Elliott BROOD @ Fox Cabaret -- September 08, 2026

It was a raucous Tuesday night at the Fox Cabaret, as Elliott BROOD stopped by Vancouver on their current BC tour.

With no opening band, Mark Sasso, Casey Laforet, and Stephen Pitkin took the stage and kicked off with “Nothing Left” from their 2014 album Work and Love, weaving through songs from their illustrious career. From the ode to their hometown of Windsor, Ontario with “Rose City” off their latest double album Town & Country, going all the way back to Tin Type with “Cadillac Dust” and everything in between. Highlights included the infectious, boot-stompin’ “Without Again”, the rollicking Rodney Crowell cover “Blueberry Wine”, and “Oh, Alberta”, which even featured a brand new verse, finally namedropping BC!

The show had very chill vibes, with the crowd often joining in, stomping & clapping, singing along to songs like the soaring “Northern Air”. And the band was having lots of fun too, often chatting & joking between songs… except for one very important message from Mark: how his CPAP machine saved their collective sanity while touring. Which lead to Casey introducing the next song as “Mark Stepped in the Toilet”.

After the band got the whole room clapping, nearly non-stop, to a rare anti-Californian song “Wind and Snow”, they took a very brief break, but were back out quickly for a few more; first “Dried Up” then their cover of the Cheers theme song. And finally, they brought the evening to an end with a bang with one last singalong, everyone in attendance shouting HEY HEY HEY along with perennial favourite “Write It All Down For You”.

Over the last 17(!) years I’ve seen Elliott BROOD about a dozen times, and they are always such a fun band to watch live. Incredibly tight musically, with loads of energy and charisma. And as an added bonus, the early show with no opener meant it was all done before 10pm!

setlist
Nothing Left
Dig A Little Hole
Bird Dog
Without Again
Out Walkin’
Bluebird Wine [Rodney Crowell cover]
Rose City
Wolfgang
Oh, Alberta
Northern Air
Paper Money
Stay Out
Mark Stepped in the Toilet Only At Home
Cadillac Dust
The Bridge
The Banjo Song
Wind and Snow
(encore)
Dried Up
Where Everybody Knows Your Name [Gary Portnoy cover]
Write It All Down For You

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

Amy Millan @ Fox Cabaret -- October 20, 2025

It’s been a long time since Stars singer Amy Millan released a solo album — sixteen years between Masters Of The Burial and the new I Went To Find You — and just as long since I last saw her play a solo show! So I was very excited for her to bring the beautiful new record to the Fox Cabaret in Vancouver.

Especially with the opening act of Zoon. I hadn't seen the project of Daniel Monkman live before, so I was eager to catch them as they took the stage alone with an acoustic guitar, backed with some drum loops. They announced that for reasons, they would be platying all new material, going into a set full of shoegaze vibes (or ‘moccasin gaze’ as they once dubbed it) and dreamy vocals.

Early on they broke out a Casio digital guitar, joking that this may be the first time in history someone has paired one with a harmonica, and kept a loose energy for the set, chatting about the new songs before each, giving the backstory behind “Government Food Rations” and the final song of the set, “Fend For Yourself Friday”. It seemed like their set flew by & ended all too quickly, and I would definitely like to catch them again.

Not long after, the sultry tones of Emily Haines came over the speakers as the entrance music for Amy Millan, backed by Chris McCarron & Stefan Schneider. She kicked off with Borderline off the new album, for a set that wove through her three solo albums and more.

Early on, Amy (good naturedly) chastised the crowd to let us know this was not a “talking show” and thankfully everyone complied. The only one allowed to chat was Amy, as she effortlessly joked, told anecdotes, and bounced off the crowd to give the show a warm, intimate feel. Her unrivaled vocals drove the set, with highlights including “Kiss That Summer”, oddly fitting for a rainy fall Monday, the lilting “Baby I”, and shortly after a quick rant about embracing mistakes to oppose the emotionless of AI, she had a false start to the ethereal “Untethered”, proving her point perfectly.

Part way through, the band took a quick break for Amy to sing her Stars song “Ageless Beauty” with the crowd joining in, followed by her bandmate Torquil Campbell joining in for one of my favourite Stars tunes, “I Died So I Could Haunt You”, pouring their all as it was the first time they had performed it in over a decade.  

Before launching into “Don Valley”, Amy announced it would be their last song, with a big wink, and outright said she would be forgoing the encore ritual (thankfully!) before ending the set with the gorgeous classic “Skinny Boy”.

