We Are Scientists @ Rickshaw Theatre -- October 24, 2026

One of my favourite albums from the ‘early-mid-00s indie rock boom’ was With Love and Squalor from the Brooklyn trio We Are Scientists. So when they announced a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary I was very excited (after feeling the inexorable march of time), especially since I hadn’t caught them live in about a decade.

I was running late and missed the opener Sean McVerry, luckily getting to the theatre mere moments before We Are Scientists took the stage — Keith Murray (on guitar and vocals) and Chris Cain (bass and backup vox) joined by drummer Keith Carne — as they launched in to “You’ve Lost Your Shit” off their album Huffy. After a few songs off the top, including the bouncy “Rules Don’t Stop”, they riffed a brief introduction to the album before the explosive “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt”, giving me chills as they tore through the iconic opening track.

From there they went to the acerbic “This Scene Is Dead” and raucous “Inaction” as they played With Love and Squalor in full, hitting songs like the (relatively) calm “Can’t Lose” leading into the frenetic “Callback”, the soaring “It’s a Hit”, and a huge singalong to another favourite, “The Great Escape”. Keith dipped into the crowd for “Textbook” as he waded through the dancefloor singing with fans, and they finished the album with the killer one-two combo of “Worth the Wait” and “What’s the Word”.

But they didn’t slow down once the album is done, rocking through newer material with “Buckle” and Sean McVerry joining them for “I Cut My Own Hair” and staying for the rest of the set.

Chris and Keith also joked around throughout the set, with the audience but also clearly trying to make each other laugh. At one point they mentioned how they never end up staying in Vancouver after their shows here, and landed on the reason being that they’re too soft for the harsh Canadian prisons if they get caught at the border.

They finished off the main set appropriately enough with “What You Want Is Gone” off their most recent album Qualifying Miles, but were quickly back out for another couple songs; first “Less From You” and then another huge singalong to the hit “After Hours”.

The first time I saw We Are Scientists was twenty years ago (at the Red Room!) and I remember loving their energy, their catchy songs, and their sense of humour on stage. And all three of those were well on display last night. They are clearly having a blast on stage and that radiated out through the crowd of aging millennials who were more than happy to go back in time and celebrate an excellent album.

setlist
You’ve Lost Your Shit
I Don’t Bite
Rules Don't Stop
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
This Scene Is Dead
Inaction
Can’t Lose
Callbacks
Cash Cow
It’s a Hit
The Great Escape
Textbook
Lousy Reputation
Worth the Wait
What’s the Word
Buckle
Please Don’t Say It
I Cut My Own Hair
The Big One
What You Want Is Gone
(Encore)
Less From You
After Hours

The Zolas @ The Pearl -- October 10, 2026

Ten years ago, The Zolas released their third full length album, Swooner, and this month they’re hitting a few Canadian cities to celebrate. And since it’s been a few years since I’ve seen them live (and longer still in a proper, indoor venue) I was excited to catch them, especially for a sold out show at The Pearl.

Opening the night was Vancouver’s Cherry Pick, who I’ve been meaning to see. The three members hit the stage and launched into their ‘grunge-gaze’ as songs ebbed and flowed, building with a simmering energy and then exploding into a wail of distortion, the lyrics sometimes blending in completely to the music. They were also joined by a friend on violin for a few songs partway through the set, adding to the intensity.

After what felt like a much-too-quick half hour, they finished off with their single “Aster”, once again building to a frenetic finish for the set. I’m definitely going to want to try to catch them again.

After a quick turnaround, it was time for The Zolas. The band took the stage — including founding member Tom Dobrzanski on keys! — and started off with the familiar intro to the album’s opener, as Zach Gray jump in to the hit “Molotov Girls”, the sold out crowd singing along, and not for the last time.

They went right into the title track “Swooner” playing the album in full; from the love-letter to making it in a big city “Fell In Love With New York”; to the (sadly) still relevant “Invisible”, which Zach introduced as “Luigi-coded” in retrospect; to my favourite from the album, “Male Gaze”.

