PHOTOS: Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club @ Commodore Ballroom - September 14, 2024

Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club
Commodore Ballroom
September 14, 2024

Photos by Christine McAvoy

Tokyo Police Club @ Commodore Ballroom -- September 14, 2024

I’m not gonna lie, I would probably call myself a ‘casual’ fan of Tokyo Police Club. I’ve always liked their singles, seen them live a few times, but never really done a deep dive on the band, y’know? But even with that said, I was still bummed out when the Newmarket foursome announced after nearly twenty years, they were calling it a day. And so with one last tour, I knew had to see them one final time.

Opening the night was long-time friends of the band, Born Ruffians (how long? they joked they were in each other’s MySpace Top 8). Starting off with “Foxes Mate for Life”, Luke Lalonde’s distinctive voice rang through the ballroom. Throughout the set, all four members were bubbling over with energy, even when not playing their instrument -- especially if they weren’t playing their instrument, in the case of Maddy Wilde on keys, who I don't think stood still for more than two seconds in a row throughout the show! Highlights included the frenetic “Hummingbird” and “Needle”, as they capped it off appropriately enough with “Fade To Black”.

After a quick break, the lights dimmed and David Monks, Graham Wright, Josh Hook, and Greg Alsop took the stage starting as Tokyo Police Club started hot with “Favourite Colour”, the crowd instantly singing along.

From there, the band reminded the sold out room how many hits they had, spanning their whole career, from “Nature of the Experiment” off their debut EP A Lesson in Crime to the chaotic “Bambi” and the anthemic “Wait Up (Boots of Danger)” off Champ, up to “Simple Dude” off what turned out to be their final album, TPC. They didn’t say much throughout the set, letting the music speak for itself, but a few times David thanked the crowd, and even assigned “New Blues” the designated sad song, for everyone to mourn.

After about an hour, the band took a quick break for Monks to do a couple acoustic songs; crowd favourite “Tessellate” as well as “Ready to Win”, before the rest returned for a few more songs, capping off the main set with “Hot Tonight”.

But of course, they weren’t done as the crowd clamoured for more, and the band returned first with the winding “Argentina (Parts I, II, III)”, then doing another quick encore fakeout, and coming back with another version of “Tessellate” — full band this time — and ending off the night with another huge singalong to “Your English Is Good”.

My only disappointment in the set was the absence of “Cheer It On”, which just goes to show how many bangers the band has. But even with that, it was still a very fun show. As sad as it is to see someone like Tokyo Police Club end, I always appreciate it when a band actually has some sort of farewell, instead of just dissipating into the ether (leaving you to wonder…?), and this night was a perfect way to celebrate their career.

TPC setlist
Favourite Colour
Box
Not My Girl
Nature of the Experiment
Citizens of Tomorrow
Shoulders and Arms
Be Good
New Blues
Simple Dude
Tunnel Vision
Hands Reversed
End of a Spark
Bambi
Frankenstein
Wait Up (Boots of Danger)
Tessellate (acoustic)
Ready to Win (acoustic)
Favourite Food
Graves
Way Back When
In a Cave
Hot Tonight
(encore)
Argentina (Parts I, II, III)
(second encore)
Tessellate (band)
Your English Is Good

BR setlist
Foxes Mate for Life
Breathe
Dedication
Hummingbird
Little Garçon
Forget Me
Ocean’s Deep
Needle
Miss You
We Made It
Fade To Black

Sam Roberts Band with Brandon Wolfe Scott @ Commodore -- February 24, 2024

With their new album out a few months ago, Sam Roberts Band hit the road for The Adventures of Ben Blank Tour. Their Vancouver stop was a return to the Commodore Ballroom for a pair of shows. 

Opening the evening was Brandon Wolfe Scott, the Vancouver singer performing some of his solo material. He hit the stage with his backing band and launched into “In Stride” off last year’s EP Slow Transmission, treating the gathering crowd to his chill, throwback vibes.
He ‘got his Bob Dylan on’ by pulling out the harmonica for “Fade Out”, and his soft voice lilted over the crowd on the dreamy “Burden on your Shoulder”, before finishing off his short opening set with “Something Real”.
Whether it’s solo or with his band, Yukon Blonde, it’s always a treat to see Scott play, and he was a great pick for starting out the night. 