I Went To Find You has been one of my favourite albums so far this year, and this show was such a fun, lively evening. I can only hope it’s not another sixteen years until Amy Millan’s next solo show!

setlist
Borderline
Bury This
Kiss That Summer
Wire Walks
Baby I
Overpass
Untethered
Murmurations
Ageless Beauty
I Died So I Could Haunt You
Make Way for Waves
Old Perfume
Don Valley
Skinny Boy

Dust Cwaine @ Fox Cabaret -- October 02, 2025

Last week, Vancouver drag performer-slash-musician Dust Cwaine released their sophomore album, Twin Lakes, and last night, they celebrated with a release show at the Fox Cabaret. Before the show, Dust promised a night of music and drag — with a meticulous schedule posted before hand, which I very much appreciated!

At 8p sharp, the evening’s host Acacia took the stage to introduce the festivities (and roast Dust) as she set the stage for a drag performance from Nora Vision and a couple songs from pop singer Connor Nelson, who was joined by Dust for the second.

After Acacia did their own drag performance, it was time for Dust Cwaine. Clad in their signature makeup & poofy dress, they were joined by Dana Oikawa (Guitar), Banafshe (Synth), Iris Yakamyshyn (Drums), and Nora Vision (Bass) whose last show it was with the band.

With a screen behind the band featuring a slideshow of images from Cwaine’s present and past, they kicked off with the title track to the album, “Twin Lakes”, named for the small town Dust grew up, setting the tone of incredibly catchy indie pop-rock songs written about childhood trauma.

The album as a whole was informed by difficult memories and emotions from Dust’s past, though they were able to switch effortlessly from joking between songs and then delving into deep subject matter, like “Tiger Lily,” which Dust described as an imagined letter written from their own mother. Other highlights of the set including the infectious chorus of “Burn After Reading”, the frenetic energy of “The Acolyte”, and the joyous T4T love song “Little Plans”.

The album wrapped up with a pair of absolutely heart wrenching songs, “Jupiter” and “Take My Stories” which finished with a text message shown on screen behind them — Dust explaining it was the final text their father sent before passing away — as they were emotionally drained, sharing a big hug with the band to cap off the first half of the night.

That alone would have made for an great night, but after an intermission Dust was back on stage to put the “party” in Album Release Party. They dubbed the second half a jam session, inviting up a stream of guests — including Steph Wall, Stanza Lune, Meredith Louise, and more — to join on some older songs like the nostalgia dripping “90’s Darling” and the soaring “Aliens in LA”, before wrapping it up with a huge singalong of Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero”.

I hasn’t had a chance to see Dust Cwaine perform before last night, and this show felt like the perfect introduction!

setlist
[album]
Twin Lakes
Burn After Reading
Violent Heart
Brooklyn
The Acolyte
Interlude
Tiger Lily
Starman
Little Plans
Jupiter
Take My Stories
[jam session]
Arcana
Shot in the Dark [John Mayer cover]
90’s Darling
Aliens in LA
Hearts in Atlantis
Hero [Enrique Iglesias cover]

Art d'Ecco @ Fox Cabaret -- June 12, 2025

Earlier this year, Art d’Ecco dropped his latest album, Serene Demon, and since I (regretfully) missed the release show in Vancouver back in January, I was glad to catch him on his current tour as he hit the Fox Cabaret.

Unfortunately I got there after opener Dour, arriving not long before Art d’Ecco and his Demon Band hit the stage, all clad in black jackets (only half of which were leather), which included Evan Miller on guitar, Olivier Leclerc on bass, Malcolm Holt on drums, Hayden C on keys, and Kyler Young on saxophone.

They started off the set with the lead track on the album, the seductive “True Believer” then the sax-laden disco groove of “Tree Of Life”, and from there weaving through his catalogue of glam-pop tunes. Highlights included the dark, anthemic “TV God”, going back to his tresspasser album for “Who Is It Now?”, and the catchiest song about not joining a sex cult, “Palm Slave”.

Art stopped to chat with the audience a few times through the set, but mostly let his charisma do the talking. He strut and danced around stage with an effortless swagger, almost never still for more than a moment.

The set flew by as it seemed like no time at all before he closed out with a one-two punch of bangers; “Head Rush” and the band going all out for “Dark Days (Revisited)”. But of course he was back out for more, first with a cover of “Live It Up” by The Isley Brothers, and wrapping up the set with a “Midlife Crisis”.

It had been a minute since the last time I saw Art d’Ecco live (six years ago at Constellation festival!) so I was glad to have caught him at the Fox last night for a fun show!

setlist
True Believer
Tree Of Life
Only Ones
TV God
Survival Of The Fittest
I Feel Alive
Who Is It Now?
Sad Light Disco
Palm Slave
Head Rush
Dark Days (Revisited)
(encore)
Live It Up [The Isley Brothers cover]
Midlife Crisis