Dear Rouge with Hotel Mira @ Vogue Theatre -- December 10, 2022

It's been a busy year for Dear Rouge. After releasing their third studio album Spirit, they've played festivals, opened for Metric, and just finished a cross Canada tour with Hotel Mira, ending with a show at the Vogue Theatre here in Vancouver.

Unfortunately I missed the first opening set from Mauvey, arriving slightly before the intro of Metallica’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls” rang throughout the theatre, signalling the entrance of Hotel Mira. Kicking off with “You Know Best”, the band played a selection off their latest album Perfectionism, as well as teasing some new tunes, and hitting older songs from the band’s previous incarnation, JPNSGRLS, like ”Southern Comforting”.

As ever, each member had a high energy, especially frontman Charlie Kerr, as he danced, gyrated, and even waded into the crowd on a few occasions. I don't think I've ever seen him stand still for more than five seconds while on stage.

Highlights including “Better on your Own” which Kerr dedicated to a recent breakup in the crowd, the raucous harmonies of “Jungle”, and the infectious “Fever Pitch”, where Charlie plucked a ‘Listen Bitch’ sign out of the audience for the chorus.

They finished it off with another old favourite, the frantic and chaotic “Oh My God”, and I’m willing to wager that it won't be long before the group is headlining the Vogue themselves.

The stage was dark and smoky when the members of Dear Rouge, all clad in black, came out. Interestingly enough, both bands started with the lead singer in a long black coat, which they doffed a few songs in -- though Danielle's outfit under the coat was much more sparkly than Charlie's undershirt.

Starting off with “Relationship Problems”, their hour-and-a-half set spanned their three album, from the frenetic “Boys & Blondes”; to the soft & tender “Life Goes By And I Can't Keep Up”, which spotlighted Drew McTaggart's vocals; to the giant singalong for “I Heard I Had”.

Danielle McTaggart stalked the front of the stage for “Modern Shakedown”, and “Black to Gold” saw the stage bathed in an amber light. In fact, with the large rig behind then — that included a disco ball and big neon ‘Dear Rouge’ sign — the lightning did a great job setting the mood throughout the evening.

Near the end of the set, they were joined by special guest Jessia to duet with Danielle on the song “That’s It, That’s All”, before closing with the anthemic “Gimme Spirit”.
But of course, the group was back out with a couple more, ending the night with the incredibly fun and quirky “Meet Me At The Rio”, which broke down into a cover of Le Tigre's “Deceptacon”, before a big finish.

It seems like the last few times I’ve seen Dear Rouge — even going back before the pandemic — had been either as an opening band or in the middle of a festival, so it was nice to see them be able to spread their wings as the headliner. And then you add Hotel Mira into the mix, and it’s an fantastic double-bill spotlighting a pair of Vancouver’s hottest acts.

Dear Rouge setlist
Relationship Problems
Fake Fame
Live Through The Night
Boys & Blondes
You Rattle Me
Dream Dreamer
Modern Shakedown
Wanna Love
Life Goes By And I Can't Keep Up
Black to Gold
I Heard I Had
Facedown
That's It, That's All (Jessia)
Tongues
Gimme Spirit
(encore)
Stolen Days
Meet Me At The Rio (feat. Deceptacon by Le Tigre)

Hotel Mira setlist
You Know Best
Better On Your Own
This Could Be It For Me
Eventually
Everything Once
Son in Law
Jungle
The Eyes on You
Speaking off the Record
Southern Comforting
Fever Pitch
Oh My God

PHOTOS: Dear Rouge, Metric @ The Orpheum Theatre - August 13, 2022

Dear Rouge, Metric
The Orpheum Theatre
August 13, 2022
Christine McAvoy Photography

Read Kirk’s review of the show HERE.

Metric with Dear Rouge @ Orpheum Theatre -- August 13, 2022

With their latest album Formentera released a little over a month ago, Metric hit the road for the Doomscroller Tour. The west coast log of the tour included Vancouver’s own Dear Rouge, and made a stop at the gorgeous Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.

The very first time I saw Dear Rouge perform -- at the Red Room, as part of the Peak Performance Project ten(!) years ago -- I distinctly remember thinking they gave off Metric vibes, so I was really happy that they were opening this show. Especially since the last few times I saw them were at outdoor music festivals, so it was great to get them in a proper venue, particularly one like the Orpheum.

With a large neon 'Dear Rouge" sign behind them, the band opened with "Relationship Problems" off their latest album Spirit. They split the short set between new songs, like the biting takedown of influencers, "Fake Fame", as well as older tunes, getting everyone to sing along to "I Heard I Had".

Performing at the storied theatre seemed to put the always-energetic band on top of their game, Danielle McTaggart’s voice ringing through the theatre as she bound across the stage, backed by Drew McTaggart ripping it up on guitar, and the rest of the band holding their own.

They closed out the set with their ode to the best movie theatre in Vancouver, "Meet Me At The Rio", building to a huge and raucous finish.

After the brief intermission Metric took the stage, with a setup that included some "modular" keyboards -- four different keyboards all on stands with castors, so they could be rearranged at a moment's notice -- and an intense light show.

