So, uh... it's been a while? While I've seen a few outdoor events recently -- and was in the real-life audience of a livestream show last October -- The Weather Station kicking off their Canadian tour in Vancouver was the first actual, indoor live music show since last year. And not just that, but in a brand new venue, on top of that. The Hollywood Theatre is a converted movie theatre (which still has screenings) with soft seats up front, and a more open section at the back to mill around; like a hybrid of the Rio Theatre and the Imperial, here in Vancouver. It was a nice venue and I look forward to seeing more shows there.

The evening started with Jasper Sloan Yip taking the stage alone, acoustic guitar in hand, to play a few songs off his latest double EP, Strange Calm / Blushing Autumn. He started with the dreamy "Gin Fizz", and after a couple songs shifted to take a seat behind the keys for the "piano portion" of the set. Jasper’s voiced filled the room with heartfelt songs like "Strange Calm", and “Blushing Autumn”, as even he confessed to closing his eyes and getting lost in the songs. He brought the short set to an end with the final song off the new pair of EPs, “Every Night, Beside You, I Lie Awake”.

Shortly after, the stage dimmed as the opening notes of "Wear The World" rang out, as the band members of The Weather Station slowly illuminated, and singer Tamara Lindeman rose from her crouched position up front.

Performing mainly off the latest album, Ignorance, the set had an ebbing flow, with soft songs slowly building in intensity, only to fall back to a haunting calm. Lindeman mainly let the songs speak for her, but did take a moment to thank everyone for coming, acknowledging it was likely a lot of people's first show back, musing how it's still a little weird to be around so many people, and joked about making her return in an "insane grass suit" (her words) which was just all fringe.

Highlights of the set included the older, crowd favourite “Thirty”, the breathless vocals of "Better Now" (a newer song, included on the deluxe edition of Ignorance), and the simmering, controlled chaos of "Robber".
They brought the main set to a close with "Parking Lot", but of course, Tamara was back moments later for the encore. She talked about how her advocacy for climate change has thrust her into unexpected spotlights, and then, accompanied only by keys, launched into a heartbreakingly beautiful new ballad about no longer finding the stars in the night sky as alluring as she once did. The rest of the band then returned to cap off the night with Lindeman’s voice ringing out for the gorgeous "Subdivisions", the final song off Ignorance and am excellent way to cap off the night.

For a “first show back”, you couldn’t ask for much more, and I am so glad to be taking in live music again, because let’s be honest… livestream shows just don’t measure up to the real thing.

Jasper Sloan Yip
setlist
Gin Fizz
Blushing Autumn
Halcyon Dream
Strange Calm
Anew
Every Night, Beside You, I Lie Awake

The Weather Station
setlist
Wear The World
Loss
Atlantic
You And I (On The Other Side Of The World)
Way It Is/Way It Could Be
Thirty
Better Now
Look
Separated
Heart
Tried To Tell You
Robber
Parking Lot
(Encore)
[New Song]
Subdivisions