Earlier this year, Hotel Mira released their third full length album and struck out on their Pity Party Tour, with the last show landing in their hometown at the Vogue Theatre. And to celebrate the Vancouver show, they brought a couple other local acts along with them.

Opening the night was Kylie V, taking the stage with their band that consisted of Josh Eastman (keys), Nolan Fae (guitar), Keeley Leah (bass), and Jess Jones (drums). They started off the set with “On My Mind”, before hitting songs from last year’s Crash Test Plane, including the building intensity of “Lucky Streak” and the soaring title track.
Kylie told everyone to hug their best friend before heartwarming “Catherine”, their voice filling the theatre, and then closing out the set by teasing a brand new song, which had a bit more a grungier feel, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing it again.
Funny enough, the last time I saw Kylie play a proper venue was the Pearl at the beginning of last year, where right after I ran across the street to see Hotel Mira at the Commodore, so it was nice to see both under the same roof this time. Kylie’s indie rock fit the Vogue wonderfully, and I have no doubt they’ll be back on that stage soon.

Soon after, four moustachioed men hit the stage as Uncle Strut launched into their first song with a name that I felt encapsulated their sound, “Down South”, as they had a classic southern rock feel. With a high energy, they ran through songs like the funkier “Natalie” and their latest single, “August”.
They capped off the set with a cover of the standard “That's All Right, (Mama)” joined by back up bubblers (two people with bubble guns) while Jasper Matthias & Simon Tejani on (guitar & bass) went right up to the crowd in the pit while drummer Quincy Flowers held it down and singer Tyson McNamara ended up doing the worm on stage, for a big finish to a fun set.

And finally, as Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right” blared over the speakers, Hotel Mira hit the stage, singer Charlie Kerr joined by Mike Noble on bass, Clark Grieve on guitar, and drummer Cole George. The band kicked off strong with “America's Favourite Pastime”, barely taking their foot off the gas as they blasted through high energy hits like the perennial singalong “This Could Be It For Me”, the lights turning deep red for “Vampire” with its gang vocals , and “Jungle” where they snuck in the intro to Zeppelin’s “The Immigrant Song”. They also hit tracks off the new album, like the anthemic “Cowboy” and the hard hitting “Made for This”, as well as their latest release, “Re: Valentine's Day” from their follow-up EP, After Party.

As usual, Charlie was a ball of pure energy, barely standing still for even a moment as he danced, pantomimed, and gyrated around the stage. He also took a moment to make sure everyone on the room was on the same page when it came to marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ and immigrants, outright stating there was no room for bigotry at the Hotel Mira, and the crowd was fully on board.

After the synth-driven “Dancing in the Moonlight”, Kerr asked people to get close, reaching into the crowd to hold hands with anyone he could, before wading into the audience to sing with everyone for “Off The Record”, the final song of the main set.

But of course there was more, first Charlie back out on his own with an acoustic guitar for their version of a holiday song, “Red & Green” before inviting the band back on stage — and also two special guests for a surprise proposal! — and ending with a bang. First, the incredibly infectious “Fever Pitch” and then reaching way back to the JPNSGRLS days for “Southern Comforting” and the whole crowd yelling along at the end.

While it felt inevitable that Hotel Mira would be headlining the Vogue themselves, there was still a sense of excitement coming from the band as they knew their time was now. Add on top of that the last show of the tour at home, and it all just added to their usual live-show-energy for am incredibly fun & energetic night.

setlist
America’s Favourite Pastime
King of the World
This Could Be It for Me
Runner
Vampire
Jungle
Eventually
Right Back Where I Was
Son-in-Law
Made for This
Cowboy
Re: Valentine’s Day
Making Progress
Dancing With the Moonlight
Speaking Off the Record
(encore)
Red & Green
Fever Pitch
Southern Comforting