Dan Mangan @ Vogue Theatre -- October 03, 2025

There’s always something special about seeing an artist playing a hometown show, especially if it’s Dan Mangan, and especially if it’s at the Vogue. So I was excited to see him return to the venue in the midst of his Natural Light Tour for a sold out show.

Opening the evening was Bells Larsen, who took the stage along with an acoustic guitar, to “whisper sing” at us (his words).

He opened with “Blurring Time”, the title track to his latest album, and explained the concept; the album was recorded over the span of a few years, both before and after his transition as a trans man, effectively harmonising with himself. 
Other songs delved deeper into this, like “Might” dealing with the uncertainty of how he would sound after, and some were about those close to him, like “My Brother & Me” about their rocky relationship (he made sure to note they were close now!)

The whole crowd was rapt, near silent during the songs and then exploding into applause after, and after about half an hour he wrapped up the set with the charming “People Who Mean So Much To Me”. It was a lovely set, and I am eager to see him again with a full band. 

Not long after that, it was Dan Mangan time, as he was joined by his band, guitarist Mike O'Brien, bassist Jason Haberman and drummer Don Kerr. The stage was set to look like the cottage the album was recorded in: a fireplace, rugs & quilts strewn about, low lighting, and a recreation of the view they had each evening, as the curtains to a makeshift window were pulled pack to reveal a serene lake with the sun setting over the hills (a video, so we could watch the sun slowly go down).

Before starting, he explained how he wanted to make the hometown show special by playing the full Natural Light album front-to-back for the first half of the show, launching into “It Might Be Raining” and the crowd popping for the hometown reference. 
From there he weaved through the album, from the touching “No Such Thing As Wasted Love” to the upbeat “Melody”, and my album standout, the melancholic “For Him”.
There was a strange occurrence part way through, when Dan stopped “Soapbox” after a couple verses because someone fainted. He made sure they got help, with a very cooperative crowd making space, and then restarted... only for another person on the other side of the floor to faint as soon as he did! Dan wondered if the song was cursed and if he should even continue, but at the insistence of the crowd — in particular the person who yelled “once more, with feeling!” — he finished it with gusto.
(And, to be honest, it was a little warm and stuffy in the packed venue.)

After finishing the album with a singalong to “Hit The Wall”, the band took a break while Dan did a few solo songs. First a song that always make me tear up, especially live, “Basket” as well as one my favourite deeper cuts, “Pine for Cedars” with its charming wordplay.

Then the band was back out for the gorgeous “In Your Corner (For Scott Hutchison)”, before launching into raucous “Road Regrets”, Dan’s voice soaring through the room, and again on the (unfortunately) still extremely relevant “Post-War Blues”. They bounced from songs like the haunting “Lynchpin” to the frenetic “Troubled Mind”, before inviting Bells and his guitar back on stage for the perennial singalong “Robots”. With a handheld mic, Dan jumped off stage and into the audience to wade back and forth, getting everyone to join him for a big finish to the set.

Even after two hours(!) the crowd was still eager for more, and so a few minutes later Dan came back out, sheepishly admitting he didn't plan for an encore, but testing out a brand new anti-fascist song to wrap up the night.

I’ve said before how sometimes a band or musician will just fit a venue perfectly, and that's Dan with the Vogue. Before the show, I was talking with a friend about how many times I've seen Dan play there, specifically (nine, before last night) and Dan even mentioned it was his favourite venue to play in. I would happily see him play there as much as possible.

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Dan Mangan setlist
It Might Be Raining
Diminishing Returns
I Hated Love Songs
Contained Free (Interlude)
No Such Thing As Wasted Love
Melody
My Dreams Are Getting Weirder
Soapbox
Cut The Brakes
For Him
Sound The Alarm
Proximity
Hit The Wall
(Dan solo)
Basket
Fool For Waiting 
Pine For Cedars
(Full band)
In Your Corner (For Scott Hutchison)
Road Regrets
Cold In The Summer
Post-War Blues
Forgetery
Just Fear
Lynchpin
Troubled Mind
Fire Escape
Robots
(encore)
[New Song]

Bell Larsen setlist
Blurring Time
514-415
Might
My Brother & Me 
Night Bus
People Who Mean So Much To Me

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]

Yawn @ Green Auto -- June 21. 2025

It’s funny how timing works out sometimes. A few months ago, I was randomly thinking about Julia & Her Piano and wondering what Julia McDougall was up to, music-wise. Then mere days later, I came across the latest single from Yawn, her new project! With a new album titled wish i could’ve released last week, Yawn is on a quick jaunt through BC, including the album release party at Green Auto in Vancouver.

