Jody Glenham @ Fox Cabaret -- April 30, 2026

Last week Vancouver’s Jody Glenham released her latest EP Still Here, and to celebrate she threw a release show, bringing along a couple local up & comers. The last few times I’ve seen Jody have been free outdoor shows, or opening at a festival, so I was happy to see her headlining the Fox Cabaret.

I got to the Fox as Runner was already on stage, their folk pop sound driven by singer Kira Cuthbertson’s twangy vocals and smooth harmonies. They had an infectious energy, especially Kira, at the end of one song even dancing right off the stage and among the growing crowd as the band ripped. It was clear they were having fun, especially when they quickly slipped in the King of the Hill theme* between songs. They finished off the set with their latest single, “Big Bite”, with the crowd’s full attention.

*fun fact: the KotH theme song is actually called “Yahoos and Triangles” and is originally by The Refreshments!

Next up was the synth rockers Wack, who kicked off the set with some new music. Their chaotic sound and effects-drenched vocals quickly had the crowd moving while they seamlessly transitioned between songs, only taking a couple quick moments through the set to thank everyone for being there. After a set that seemed to blow by way too fast, they capped off with “One More Tizime”, leading to a big jam finish.

And finally, it was time for Jody Glenham who took the stage joined by the familiar faces of Michael Slumber and Adam Fink, as well as Florence van Camerijk and Ryan Beattie. She started off with the moody “War on This World” before diving into the new EP with my favourite off it, “Love Deficiency Syndrome” — which would get stuck in my head every time I saw Jody play it live before the album was out.

She sprinkled the rest of Still Here through the set, including her catchy ode to her favourite haunts with “The Local” and the power ballad “Good Fruit”, while between those dipped back to Mood Rock, for songs like the chilled out “Friday Night Lights” and dreamy “Flowers”.

The main set came to a close as “The Sound” built to a huge finish, then was somehow topped with “Overtime”, her voice filling the room as the song grew to a climactic end. But Glenham and her band were quickly back out for a couple more, the raw emotion of “Talking Out Loud” and delving back over a decade to “Dreamer” for a lovely ending tot he set.

It’s always great to hear new music from Jody and see her play. She’s been a cornerstone of the Vancouver music scene for a long time, and not just with her own music, but it also in her support of younger bands. She mentioned on stage at one point that even though the three acts last night had they all had a similar “vibe”, and I would definitely agree with that.

setlist
War on This World
Love Deficiency Syndrome
China Shop
Friday Night Lights
Flowers
The Local
Ill Wind
Good Fruit
The Sound
Overtime
(encore)
Talking Out Loud
Dreamer

PHOTOS: Sam Roberts Band @ Commodore Ballroom - April 16, 2026

Sam Roberts Band
Commodore Ballroom
April 16, 2026

Christine McAvoy Photography

Sam Roberts Band: Chemical City 20th Anniversary Tour @ Commodore Ballroom -- April 16, 2026

Twenty years ago, Sam Roberts released his acclaimed sophomore album Chemical City and to celebrate the anniversary, Sam Roberts Band is playing a very special five city tour across Canada. Coincidentally, it was twenty years ago I first saw them live*, so I was excited that one of the stops on this tour was the Commodore Ballroom.
*A bonkers lineup of Jets Overhead, The Stills, Broken Social Scene, and Sam Roberts at Deer Lake Park!

With no opening act for the night, the stage filled with blue smoke and Sam Roberts Band took the stage, silhouetted by backlights as the iconic intro of “The Gate” filled the room as they launched into Chemical City in its entirety. From the crowd joining in on songs like “Bridge to Nowhere” and “With a Bullet”, to the soft acoustic “Uprising Down Under” and the hard hitting “The Bootleg Saint”, the band blast through with Sam only stopping briefly to talk about their history with Vancouver and recording this album in Australia. I was also happy to hear my favourites off the album, “The Resistance” which I haven’t heard live in some time, and the psychedelic 8+ minute jam “Mind Flood” (which was a little funny to hear so early in the set and not closing it out).

Sam took over the keys as the beautiful piano ballad “A Stone Would Cry Out” closed out the album, and after the band took a quick break they were back not just for an encore, but a whole other set packed with the hits.

