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]

Basia Bulat @ Hollywood Theatre -- April 30, 2025

In February, Basia Bulat released her latest studio album, Basia’s Palace. And last night, the singer returned to the Hollywood Theatre to celebrate!

Unfortunately I missed opener Maia Friedman, arriving a few minutes before Basia Bulat hit the stage with her band consisting of Andrew Woods (her partner) on guitar, Joshua Toal on bass, and Matthew Woodley on drums.

Basia took a seat behind the keys, immediately showing off her gorgeous vocals with “Are You In Love?”, and from there jumped between instruments and through her catalogue; picking up her signature autoharp on “My Angel”, the lead track off the new album, and the acoustic guitar for one of my favourites, the incomparable “Infamous”.

She dedicated “Laughter” to her (and Andrew’s) daughters, and after the song burst into a huge finish, the band took a break while Basia fielded a few requests solo. She took some deep cuts from her debut full length, including the title track “Oh, My Darling” and “Snakes & Ladders” to celebrate the album’s release 18 years ago, to the day.

The band returned for a few more, including my favourite off the new album, “Disco Polo” honouring the musical influences from her parents, and the simmering intensity of “Tall Tall Shadows”, Bulat once again letting loose on vocals. After the upbeat “Baby”, the set wrapped up with “Love is at the End of the World”, which featured each member of the band taking the spotlight for a solo.

But you knew there had to be more — for one thing, there was still one instrument on stage that hadn’t been used yet (Chekhov’s Charango, if you will). And so the band retuned with the rousing “In the Name Of” and “If It Rains”, dedicated to Vancouver. Finally, she pulled the trigger on the charango for the beautiful “It Can’t Be You”, as Basia stepped away from the mic to let her voice fill the theatre, and then off the stage entirely as she made her way through the audience and all the way up to the back section of the Hollywood, leading the crowd in an ambitious singalong to end the night.

A few months after the aforementioned release of Oh, My Darling, I saw Basia Bulat for the first time, opening for Final Fantasy (when that was still his name) playing at Richard’s on Richards (when that was still a place). I was instantly a fan, and every time I’ve seen her live since then, I am reminded of both how fantastic a musician she is, and how charming a performer she is.

setlist
Are You In Love?
Heart of My Own
My Angel
Fool
Infamous
Already Forgiven
Laughter
Oh, My Darling
Snakes and Ladders
The Garden
Run
The Moon
Disco Polo
Tall Tall Shadow
Baby
Love is at the End of the World
(encore)
In the Name Of
If It Rains
It Can’t Be You

Stars @ Commodore Ballroom -- April 17, 2025

Six month ago, Stars stopped by the Vogue Theatre for a sold out show celebrating 20 years of Set Yourself on Fire. During that evening they teased a second round, and low & behold, last night they returned to the Commodore Ballroom for yet another sold out show, celebrating the seminal album.

Fittingly enough, the opening band was the same that opened for them about 20 years ago at Richard’s on Richards, p:ano. The Vancouver group has been on a bit of a hiatus over the last couple decades, but last year they returned for a brand new album, ba ba ba, which made up most of their set. Starting off with “what was i thinking”, Nick Krgovich and Larissa Loyva (aka Kellarissa) switched off on vocals for some chill, indie-pop songs, including the toe-tapping “mariko”, the most rocking of the set “mikey's new house”, and the suburban shoutout to “a bit of coquitlam”.
Unfortunately, their chill vibes and the growing crowd didn’t quite mix as pockets of chatter arose (or maybe I was just in an unlucky spot), but it was a good set otherwise, and I would love to see them again in a more intimate, and attentive, venue.

Not long after that, Stars took the stage; Torquil Campbell, Amy Millan, Evan Cranley, Chris Seligman, Patrick McGee, and Chris McCarron, joined by a sax player. The set started with a full playthrough of the album, the familiar introduction of “When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire” ringing out and the entire crowd singing along to the perennial favourite, “Your Ex-Love Is Dead”. From there, they ran through the timeless collection of songs about love and death, from the bouncy nostalgia of “Reunion” to the pure passion of “What I’m Trying to Say”, and the (sadly) still-relevant “He Lied About Death” which Torquil gave a simple introduction of: don’t fucking vote for nazis. That was followed by the absolutely gorgeous “Celebration Guns”, Amy’s immaculate vocals bringing a tear to the eye as she echoed Torq’s sentiment in her own way.

The album came to a close with a magical moment of the whole room singing along to “Calendar Girl”, but just like last time, they were not done there. The band burst into the favourite, “Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It” and dipped their toes into the rest of their discography. From the beautiful “Window Bird”, to the manic “Trap Door”, to “Dead Hearts” which was dedicated to all the ghosts in the room.