After “This Changes Everything” they dipped back in time for a moment to “Ancient Mars” with the crowd not only singing along, but completely taking over for a chorus, and then finally wrapped up Swooner with the heartaching “Why Do I Wait (When I Know You’ve Got a Lover)”.

With the album finished, Zach officially welcomed Tom back to the band for this quick tour, and hit a few songs for the long-time fans, the perennial favourite “You’re Too Cool” and the infinitely catchy “Strange Girl”, both bubbling with energy as Zach bounced around the stage.

They also teased new music with their latest single “Black Gatorade” and after “Energy Czar”, Zach explained they wouldn’t be doing the whole performative encore charade (which I always appreciate) and they just had one more song. He waded into the audience and stood in the middle of the room for one last big singalong to “Escape Artist”.

At one point during the set, Zach acknowledged that while nostalgia can be a toxic impulse, it’s still fun to celebrate an album like this. And I agree (especially with Tom back on keys!) I always enjoy seeing bands play their albums in full, and that only seems to happen at release or anniversary shows. But Zach also promised to see us again very soon, and I can’t wait.

setlist
Molotov Girls
Swooner
Get Dark
Fell in Love with New York
CV Dazzle
Invisible
Freida on the Mountain
Male Gaze
This Changes Everything
Ancient Mars
Why Do I Wait (When I Know You’ve Got a Lover)
You’re Too Cool
Strange Girl
Black Gatorade
Energy Czar
Escape Artist

Dwayne Gretzky @ Commodore Ballroom -- September 25, 2026

Fifteen years ago, Dwayne Gretzky was born when Toronto musicians Tyler Kyte & Nick Rose got together in a basement with some of their friends to jam on some cover songs. And after years of just releasing videos on their youtube channel, they’ve finally put out their first album with Dwayne's World, Vol. 1, hitting the road across Canada to celebrate. I caught them earlier this year when they did a free show at the PNE, and they were so fun I knew I had to see them in a proper venue. And what better place than the Commodore.

Of course, the rare times I’m running late are when a show actually starts on time, and I got there just as they were wrapping up the first song (I hope) as the eleven(!) members on stage then kicked in to “Walk of Life”. From there they blasted through two sets of selections from the 880 songs they’ve covered, mostly rock favourites from the 70s and 80s. The four singers — Tyler Kyte, Nick Rose, Lydia Persaud, and Carleigh Aikins — traded off songs, often providing backup vocals and/or dancing along when not on lead. They all had a chance to show off, but none more powerful than the one-two-punch of Lydia and Carleigh, respectively, on “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “The Best”, each letting loose. Other highlights from the first half included a stellar “Heart of Glass” and a version of “Once in a Lifetime” almost as good as my favourite cover of the song.

The first half of the evening came to a close with a raucous “Dancing in the Dark”, taking a half-hour intermission before they wee back to make the ballroom bounce with “Jump” and a sentimental favourite of mine, “You Can Call Me Al”. They kept pumping out the hits as Ian Docherty got to shred on guitar for “Let’s Go Crazy”; “9 to 5” was heartwarming; I very much appreciated Nock Rose doing the Scottish accent on “I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)”; and they teased their 881st cover with “Goodbye Stranger”. They only dipped into the 90s a few times during the set, including “Come to My Window” and drummer Adam Hindle taking over lead vocals for “Sabotage”, power-stance and all.

After some more (mostly) synchronised dancing to “Radio Ga Ga” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”, the band wrapped up the main set with the whole room clapping along to “Under Pressure”, but were of course back out for a couple more, going back to the 60s. First, the Erma Franklin classic “Piece Of My Heart” (though they were clearly inspired by the Big Brother & the Holding Company version with Janis Joplin) and then sending everyone home with campfire vibes and the Canadian classic, “The Weight”.

