Hotel Mira @ Vogue Theatre -- Dec 13, 2025

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

PHOTOS: Jody Glenham, Kylie V, JP Maurice at Car Free Day on Main Street - September 15, 2024

Jody Glenham, Kylie V, JP Maurice
Car Free Day - Main Street
September 15, 2024

Photos by Christine McAvoy

Kylie V @ The Pearl -- January 19, 2024

Fun story about Kylie V: about 6 years ago I went to a friend’s wedding, where she introduced me to her nibling who was just starting in music. We had a brief chat about local bands, and later in the night they went on to sing with the wedding band. Soon after, Kylie V broke into the Vancouver scene, and I’ve managed to catch them at a couple outdoor shows and as an opening act, but this was the first time I had seen them headlining. And not only that, it was also the first time making it to The Pearl, since the club had been rebranded from Venue!

Sadly I missed most of the opening bands, la lune and Dawson Gool (a little awkward when Kylie at one point joked they didn’t trust anyone that missed them), arriving just as the latter was wrapping up their final song.

Thanks to it being an early show, there was a very quick turnaround before Kylie V hit the stage, first accompanied by Nolan Fae for a brand new song, and then the rest of their band as they went into “On My Mind” from their first full length, Big Blue.

From there the set was a mix of older -- their soft voice floating through the room on title track, “Big Blue”, and the soaring, emotional “Runaway” -- as well as teasing some new material like “Crash Test Plane” and “Year of the Rabbit”, mentioning they were working on a new album.

Between songs, Kylie chatted, joked, and told the back stories of songs; from the funny (“Natural” inspired by a little too much Benadryl) to the more serious (the gorgeous song “Catherine” being written for one of their best friends).

After a cover of one of their favourites, “Is There Something in the Movies?” by Samia, and without bothering with the encore fakeout, Kylie wrapped u the set with another new song, “Lucky Streak”, which started chill before cranking up the enrgy, and was one of my faves of the set.

Even putting aside meeting them those years ago, Kylie V has genuinely become one of my favourite newer acts in Vancouver, and I am very excited to hear what they have cooking in the new year.

setlist
[New song]
On My Mind
Big Blue
Runaway
Crash Test Plane
Natural
Catherine
Anomaly
Year of the Rabbit
Is There Something in the Movies? [Samia cover]
Lucky Streak

Jody Glenham with Kylie V @ China Cloud -- June 29, 2023

It's been a minute since I last saw Jody Glenham perform live, definitely before the release of her 2020 album Mood Rock, so I was happy to head down to the charming China Cloud. Especially since she was supported by Kylie V, who I have caught a couple times at outdoor festival-type shows, but never in a proper venue.

Kylie V took the stage, joined by their backing band, and started the night with the “On My Mind”, followed by the haunting title track off their latest EP, Runaway. The intimate show had a very attentive crowd -- Kylie joking almost too attentive -- rapt during their heartfelt songs, voice lilting through the room.

As well as familiar favourites like the gorgeous “Catherine”, Kylie also slipped in a cover of the Samia song, “Is There Something in the Movies?”, and teased a new album with the song “Anomaly”. Near the end of the set, the band took leave for Kylie to play alone for the last couple songs; another new one “Untitled in Open D”, and finally capping off the end of the set with another cover; “Taken” by MUNA.

After a quick turnaround (which is always appreciated!) Jody Glenham took the stage with her shiny, self-described ‘party pants’, kicking off with an older song, the dreamy “Between You and Me”.

Joined by Michael Brown, Adam Fink, and Jay Arner as her backing band, Jody ran through songs from her catalogue, including the incredibly catchy “Talking Out Loud”, the hazy, chilled out “Friday Night Lights”, and my favourite from Mood Rock, “War On This World”, a simmering slow burn to an intense finish.

Glenham also teased a new song, I believe called “Love Deficiency Syndrome”, before another favourite of the set, “Ill Wind”, which burst into a smooth groove, that lead to the set’s finish, just ending and not bothering with a sham encore (also appreciated!).

Jody Glenham has been a mainstay in the Vancouver music scene for over a decade now — the first time I saw her play was a little over 11 years ago now — and it’s always a pleasure to see her dream-pop live. Add on that Kylie V is one of my favourite newcomers on the Vancouver scene, and that China Cloud is a great, & much needed, venue, and you have an excellent night of Vancouver music.