It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed and the screen behind the stage filled with the Ben Blank album art, as Sam Roberts Band took the stage, starting off with a bang. First my fave off the new album “Afterlife”, then “With A Bullet”, and getting everyone to dance with “Them Kids”.

Reminding us of not only the band’s depth, but also longevity, they hit songs from all over their career, from classics like “Where Have All the Good People Gone?” which had the sold out room joining in, to the warm “Picture of Love”, the first single off the new album. 

The set ebbed and flowed, not only musically, but also thematically. On a heartfelt “Cascades”, Sam opined “Ooh I need you, Baby in the worst way”, only to follow that up by spitting out “And if this is true then I don't need you, I don't need anyone” on “Metal Skin”.

Other highlights – and more singing along – included “Hard Road”, which exploded into the frenetic “Dead End”, and the three-song-punch that capped off the set, “Bridge to Nowhere”, “Love At the End of the World”, and the early hit, “Don't Walk Away Eileen”. 

But of course, they were back for more, proving that “We're All in This Together” before Roberts put his guitar aside to dance around the stage and lead the crowd in singing with “Brother Down”. Finally, they wrapped up with possibly my favourite Sam Roberts song (and one which I wasn’t even sure they were going to play), the 8+ minute psychedelic journey of “Mind Flood”, with wailing guitars, intense keys, and drumming that thumped into your very core, the band going all out for a satisfying ending.

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Sam Roberts Band play live (and even longer since a non-festival show), And after two hours of rock & roll, with the crowd in the palm of their collective hands the entire time, and hit after hit, this night was a great reminder of just how strong the band is live.

Sam Roberts Band setlist
Afterlife
With a Bullet
Them Kids
Bad Country
Where Have All the Good People Gone?
I Like the Way You Talk About the Future
Projection
Take Me Away
Let It In 
Picture Of Love
Cascades
Metal Skin
Hard Road
Dead End
Spellbound
Bridge to Nowhere
Love At the End of the World
Don't Walk Away Eileen
(encore)
We're All in This Together
Everybody Needs Love
Brother Down
Mind Flood

Brandon Wolfe Scott setlist
In Stride
Our Back Garden
Fade Out
Way Way Down
Slow Transmission
Burden On Your Shoulders
Something Real

An Evening with The Flaming Lips @ Commodore Ballroom -- March 01, 2023

This has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for 2020, the pair of shows were postponed until last year when, days before, they were postponed once again. But finally, the Oklahoma City band returned to Vancouver for those two shows at the Commodore. It was also a long time coming for me, since the last time I saw them perform was a free show in Toronto for NXNE in 2012 and I was antsy to see their live show again.

A palpable anticipation grew in the room as the set time drew near, a two-minute warning going over the speakers before the 8:30-sharp start time, and soon The Flaming Lips were out to start the show. Singer Wayne Coyne climbed into his personal inflatable sphere, and throughout the night he shot off confetti sticks, put on a Wonder Woman onesie over his suit, and just hyped up the crowd in general, barely letting the room be quiet even for a moment between songs, putting out an incredible energy.

And that energy was easily reciprocated; standing in front of a giant light board that displayed psychedelic graphics, as well as the lyrics to every song, one word (or sometimes one syllable) at a time, the band started with “A Cosmic Autumn Rebellion”, the lights strobing and confetti blasting out of the cannons side stage — which would be fired off frequently during the show.

Alongside the lights and confetti, there were a few props, the first being a giant inflatable rainbow framing the stage for gorgeous “Do You Realize??”, which had tears streaming down at least one person’s face, if not more. Especially after Coyne dedicated the song to a person named Greg, who wasn’t even expected to be at the original 2020 show, but beat his health problems long enough to be there both nights this year. This led to the crowd spontaneously erupting in “Greg! Greg! Greg!” chants on several occasions.
That wasn’t the only inflatable prop of the night though, as a huge pink robot towered in front of the stage, looming over the crowd for another favourite, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1”.

But all the lights, lasers, confetti, and even bubble-machines wouldn’t have meant much if it wasn’t for the band’s often uplifting & heartwarming songs to go with them. The set spanned their vast career, from the quirky “At the Movies on Quaaludes” from the new album American Head, to “Your Bats” off Embryonic, the classic “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton” from The Soft Bulletin, and even a cover of Madonna’s “Borderline”.

