The Zolas @ The Pearl -- October 10, 2026

October 11, 2026 by Kirk Hamilton in live shows, Show Review

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

Holy Fuck @ The Pearl -- May 08, 2026

May 09, 2026 by Kirk Hamilton in live shows, Show Review

The last time I saw Toronto’s electronica band Holy Fuck live, I quipped that I hoped it wouldn’t be another seven years before I saw them again. The good news? It wasn’t seven. The bad news? It was nine. So when they released their new album Event Beat, I was thrilled to catch them on their return to Vancouver, at The Pearl.

Opening the night was Canterbury band Memorials, and while I only caught the last couple songs, the duo of Verity Susman & Matthew Simms had a high energy, experimental pop sound. The room was already packed with people dancing, and from what I heard they seemed like an excellent choice as opener.

After a quick (and busy) turnaround, it was time for Holy Fuck, with Matt ‘Punchy’ McQuaid & Matt Schulz on bass & drums, respectively, and Brian Borcherdt & Graham Walsh on literally everything else including (but not limited to) keys, synth, vocals, and pulling 35mm film through an old synchronizer.

The band kicked off with the intense beat of “Evie” off the new album, as they played in front of projected live footage from the show, sometimes distorted visions of them head on, and sometimes from the top-down camera’s above Brian and Graham’s gear, as if to prove they were playing live, which is the magic of the band. Everything heard in the venue is being done in the moment, as Brian and Graham especially are working their complex setups like mad scientists. At multiple points, Borcherdt grabbed a dinner knife to use on (I think) a lap steel guitar.

Their set weaved through songs old and new, with highlights being “Luxe” which grew to an intense finish and the ethereal “Elevate”, as the band let the music do the talking. They only pausing only a couple times for a quick thank you, letting the soul-thumping bass filled the room, the reverb-drenched vocals treated almost like an additional instrument instead of the focus, layering into the complex beats.

The main set drew to a close with a killer combo; one of my all time favourite songs “Lovely Allen” had a smile plastered over my face as it weaved through the soaring highs and lows of the song (and I wasn’t even the one who shouted “play it again!” before they finished). That lead to the otherworldly “Tom Tom”, with its renewed popularity thanks to it being the theme for the Flaxan army in Invincible, and then finally bringing the main set to a crashing close with the driving “Red Lights”.

There were still a few minutes before curfew though, so of course they were back for a couple more, Brian thanking everyone for showing up and dancing as hard as they were, as they played a couple more that erupted into distortion for a wild finish.

It’s always incredible to see Holy Fuck work their magic live, and I already can’t wait to see them again.

Big Sugar @ The Pearl -- February 06, 2026

February 07, 2026 by Kirk Hamilton in live shows, Show Review

In September of 1996, Big Sugar released their third album Hemi-Vision, and now they’re celebrating the 30th anniversary with a string of shows playing the acclaimed LP. It’s been a few years since I last saw the blues rock band, so I was excited to head down to a sold out Pearl.

With no opening act for the night, frontman Gordie Johnson took the stage joined by Anders Drerup on bass and Root Valach on drums, in front of a screen that flashed through some logos and artwork from the band over the years.

The first half of the night was Hemi-Vision in full, as they launched into the album’s killer three-track opening; the instantly recognisable riff of “Diggin’ a Hole”, “Opem Up Baby” which saw all three members of the band on harmonica, and “If I Had My Way” hitting like a punch to the chest. From there burst through the album, from the ripping breakdown of “Skull Ring” to the funky groove of “Joe Louis / Judgment Day” and the bluesy “Rolling Pin”, as the band proudly wore their influences on their collective sleeves.

They wrapped up the album with the longing “Gone for Good”, and that alone would have been a fun show. But after a short intermission (and wardrobe change) Big Sugar was back for a whole other hour, with banger after banger.