Kicking off by getting everyone to dance to “Them Kids”, the sold out room joined in on almost every song, going all the way back to The Inhuman Condition with “Don’t Walk Away Eileen” and up to Lo-Fantasy’s “We’re All In This Together”. After the rollicking “Detroit ‘67” and the crowd loudly wondering “Where Have All the Good People Gone?”, Roberts paused once more to finish telling the story of Chemical City’s recording, including a b-side to the album with “Fall Before You Finish”.

And finally, after nearly two hours the band wrapped up the set with a couple more crowd pleasers, “Hard Road” and the biggest singalong of the night to “Brother Down”, ending with the band jamming as Roberts went up to the front row, hugging and high fiving everyone he could reach.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I always love a show where a band will play their album in full; be it a brand new one for their launch or celebrating an old favourite. And it’s especially fun when they can go on to a second set to remind you just how many bangers they’ve had over their career. I’ve seen Sam Roberts (Band) a handful of times over these last twenty years, and they always put on an incredible show full of energy as one of the best live rock bands in Canada.

setlist
(Chemical City)
The Gate
Bridge to Nowhere
With a Bullet
Mind Flood
Uprising Down Under
Mystified, Heavy
An American Draft Dodger in Thunder Bay
The Bootleg Saint
The Resistance
A Stone Would Cry Out
(The Hits)
Them Kids
Don’t Walk Away Eileen
We’re All in This Together
Detroit ‘67
Where Have All the Good People Gone?
Fall Before You Finish
Hard Road
Brother Down

Said the Whale - 20th Anniversary Show @ Hollywood Theatre -- April 11, 2026

A couple years ago Said the Whale played a special anniversary show at the Hollywood Theatre to celebrate 10 years of the album hawaiii, and had so much fun they teased making it an annual thing. Well, here we are in year three and not only are they back, but they’re also celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band with a sold out show!

Opening the night was the youngest Canadian band to ever be signed to a record label, Blue Jay Valley, comprised of five kids between grades 5 and 7. Joking that they weren’t even allowed to be in the venue, the punk rock group hit all the songs off their debut album Breakaway, including the catchy “Living in the City”, the raucous “No School”, and my favourite of the set, “Snow Day”. They also had everyone singing along when they slipped in some covers, like Gob’s “I Hear You Calling” and “Hate to Say I Told You So” by The Hives.
The crowd was all in on the band as they blast through their fun and high energy set, with lead singer Noa even doing the worm at one point!

It wasn’t long after that when Said the Whale hit the stage, starting off surprisingly with the deep-cut favourite, “Love Is Art / Sleep Through Fire” then going all the way back to Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia with “Fish and Stars II”. They celebrated their twenty years by hitting all of their ‘eras’, from the high energy joy of “Emerald Lake, AB” and “I Will Follow You” to the darker “This City’s a Mess” and “UnAmerican” and everything in between, as they also shared some quick stories (and/or teased each other for talking too long) between songs.

Partway through the set, drummer Spencer Schoening and bassist Lincoln Hotchen took leave for the ‘acoustic portion’, with Tyler Bancroft shouting out Blue Jay Valley and then dedicating “Level Best” to his own kids, Ben Worcester doing the gorgeous “Lover/Friend”, and Jaycelyn Brown taking the spotlight on keys for the absolutely beautiful “February 15” for her husband.

The rhythm section returned as “99 to the Moon” ramped up the energy, with other highlights including Ben stalking the stage, full of emotion on “Wake Up” and an older favourite of mine, the raw “My Government Heart” with Tyler spitting the lyrics through gritted teeth.

After an explosive “I Love You” they finished the main set with “Goodnight Moon”, starting soft and sweet before bursting with a joyous singalong. But they were quickly back for a couple more; first “Dandelion” and then the chilling “Curse of the Currents”, with Ben urging everyone to “sing along like you’re at a Dan Mangan show!” and the crowd happy to oblige.

When they teased making these shows an annual event, I said I’d be there in a heartbeat, and I was very happy to see them at the Hollywood for the third year in a row. 20 years later the band is still rocking, with a clear passion for being on stage and especially for everyone there with them.

