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