Opening the night was a drag performance from Mikki Wikki, before Yawn took the stage. The room was decorated with big flowers and the band was all clad entirely in white, including flowers in their hair, for real Midsommar vibes (there was even a ‘white & flowers’ dress code for the crowd).

With a full band that included a three piece string section, they started off with the first song off the album, “help myself”, going through dreamy synth-pop like the bouncy and frenetic “coloured light” and the title track “wish i could’ve” a hazy song full of regrets.

Early on Julia mentioned how grateful she was for everyone to be there celebrating the album, but quickly going into some goofy jokes between songs; taking impromptu polls, trying to play matchmaker to all the single people in the crowd, and even blessing songs. Everything gave real intimate vibes for the show, like a group of friends just hanging out.

They played the first half of the album mostly in order, but after jumping ahead to the chaotic “world is burning”, there was a quick break before the band come back out with the absolutely heartbreaking, “i deserve better”, my favourite off the album.

As the set was coming to a close, they were re-joined by a harpist for the ethereal “take your time” to end the main set, but not before Julia gave a sly wink that they’d be back. And of course they were, giving a tease of a brand new song, “twenty minutes in heaven”, an upbeat bop to finish off the night.

It’s been a long time since I saw Julia play live. The main things I remembered was her sense of humour combined with catchy tunes, and both were well on display with Yawn for the album release last night.

setlist
help myself
broken baby
coloured light
wish i could’ve
let it all go
world is burning
(intermission)
i deserve better
back in my head
wasting time
take your time
(encore)
twenty minues in heaven

Ninja Sex Party @ Commodore Ballroom -- June 20, 2025

As their Pure Elegance Tour came to an end, Ninja Sex Party hit the Commodore Ballroom for what was their first(!) show in Vancouver. I’ve followed them on & off over the last few years, but I knew their show would be a real fun time so I was excited to see them, especially as they had TWRP opening for them — a band that I have somehow kept missing live, after randomly seeing them on a street corner in Toronto at 2:30 am at NXNE 2012.

For some reason, the line at the Commodore was still massive an hour after doors (wrapping around past the Orpheum and onto Seymour!) so sadly I missed half of TWRP. The colourfully costumed band from Future Space Canada consisted of Doctor Sung on vocals & keys, Lord Phobos on guitar, bassist Commander Meouch, and drummer Havve Hogan.

They were just launching into the synth rock jam “Synthesise Her” as I got there, catching the last few songs of the set, including the retro flashback to “VHS” and the frenetic “Phantom Racer”. Between each song they had some banter to introduce them, including a running tally of each song they played, conveniently juicing the numbers so they ended the set with song #69 (and also playing one last one, #69-2). They wrapped up the set with “A Human's Touch”, featuring surprise guest vocals from McKenna Rae.

After Ninja Sex Party’s tour manager (I’m guessing) Matt came out to give a few quick rules for the night, the between-set-music turned into an impromptu karaoke with Backstreet Boys & Smash Mouth. Then the lights dimmed and the members of TWRP were back out, soon joined by Ninja Sex Party — Ninja Brian with his usual ninja getup and Danny Sexbang in his spandex and cape.

They started, appropriately enough, with “Get Ready (to Get Ready)” before going into a set that ranged from the sexy “Orgy for One” to the romantic “Heart Boner”. The braggadocious “I Own a Car” to the relatable “Welcome to My Parents’ House”. The 80’s rock inspired comedy songs ran the gamut of emotions, as Danny belted out the tunes with Brian on keys.

Between songs, they would joke and banter, mostly Ninja Brian antagonizing everyone; bugging Danny with a constant barrage of clips of Paul Stanley hyping up a crowd, trolling the members of TWRP with constant handshakes & refusals thereof, and playing with the crowd through those same clips shouting out Toronto (to thunderous boos).

Aside from their own songs, NSP slipped in a few covers, including “The Hit”, one of the first songs they wrote with TWRP. They also touched on some 80’s classics from Dead or Alive, The Cars, and a great version of the sadly-still-relevant “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.

