon, catching the last few songs from Nathan Hamer and Amanda Ebert. The duo had an electo-folk sound, layering their sound with loops on songs like their recent single “The New Loud” and “High Tide”, which capped off their set. Even just the few songs I caught of them, they had a good dynamic and were a perfect fit to tour with Shred Kelly.
Thanks to the show’s curfew, it wasn’t long before the members of Shred Kelly took the stage; Sage McBride (keyboard) sharing vocals with Tim Newton (banjo & guitar) backed by Ty West (guitar) & Ryan Mildenberger (drums), joined by guest Jessie Robertson on bass. They started off with the slow burn of “Rowed Away” as the set built in intensity, exploding in a huge breakdown in “The Bear” and then the stormy “Tornado Alley”, an older favourite off their first album, Goodbye July.
From there the set spanned their career, from Tim’s fingers a blur over the banjo for “Didn’t Know” to the darker “Stuck Between”, where Sage’s vocals erupted off stage. Other highlights included “Roman Candle Eyes”, written for Tim & Sage’s daughter, and the haunting “Ghost Inside My Head”, before the set came to a chaotic finish with “Sing to the Night”.
But they still had time for one more, inviting Babes in Canyon back on stage to sing backups on their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, the room singing along to the classic. I’ve long said that if there has to be an encore, it should involve fun covers and/or inviting guests (like the opening band) on stage for a collab, so this was a perfect encore for me.
From the first time I saw them, Shred Kelly has had an infectious energy when playing live; the fun they’re having playing radiates off stage throughout everyone dancing, clapping, and stomping along in any room. Last night was no different, with an incredibly fun show from the band.
setlist
Rowed Away
Archipelago
Jupiter (Any Other Way)
The Bear
Tornado Alley
Roman Candle Eyes
Lost Without You
Take Me Home
Stuck Between
Didn’t Know
Another Place
Ghost Inside My Head
Sing to the Night
(encore)
Dreams [Fleetwood Mac cover]
PHOTOS: Shred Kelly, with Hyaenas at the Biltmore Cabaret - March 29, 2024
Shred Kelly, with Hyaenas
Biltmore Cabaret
March 29, 2024
Shred Kelly w/ Hyaenas @ Biltmore Cabaret -- March 29, 2024
A few months ago, Shred Kelly released Blurry Vision, and since then they've been touring the country in segments. This week finally saw them hit the west coast, and with Vancouver's Hyaenas alongside them, they returned to the Biltmore Cabaret to celebrate their newest album.
Starting off the night, the four members of Hyaenas took the stage; Sophie Heppell on guitar & vocals, Jessie Robertson on bass, Jen Foster on drums, and Luvia Petersen on synth (with all joining in on backup vox as well). The band opened with “White Rabbit” – appropriate for Easter weekend – and weaved through songs off their album which came out a year ago. The title track “Little Trophy” and the intense “Another Level” being highlights of their punchy synth-rock.
They also teased a few new songs, including “All The Girls”, as well as chatted with the crowd between songs, sharing ‘hot goss’ about their tourmates Shred Kelly, before capping off with the stellar “Written in the Stars”, for a fun set.
It wasn't long after for Shred Kelly to hit the stage, Tim Newton (banjo & guitar) sharing vocals with Sage McBride (keyboard) backed by Ty West (guitar) & Ryan Mildenberger (drums) and joined by Nik Winnitowy (bass).
Starting with the slow burner “Lay Down Your Head”, they gradually built the energy over the first few songs, before erupting with “The Bear” and a big singalong to, fittingly, “Sing to the Night”. From there the set ebbed and flowed with their alt-folk sounds, from softer songs like “Lost With You” which spotlights gorgeous vocals from Sage, and “Days We Have Left” (shouting out their Award win from this very blog), to the more bombastic “Ghost Inside My Head” and the frenzied “Cabin Fever”, Tim’s fingers a blur over his banjo.
After the sprawling “Nothing for a While” from the new album, the main set finished off with the darker and moody “Didn't Know”. But the band was out mere moments later, bringing some friends with them as they launched into a cover of Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” with the members of Hyaenas. Finally, they closed out the show with the raucous and tempestuous “Tornado Alley”, leaving the crowd exhausted.
Shred Kelly always puts on an incredibly fun show, and the pairing with Hyaenas was perfect, making for a Good Great Friday at the Biltmore.
setlist
Lay Down Your Head
Jupiter (Any Other Way)
The Bear
Sing to the Night
Long Way from Your Heart
Lost Without You
Cracks in the Finish
Take Me Home
Days We Have Left
Ghost Inside My Head
Cabin Fever
Archipelago
Nothing for a While
Didn’t Know
(encore)
Hungry Like the Wolf [Duran Duran cover]
Tornado Alley
PHOTOS: Elliott BROOD and Shred Kelly @ Biltmore Cabaret - October 06, 2023
Eliott BROOD with Shred Kelly
Biltmore Cabaret
Ocotober 06, 2023
(see Kirk’s review by clicking here)