The set ended with the classic “Elevator Love Letter” and another huge singalong, but the crowd demanded more, and of course they were back to oblige. They came back to the stage with the intensity cranked for “Take Me To The Riot” before Amy introduced a deep cut they learned so Torquil could sing it to his wife, who was in the crowd, “The Aspidistra Flies”. And finally, they capped off the night with the pure dance tune “No One Is Lose” as a sea of hands shot up into the air when they commanded “Put your hands up if you know you're gonna lose”

As they were wrapping up the Set Yourself on Fire portion of the night, Torquil mentioned that they were incredibly thankful that “for reasons best kept between you and your therapist” this album had resonated with so many people over all these years. I’m very happy that I had the chance to see it played not once, but twice over the last few months. And even though they extended the album’s anniversary tour, the band isn’t resting on that; they’re as fierce as ever, and I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

setlist
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
Set Yourself on Fire
Ageless Beauty
Reunion
The Big Fight
What I'm Trying to Say
One More Night
Sleep Tonight
The First Five Times
He Lied About Death
Celebration Guns
Soft Revolution
Calendar Girl
Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
Alone
Window Bird
Trap Door
Dead Hearts
Elevator Love Letter
(encore)
Take Me To The Riot
The Aspidistra Flies
No One Is Lost

PHOTOS: Dear Rouge with Gay Nineties @ Commodore Ballroom - April 10 2025

Dear Rouge with Gay Nineties
Commodore Ballroom
April 10 2025

Photos by Christine McAvoy

Dear Rouge with The Gay Nineties @ Commodore Ballroom -- April 10, 2025

Last year Dear Rouge released their fourth studio album, Lonesome High, and have finally returned to the Commodore Ballroom for a packed Vancouver show. And not only that, they brought some old friends along with them!

Opening the evening was the return of The Gay Nineties. The Vancouver band has been on hiatus for just a few years, but Parker Bossley, Bruce Ledingham, and Malcolm Holt were joined by Pascal Le Vasseur as they kicked off with a brand new song. And while they hit a couple older ones early, like the explosive “Hold Your Fire”, the bulk of the set was new material. Including an early standout for me, “Tidal Wave”, and a fun one called (and about) “Internet, Sex, and Drugs” which Parker teased might be their next single. They wrapped up with another old favourite, “Letterman”, which had everyone in the crowd that was ‘in the know’ singing along, proving they haven’t missed a beat. Their hook-filled indie rock was as sharp as ever*, and I’m very excited to hear more from them.
(*or as Christine put it: “The Nineties are back and they’re Gayer than ever!”)

After a break, the stage lights dimmed and a single figure stood on stage, as the rest of Dear Rouge joined Danielle McTaggart and launched into “Cutting Teeth”. Early on they addressed the recent passing of Drew McTaggart’s mother, asking everyone to remember someone that couldn’t be in the room, and dedicating “Stolen Days” to her.

The set had a great ebb and flow, building up the energy with the dark & moody “Black to Gold” and the raucous “Modern Shakedown” before exploding into “Meet Me at the Rio”, and then taking it back down with the acoustic “Live Through the Night” — which Drew introduced at the only song they’ve played at every single one of their shows. Danielle made a quick change into a sparkling, fringed jacked (with tambourine to match) and — after a false start to make sure someone in the crowd was safe — “Wicked Thing” started building back up, to the frenetic energy of “Tongues” and Danielle making a toast before showing off her moves with “Not Afraid to Dance”, segueing into a cover of the No Doubt classic “Hella Good”.

But it wasn’t just for that song; the whole night Danielle barely stood still. When she didn’t have a guitar in hand or behind the keys, she was strutting around the stage, and even into the audience. As “I Heard I Had” started, she grabbed a flashing light and jumped into the crowd, making her way from one side of the Ballroom to the other, singing to, at, & with everyone around her.

The band closed out the set with “Too Close to the Heat”, but were soon back for the encore. First Danielle returned alone, on the keys and behind a single light for the haunting “Lonesome High”. The rest of the band returned as they dedicated “Garbage” to anyone going through it, and capped off the night with their latest hit “Goon”.

Dear Rouge consistently puts on incredibly fun live shows, full of energy & spirit, and this night was no different. Add on the return of The Gay Nineties, and you have a fantastic night of Vancouver music.

Dear Rouge setlist
Cutting Teeth
Blow My Heart Up
Fake Fame
Stolen Days
Black to Gold
Wallpaper
Modern Shakedown
Meet Me at the Rio
Live Through the Night
Wicked Thing
The Show
Tongues
Not Afraid to Dance [ft Hella Good by No Doubt cover]
Selfish Love
I Heard I Had
Too Close to the Heat
(encore)
Lonesome High
Garbage
Goon

The Gay Nineties setlist
Treat Me Bad
Hold Your Fire
Turn Me On
Tidal Wave
Outside Looking In
Out of Touch
Okinawa
Empty Mansions
Internet, Sex, and Drugs
Letterman