It’s easy to see why they have earned the nickname of Canada’s Favourite Party Band, as it would be quicker to name which songs people were not dancing & singing along to. Though it would have been fun to hear them branch out a little from the ‘classic rock hits’ umbrella, they still put on an incredibly fun show.

setlist
[missed song(s)]
Walk of Life by Dire Straits
Heart of Glass by Blondie
Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
Grease by Frankie Valli
We Got the Beat by The Go-Go's
Domino by Van Morrison
Don't Stop Me Now by Queen
The Best by Tina Turner
Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
Walking on Broken Glass by Annie Lennox
Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel
Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen
(Intermission - half hour)
Jump by Van Halen
You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon
Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge
Let’s Go Crazy by Prince and The Revolution
9 to 5 by Dolly Parton
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli
Sabotage by Beastie Boys
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp
Radio Ga Ga by Queen
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen
(encore)
Piece Of My Heart by Big Brother and the Holding Company + Janis Joplin
The Weight by The Band

Basia Bulat @ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts -- September 20, 2026

A few weeks ago, Basia Bulat released the Bouquet EP, a collection of stripped down versions of songs from her most recent album Basia’s Palace. And to celebrate, she hit the road on a solo acoustic tour, stopping at the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby. 

With no opener, Basia Bulat came out for the first of her 45(ish) minute sets, the stage adorned with a grand pianos, as well as her charango, autoharp, and acoustic guitar. She grabbed the guitar and started off with “Fool”, before going into my absolute favourite song of hers, the emotionally intense “Infamous”. 

From there she played acoustic versions of wonderful songs throughout her career, picking up the autoharp for “Heart of My Own” and the building energy of “Gold Rush”, and taking a seat at the piano for an incredible version of “In the Name Of”, while capping off the first set with “Baby” en français, (a version of the song translated into French by Julie Aubé from Les Hay Babies).

Between songs, Basia would give introductions and tell stories, and after opening the second half by rocking out on the autoharp with “In the Night”, she solicited requests from the crowd. From deep cuts like “Snakes and Ladders” off her debut Oh, My Darling up to my favourite off the new album (and also included in the Bouquet EP) “Disco Polo” an ode to the titular Polish pop genre. A couple times she had to pause and jokingly asking the crowd if we were doing okay based on requesting songs like “La La Lie”, but also ruminating on playing sad songs from much earlier in her life, compared to where she’s at now. 

After the request block, she gave the on-stage bouquet of flowers to the person who could guess what song was next, then launched into an incredible version of “Tall Tall Shadow”, emotion pouring out of her incredible voice, and causing more than a few eyes to tear up in the room.

After finishing off with her voice once more filling the intimate room with “Love is at the End of the World”, the crowd gave a standing ovation, but knew she’d be back because one instrument had not yet been touched. And so after a quick wardrobe change, Bulat came back out and picked up the charango for “It Can’t Be You”, her fast fingers strumming and gorgeous voice lilting as she backed off mic, and even walked off stage toward the crowd, getting everyone to join in on the oohs, and then taking her leave.

I’ve seen Basia Bulat play live about a dozen times now, and this was one of my favourites. She will often play a few songs solo during a show, but this is the first time I’ve seen her do a full solo acoustic set (or two) and her incredible voice, heartfelt songs, and charming stage presence made for a magical night.

set one
Fool
Infamous 
Already Forgiven
Laughter
Heart of My Own
Gold Rush
Run
Right Now
In the Name Of
Baby (Version française)

set two
In the Night
My Angel
Little Waltz
Paris or Amsterdam
Snakes and Ladders
Good Advice
Disco Polo 
Sparrow 
La La Lie
Tall Tall Shadow 
Are You in Love?
Love is at the End of the World
(encore)
It Can’t Be You

PHOTOS: Flora Falls @ Guilt and Co. - September 08, 2026

Flora Falls
Guilt and Company
September 08, 2026

Christine McAvoy Photography