You know that thing where one of your favourite bands takes a few years to put out new music and tour, and then when they finally do, you are a little anxious? What if you built up the status of their shows in your head? What if it can't live up to your internal hype? What if, what if, what if?
Well, it's been four years since the last time we heard new music from The Dears, and just as long since I've seen them live. But they returned to Vancouver, a week ahead of the release of their latest album Times Infinity, Volume 1, for a show at the Fox Cabaret.

I came in part way through the opener, Halifax's Vogue Dots. It was apparently the first time playing in Vancouver for the dreamy, ethereal electronic pop band. I only caught the last few songs, one of which was a cover of fellow Haligonians Cousins, and their song and a haunting song called "Way with Silence"

After some last-minute troubleshooting and cable swapping on stage, "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" filled the air and the five members of The Dears took the stage, Murray A Lightburn front and centre, flanked by Natalia Yanchak on keys and Patrick Krief on guitar, and backed by drummer Jeff Luciani and Roberto Arquilla on bass.

They came out of the gate with the first couple songs from the new album, "We Lost Everything" and "I Used to Pray For the Heavens to Fall" with their cinematic intensity, as they went into a tight set spanning their twenty year career.

Highlights included the soaring "Here's To the Death of All the Romance", an incredible singalong to "Lost in the Plot" with Murray stepping off the mic to belt out the chorus with the crowd, and one of my absolute favourite songs, "You and I Are A Gang of Losers". It had an unparalleled emotional intensity to it that nearly brought a tear to the eye.

Throughout the show, Murray didn't say too much, as it was a curfewed show and likely he wanted to let the music speak for itself. But his dry humour did shine through a couple times, especially in his plea for people not to listen to the album on laptop speakers (and a great description/miming of the mixing process).

After what felt like not nearly enough time the band wrapped up with, appropriately enough, the last song on the album, "Onward and Downward", a gorgeous song featuring Natalia taking lead on vocals.

Due to the curfew the encore came quickly as Murray took the stage alone explaining if it was up to him, they'd play all night, but they had to hurry. So he launched into a sped up and upbeat version of "The Second Part", with the band joining in part way through.
(Murray joked after that someone at their laptop would essentially say "they changed it now it sucks!" but I dug the pepped up version. Plus I am writing on a desktop computer).
And finally, they brought the house down with their last song, the biggest singalong of the night, and another one of my favourites, "22: The Death of All the Romance". They split the room between genders, girls singing along with Natalia and boys with Murray, for another incredibly powerful performance, culminating with Murray at the tip of the stage on guitar to cap off an emotionally exhausting show.

In the end, all of my aforementioned worries were for naught. Aside from the sound at the Fox not being the best -- a few times Lightburn's vocals seemed a bit low, but it was nothing that really took away from the show -- they still had the same incredible energy and passion as they've always had. The whole band is amazing, especially Krief shredding on guitar, but especially the pure, raw emotion that Lightburn pours into every song. I just really hope it's not another four years until next time.

setlist
We Lost Everything; I Used to Pray For the Heavens to Fall; Who Are You, Defenders Of The Universe?; Whites-Only Party; 5 Chords; Disclaimer; Here's to the Death of All the Romance; You and I Are a Gang of Losers; Hate Then Love; Lost in the Plot; Face of Horrors; Onward and Downward.
(encore) The Second Part; 22: The Death of All the Romance.