Said the Whale setlist
Love Is Art / Sleep Through Fire
Fish and Stars II
The Banks of the English Bay
Emerald Lake, AB
I Will Follow You
UnAmerican
The Light Is You
B.C. Orienteering
Camilo (The Magician)
This City’s a Mess
Resolutions
Better for You
Big Sky, MT
Level Best
Lover/Friend
A Cold Night Close To The End
February 15
99 to the Moon
Wake Up
Black Day in December
My Government Heart
Honey Lungs
I Love You
Goodnight Moon
(encore)
Dandelion
Curse of the Currents

Blue Jay Valley setlist
BJV
I Hear You Calling [Gob cover]
Blitzkrieg Bop [Ramones cover]
Living In The City
Oh!
Breakaway
Hate to Say I Told You So [The Hives cover]
No School
Snow Day

SoMa Fest @ ANZA Club -- March 21, 2026

This weekend was the first SoMa Fest from Music BC. Along with some industry panels & events, the festival spotlighting dozens of local bands across several venues throughout Vancouver’s South Main St (get it?). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hit up any of the Friday night shows, but there was a certain one on Saturday at the ANZA Club I couldn’t to miss.

I didn’t catch the first act of the night, Élise LeBlanc, getting to the club as Talel McBriar took the stage with her band. With a folky vibe, she weaved through a lovely set as her voice lilted through the room on songs like “Stages” and “Stay the Same”, the recently-released first single off her upcoming album.

Next up was someone I’ve been meaning to catch for a while, Desirée Dawson. She started off the set with “I Am Blessed”, supported only by acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and backup vox. The spotlight of her soulful folk set was definitely her powerful voice, with songs like the optimistic “Clover” and “Cowgirl”, featuring just her and an acoustic guitar.

Dawson also got the crowd to join in with some soft singing along to “Hold Up Hope” and her chilled out cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”. After the jaunty “Chop Some Wood”, she wrapped up the set with “Beholder” to rapturous applause from the room. I’m definitely going to have to make a point to see her do a full set soon.

Duke & Goldie followed, the country duo of Eric “The Duke” Duquette and Jena “Goldie” Gogo backed by a full band, including pedal steel, to start the set with a raucous “West End Queen (Abattoir)”. Goldie’s voice burst forth on songs off their latest EP Romance and Ramblin' including the melancholic “Romanticized Cowboy”, and dipped back further for “Courage”, which they also had the crowd join in on. They capped off their set with “Outsider”, a song Duke dedicated to Willie, Waylon, Kris, and all his other heroes who felt like outsiders to the country scene.

Wrapping up the night was the new project from Haley Blais and Sam Lynch, True Mountain Laurel. The collab came from their longtime friendship and performing with each other on stage (in fact, I saw Haley join Sam for a song late last year teasing the partnership) and I was distraught to have to miss their debut show last month.

The two Vancouver musicians took a seat on a pair of stools on stage, acoustic guitars in hand, which lead to the only unfortunate part of the set; since they were going on later in the evening, the music from the ANZA’s downstairs lounge began to bleed through, especially the thumping bass. But the duo powered on, joking that they would have to get some dance remixes soon, and even laughing at the perfect timing of the bass dropping as soon as they finished one of their songs.

They started off with a cover of the standard “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” before playing their upcoming album in full, beginning with the title track “Angel So Bad” that included some funny, clever lyrics. Their voices intertwined beautifully on songs ranging in personal experience, like an ode to Haley’s cat with “Bird of Prey” and honouring their shared middle name in “I Love You Nicole”.

Throughout the set they talked about the songs, their partnership, and joked with each other, their friendship shining through and keeping up the energy for the last band of the evening, even trying to show up the people downstairs with Blais getting everyone to stamp their feet along with “Holy Hell”.

Being a fan of both musicians individually I was already looking forward to the collaboration, but more-so now. If the album captures even a fraction of the charm from their show it’s going to be a special one.

Even though I only caught a small slice of the inaugural SoMa Fest, it was a fun show with quick, half-hour sets from everyone (and, one of the biggest compliments I can give it: the entire night ran on time!)
I’m already hoping they’re back next year, and will definitely try to catch even more if they are.