After a big sing along to “She Don't Use Jelly” the set came to a close with Steven Drozd on vocals for “Pompeii am Götterdämmerung”, as they made the crowd work for the encore. But they came back hard, with Wayne climbing into his sphere again, warning everyone before another giant inflatable ball — filled with confetti & balloons — hit the crowd to throw around for “Worm Mountain”. After the deep cut b-side, “Sunship Balloons”, the band wrapped up the night with another one of my favourites, the dual-drummers nailing “Race for the Prize”, and one more surprise, Wayne holding up some inflatable letters spelling out a large FUCK YEAH VANCOUVER.

I don’t think it’s a hot take to say that The Flaming Lips have one of the best live shows going, and I doubt anyone that was at the Commodore over the last two nights would argue otherwise. Even with the occasional heavy subject matter, all their songs are brimming with positivity & joy, and their live show just amplifies that, thanks in no small part to Wayne Coyne himself. It’s hard not to grin from ear-to-ear at the show, or even thinking about it afterward.

Oddly enough, it was my first time seeing them at an indoor venue — after twice at Malkin Bowl and Young & Dundas Square — but they were no less magical. The show went for two hours, and I was ready for them to keep going until the sunrise.

setlist
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
Will You Return / When You Come Down
Do You Realize??
How??
Why Does It End?
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
At the Movies on Quaaludes
Be Free, A Way
Borderline [Madonna cover]
Your Bats
Love Yer Brain
Dinosaurs on the Mountain
A Spoonful Weighs A Ton
She Don't Use Jelly
Pompeii am Götterdämmerung
(encore)
Worm Mountain
Sunship Balloons
Race for the Prize

Tim Baker @ Commodore Ballroom -- November 18, 2022

Tim Baker has been busy. With the release of his latest solo album, The Festival, the former Hey Rosetta! frontman has been getting back into touring shape, as seen on the series of shorts on his youtube channel, It's Gonna Be Great. And it's a good thing he did, because his current tour landed him here in Vancouver, at the legendary Commodore Ballroom.

Opening the night was Georgia Harmer, alone on stage with all her guitars -- joking about wanting to show each one off now that she could tour again. Playing stripped down versions of songs off her laetst album, Stay in Touch, her voice managed to cut through the chatter Friday night crowd. The catchy & rollicking “All In My Mind” and the breezy “Top Down” caught people's attention, before “Be Here”, a gorgeous closer.
I managed to see a little bit of her set when she opened for Dan Mangan earlier this year, and I was quite happy to see her again this night.

As the lights dimmed and the the sound of waves crashing filled the room, Tim Baker took the stage with his All Hands band. He started off with “Lucky Few”, at first just his soft voice alone at the piano, a single spotlight on him, before the rest of the band slowly joined in, bathed in a blue light as the song grew.

From there the set ebbed and flowed — much like his songs themselves often do — swelling up with intensity like the soaring “The Shield”, before crashing down like the melancholic “Dance”. Other highlights included my two favourites off his new album, “Year of the Dog” exploding into a heartwarming finish, and the fun and bouncy “Some Day” that had the crowd joining in.

Part way through the set he slipped in a couple old Hey Rosetta! songs, first a “Soft Offering (For The Oft Suffering)” and then “Welcome”, a classic which hit me way harder emotionally than I was expecting, building to an incredible finish.

After a huge fun singalong to “All Hands”, Baker ending the main set, appropriately enough, with “Don't Let Me Go Yet”. Which the crowd did not, calling him back for more; the joyful Hey Rosetta! tune “Harriet” and yet another appropriate closing song, “Goodnight Everybody”.

If you were to force me to make a list (which I hate doing) of my favourite bands, I think Hey Rosetta! would rank pretty high. But even though they went on an “indefinite hiatus” in 2017, it's been hard to miss them, as Tim Baker has continued on, making some excellent solo albums, putting on incredible, emotional live shows.

setlist
Lucky Few
The Shield
Spirit
My Kind
Dance
Strange River
Jungle Suite
Year of the Dog
Some Day
Soft Offering (For The Oft Suffering)
Welcome
Echo Park
The Festival
All Hands
Don't Let Me Go Yet
(encore)
Harriet
Goodnight Everyone