A few weeks ago, David Vertesi released his fourth album Fictionalized. And to celebrate, took to the Wise Hall for an album release show.

The evening started with Alex Badger coming out on stage alone, just an acoustic guitar accompanying her lovely voice for the first couple songs. She was soon joined by JP Maurice to back her up, as they played the recent single “Gum”, which he produced. Alex teased a few more songs that would be out soon, including the upbeat “Sunshine”, and finished off with a very heartfelt song that I didn’t catch the name of, but will definitely be keeping an ear out for in the future.

Next up was a solo set from Jordana, for what was only her second time in Vancouver. Armed with an electric guitar, she played a stripped down set of bedroom pop, with bubbly energy between songs. From taking impromptu polls for the next song (electing to play both anyway), to getting into backstories (without naming her crush whom the song was written about), and introducing a brand new tune, everything matched her energy, with the highlight being her self-described ‘rock song’, “Play Fair”.
She wrapped up the set with a couple covers, really letting loose on vocals for a jazzy version of “Say a Little Prayer” before channelling her inner Karen Carpenter with “Yesterday Once More” by The Carpenters.

Not long after that, the lights dimmed and David Vertesi walked over to the sofa on stage, flicked on the lamp on the side table, and started off with “One Day We Woke Up And The World Was Gone”, the ominous opening track from the new album. The other members of the band slowly joined him, Johnny Andrews on drums, Jonathan Anderson on guitar, and Benjamin Millman on keys, as they went into “Who Am I Now”, playing the album front-to-back.

David’s deep voice and smooth songs were made even more warm and cosy by the stage turned into a makeshift living room, Vertesi even wearing slippers as he played most of the set from the couch, admitting that’s where the songs were written during the height of the pandemic. Though he did pop up to the front of the stage for the maudlin “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”.

Throughout the night he also invited some guests to the sofa, all who featured on the album; Sam Lynch providing vocals on “My Parents”, Jordan Klassen’s voice intertwining with his on “One In A Million”, and the inimitable Jill Barber for “Mind Reader”.

As Fictionalized came to a close, he called for everyone who was on stage before to return – including Jordana and Alex Badger – for the final song, a cover of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros’ “That’s What’s Up”. But even with the album wrapped, Vertesi wasn’t quite done. Not bothering with the whole encore fakeout, he had everyone in the room, both on-stage and in the audience, sing along to “Waste” from his previous album Life Ghouls for a fun & cathartic closer.

As I recently said, it’s always fun to hear an album played in full, especially when Vertesi was able to get (almost) all of the guest stars to join him. But even aside from all the familiar faces on stage, you couldn’t go five feet in the Wise Hall without running into another musician, music-adjacent person, or longtime fan. Which is not only a testament to David Vertesi’s music, but his role in the local music community. From the many bands he’s been a part of, to producing, and even co-founding events like the Mural Festival, Vertesi is no doubt one of the hardest workers in town, and everyone was at the Wise to celebrate.

setlist
One Day We Woke Up And The World Was Gone
Who Am I Now
Age Of Celebrity
My Parents (ft. Sam Lynch)
Fictionalized
One In A Million (ft. Jordan Klassen)
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Mind Reader (ft. Jill Barber)
Note To Self
That’s What’s Up (ft. everyone) [Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros cover]
Waste (ft. everyone)