There’s a weird dichotomy when it comes to following a local band get big. On one hand, in a very selfish way I miss seeing these bands in smaller, more intimate venues. But on the other, I want them to keep growing, to get as successful as they can, to play in front of as many people as possible.
Last week I got the best of both worlds, seeing The Zolas on back-to-back nights, first at a (not-so) secret show for the relaunching of the new Railway Club, and then a “proper” sold out show at the Vogue Theatre.

Opening the show at the Vogue was fellow Vancouver artist, and Light Organ label-mate, Louise Burns. Joined by her backing band the Young Mopes, named after her latest album, they spread out across the smoky stage, the mood and lighting reflecting her dark “gothic-pop” songs.
One of my favourites from the new album, “Who’s The Madman?” opened the show, as Louise played from her three albums, with songs like the haunting “Emeralds Shatter” with Burns’ voice creeping through the theatre, and the almost country-inspired twang on “Strange Weather”.
While thanking everyone for coming early on, Louise joked that people may not have known her. But even if they didn’t, they were soon won over, Burns leading everyone to sway their arms in the air for “Pharaoh”, and a couple others.
It was a good set, and her sound seemed to fit perfectly in a theatre venue like the Vogue.

Between sets, the crowd was getting amped, filling the floor area and popping big when Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski just came out to help set up, and then even louder when the lights went down before they even hit the stage to play.
The Zolas started off with “In Heaven” before getting everyone dancing with “Molotov Girls”, running through their entire catalogue. They played older songs like the explosive “Marlaina Kamikaze”; “Cultured Man”, which Zach thought they would never play again, but the song kept getting requested (it's always been a favourite, so I was glad); and even a brand new song about “throwing away your cell phone” during which one fan near the front did just that, tossing his phone on stage -- I think I caught Tom later mention it was called “Ultramarine”.
Other highlights included a couple of my favourites from the new album “CV Dazzle” and “Male Gaze”, and the older “Cab Driver” a song that featured Tom’s very first piano solo.
They finished the main set with the title track to their latest album Swooner, but were soon back out for a few more, ending the night with “Escape Artist”, Zach jumping off stage and wading into the middle of the crowd, bringing down the house lights and asking everyone to use their cell phone lights, like fireflies dancing around his head as the crowd sang along to the soft song to end the night.

Since the first time I saw them play live (“...at the Biltmore…”) they’ve always been a great and energetic live band, and that has just scaled up as they’ve played bigger and bigger venues.

The Zolas setlist
In Heaven
Molotov Girls
Get Dark
Fell In Love With New York
Ancient Mars
Cultured Man
[new song] Ultramarine?
You’re Too Cool
Frida On The Mountain
This Changes Everything
Marlaina Kamikaze
Cab Driver
Strange Girl
CV Dazzle
Swooner
(encore)
Invisible
Observatory
Escape Artist

Louise Burns setlsit
Who’s The Madman
Ruby
Pharaoh
Strange Weather
Chinook (Sing From The Valley Of Doubt)
Moonlight Shadow
Emeralds Shatter
Dusk Till Dawn
Storms