The main set came to a close (but not before Danny gave the encore concept a wink & nod) with the sci-fi epic “6969”, and after some coaxing from Ninja Brian, everyone was back out for another TWRP collab, “Starlight Brigade”. Finally, they wrapped up the evening with their big hit, the soaring and emotional “Danny Don't You Know?”, the whole room singing and chanting (and crying?) along.

In fact, the crowd was almost constantly singing along throughout the show, cheering & chanting & playing along between songs, with a wave of energy and love pouring to the stage. So much so that it visibly affected Danny (and assumedly Brian too, behind the mask) as he looked genuinely surprised & grateful more than once. Before leaving, he quipped that it may have taken them 17 years to finally make it to Vancouver, but thanks to this crowd, they would be back a lot sooner.

setlist
Get Ready (to Get Ready)
Cool Patrol
Welcome to My Parents' House
The Hit [TWRP cover]
Seatbelts!
I Own a Car
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) [Dead or Alive cover]
Freak on a Leash [Korn cover]
Heart Boner
Just What I Needed [The Cars cover]
Orgy for One
Everybody Wants to Rule the World [Tears for Fears cover]
6969
(encore)
Starlight Brigade [TWRP cover]
Danny Don't You Know?

Mae Martin @ Vogue Theatre -- June 13, 2025

You might know Mae Martin from their comedy career, the show Feel Good, the podcast Handsome, or even their appearance on Taskmaster. But earlier this year, Martin went back to a teenage love and released their first album I’m a TV, and the latest leg of the tour wrapped up with a show at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver.

Opening the night was Vancouver’s own Ashleigh Ball, out on stage with just Dallas Bud backing her on guitar. Her signature flute in hand, she opened the set with “Tried to Tell You” before a couple new songs, the smooth “3am” and “Rosemary”, introduced with a story about the inspiration behind the song — a person she met at a silent retreat who did not quite understand the ‘silent’ part.
Throughout the set, Ball told storied behind some of the songs, including they Hey Ocean! tune “To The Sea” and the wild party that inspired the gorgeous & trippy song “Lavender” that capped off the set.

Not long after, Mae Martin took the stage, backed by Jason Couse and Wes Marskell (otherwise known as The Darcys, who also produced Mae’s album). They immediately launched in to “Big Bear”, Mae shredding on guitar, focusing on the album for the first half of the set, with songs like “Garbage Strike”, about the Toronto blackout of ‘03, and the breezy “Try Me”.

Mae was quick to tell the crowd how happy they were to be on stage, and how much of a dream come true it was. Throughout the set, Mae chatted & introduced songs with their slight awkward charm, and even the couple (small) flubs through the set were easy to overlook with their sheer enthusiasm radiating through the room.

Part way through the set, Jason and Wes took a break for Mae to grab a stool centre stage and dive into a few acoustic covers; a pair of Elliott Smith songs, as well as Half Moon Run, and a Third Eye Blind deep cut — accompanied by a story of Mae being starstruck when recently meeting singer Stephan Jenkins. Jason was back out to join on vocals for “People Get Back Up” before Wes returned as well, as Mae joked they wanted a bit more ‘millennial nostalgia’ with a cover of David Gray’s Babylon, which segued into the Third Eye Blind classic “How’s It Going to Be”.

After teasing a new song out later this month and the slow burn “No Cowboy”, Martin decided they didn’t want the night to end just yet. So they threw one one more song before the finish, another new one called “Kodak Film”, double checking if Jason and Wes knew it (they did not, but picked up on it so quick that if they hadn’t had that aside, I never would have known).

And finally, they wrapped up the set with “Brought Me Round”, Mae and the boys going all out for the finish to end the night, not bothering with the whole encore schtick (which I always appreciate).

I was really not sure what to expect from the show, but Mae’s enthusiasm & stage presence, combined with their heartfelt songs, and Jason & Wes backing them up made for a very fun night, with Ashleigh Ball opening being the proverbial cherry on top.

setlist
Big Bear
Stowaway
I Love You So Much
Try Me
Quiet Street
Garbage Strike
Pitseleh [Elliott Smith cover]
Unofferable [Half Moon Run cover]
Motorcycle Drive By [Third Eye Blind cover]
Pretty Mary K [Elliott Smith cover]
People Get Back Up
Babylon [David Gray cover]
How’s It Going to Be [Third Eye Blind cover]
Recent Hit
No Cowboy
Good Dream
Kodak Film
Brought Me Round