Kicking off with the rollicking “Three Minute Song” and the smooth groove of “Turn the Lights On”, off Heated, the second half of the show spanned the band’s illustrious catalogue, including more recent tunes like the title track to Calling All The Youth, and even a brand new one called “Planets”, that was dedicated to Ms. Johnson. Other highlights included the fiery “Nicotina (She’s All That)” and “Girl Watcher”, which saw Anders break out the saxophone.

After of my favourites, the classic Canadiana “All Hell for a Basement” they ended the set as they traditionally do, with an electric rendition of “O Canada” and a big maple leaf emblazoned on the screen behind them. But we still had a few minutes left before curfew, and the trio was quickly back out for one more, Gordie saying they were going back 500 Pounds or so with “Ride Like Hell” to cap off the night on a high.

Even slimmed down as a three-piece, Big Sugar remains one of the loudest bands I’ve seen live. The energy poured off stage, especially from Gordie as he expertly shred on guitar (including his signature double guitar), for an incredibly fun show celebrating a great album.

set two
Three Minute Song
Turn the Lights On
Eliminate Ya!
Nicotina (She's All That)
So Not Over
Better Get Used to It
Freedom Train
Calling All The Youth
Planets
Red Rover
Girl Watcher
All Hell for a Basement
O Canada
(Encore)
Ride Like Hell

set one
Diggin’ a Hole
Opem Up Baby
If I Had My Way
Tobacco Hand
La Stralla
Skull Ring
Joe Louis / Judgment Day
Tommy Johnson
Rolling Pin
Empty Head
Gone for Good

jo passed @ The Pearl -- January 22, 2026

January 23, 2026 by Kirk Hamilton in live shows, Show Review

It’s been eight years since jo passed Their Prime, but after a tease with a single last year, Jo Hirabayashi (平林) is back with a brand new album as jo passed Away. And along with the new album comes a celebration — and tour kick-off — at The Pearl in Vancouver with some local pals.

First up on the night was Buddie, who were playing in front of a projection screen with a cute animation loop of a fish swimming though the ocean. They had a fuzzy, power-pop sound with catchy songs like “Golden” and the crunchy “Antarctica, 2005” from their latest album Glass, released a few months ago. The band blasted through some older songs, including the gritty “Ugly in the End”, before capping off the set with “In A Glass Shell”.
I hadn’t seen the Vancouver band before last night, and I’ll definitely have to keep an ear out for then again.

Babe Corner took the stage next, starting off (ironically) with the deep cut, “Fox Cabaret”. From there, they went into a set of their “babe-core” sound, including songs from their latest album Crybaby; “Summer Slaughter” with its infectious chorus, the breezy “Bianca”, and “Caught On The Double” which say Haley Blais taking over lead vocals for a bit.
They also hit a pair of singles released last year, with the dreamy combo of “I'm Like U” and “Feels Like”, and ultimately wrapped up with “Cigarette”, a song that never fails to get stuck in my head after hearing it live.
Early in the set, a (probably) drunk dude felt the need to let everyone know it was his 33rd birthday, yelling between a couple songs, but Lindsay Sjoberg handled it well, joking we should all head down the street to The Roxy after show.

But before that, it was time for jo passed to close out the night, kicking off with the first track off Away, the appropriately titled “BRB”. Jo continued through the new album with the jagged “Ico” and the chaotic buzz of “339”, an early favourite off the album.
After ‘side A’ of the album finished with “Dizzy Izzy”, Jo introduced the band and went into some older tracks, including “MDM”. Through the set, Jo didn’t say much, mostly thanking everyone for being there and quickly introducing songs; the one time he did try to talk more, about his trepidation for embarking on a tour through America right now, someone kept dismissively yelling “relax!” until he moved on (strange crowd last night, and that’s before even mentioning the people dancing/swaying/flailing in front of the stage all set!)
And finally, the all-too-short set wrapped up with the title track “Away” and chilled out “J Walking”, foregoing the encore routine, thankfully.

The last time I saw jo passed, it was during JunoFest last year and the sound at the venue was somewhat muddy, so it was good to see them again with a much better mix! Add on Babe Corner who is always a blast & a fun set from Buddie, and it was a great album release show.