They kicked off the show with the tour's namesake "Doomscroller", the 10-minute epic going through almost as many twists-and-turns as the entire rest of the set. From there they went on to play cuts from the new album, including my favourite so far, the moody & ominous "All Comes Crashing", as well as classics like "Gold Guns Girls" and the thumping "Help I'm Alive", Emily Haines’ incomparable energy leading the fist pumping through the crowd, as Jimmy Shaw’s guitar wailed.

Part way through the set bassist Joshua Winstead and drummer Joules Scott-Key took a break, so Emily and Jimmy could perform a couple acoustic songs, including "Combat Baby" which got an overwhelming response from the crowd; literally, as Haines had to pause and compose herself at the bridge before continuing, and could barely get the last line of the song out at the end.

The band returned for more singalongs to “Gimme Sympathy” and “Sick Muse”, before the main set ended appropriately enough with the final song on the new album, “Paths in the Sky”. But of course, they weren't done and returned moments later for an encore consisting of another one of my all-time faves from them, "Black Sheep" (coincidentally being performed on the 12th anniversary of the release of Scott Pilgrim) and capping off the night with Emily Haines saying how after the last two and a half years, she could have stayed on stage forever, but reluctantly ending the show, sending the crowd home with "Breathing Underwater".

A lot of the shows I’ve seen so far this year have had a sort of catharsis to them, like a collective exhale. Maybe it was the size of the venue, the fact that it was still early in Metric’s tour, or a combination of various things, but this show felt a perfect example of that. There was an energy in the theatre, both on-stage and buzzing through the audience, that’s not going to be matched any time soon, and it made the bands, and the show, all the better for it.

Dear Rouge Setlist
Relationship Problems
Live Through the Night
Fake Fame
I Heard I Had
Black to Gold
Gimme Spirit
Tongues
Meet Me at the Rio

Metric Setlist
Doomscroller
Gold Guns Girls
Dark Saturday
What Feels Like Eternity
All Comes Crashing
Help I'm Alive
Formentera
Cascades (acoustic)
Combat Baby (acoustic)
Enemies of the Ocean
Gimme Sympathy
Sick Muse
Now or Never Now
Paths in the Sky
[encore]
Lost Kitten
False Dichotomy
Black Sheep
Breathing Underwater

Constellation Festival: Day One -- 07/26/19

The first ever Constellation Festival kicked off last night, rising from the ashes of Live @ Squamish and the Squamish Valley Music Festival. The inaugural edition took place at on the same grounds, at Hendrickson Field, with a beautiful mountainous backdrop, especially over the main stage.

Christine and I arrived to scout the grounds as Sarah Macdougall sang a cover of "Ramble On" by Zeppelin, as I took in the setup; a large field with two stages at either end --- bands alternated so there was no bleed in music, and you were never too far from the next act. There was also a selection of food carts, and a nice row of local vendors in the middle of the grounds.

The Boom Booms - Christine McAvoy Photography

The first full act I saw was The Boom Booms (evidently the rumours of their demise were somewhat exaggerated). Their upbeat and fun soulful sound was a great way to get the day rocking as the crowd flowed through the gates.

Parker Bossley - Christine McAvoy Photography

Next on the side stage was Parker Bossley, former frontman for the Gay Nineties. His solo material was similar to the band, with a bit more of a pop bent, like the synth-fuelled "LIfted". Parker has always had a captivating energy on stage, and this was no different as he oozed charisma throughout the set.

Fast Romantics were next over on the main stage, starting hot with a broken string on the very first song, "Why We Fight". Six members large, they had a big, boisterous indie pop sound, blasting through songs ranging from the slower ballad "Mexico" to the blaring fun of "Julia".

Fast Romantics - Christine McAvoy Photography

I caught a bit of Daysormay from Vernon while getting a bite to eat, with their eclectic alternative indie sound, before Dear Rouge took to the main stage. They hit the stage mostly dressed in all black, with Danielle McTaggart also adorned in a flowing black & white robe and giant silver spaceboots. With said robe flowing in the wind, they immediately launched into "Modern Shakedown" from their most recent album Phases.
Every time I see them, I feel like they've levelled up, and this time was no different, as Danielle stalked the stage with incredible swagger, her voice ringing through the valley. And of course not forgetting Drew McTaggart ripping it up on guitar, and the rest of the band holding their own.
They went through their catalogue of hits, including "Boys and Blondes" and "Best Look Lately", as well as "Black to Gold" which had a pyrotechnic element, as Danielle brought out a purple smoke flare.
After an incredible cover of "North American Scum" by LCD Soundsystem, they transitioned into "I Heard I Had" with Danielle jumping into the crowd, literally in the faces of the people in the first few rows, before running back on stage. And somehow after that, they still had one song in them, finishing off with "Live Through The Night"

Dear Rouge - Christine McAvoy Photography

Dear Rouge - Christine McAvoy Photography

Dear Rouge - Christine McAvoy Photography

Scenic Route To Alaska - Christine McAvoy Photography

They put on a set that proved they shouldn't be doing anything except closing out the night on festivals like this, because when they were done, I was spent and practically ready to go. Which might be part of the reason I only caught bits and pieces of the last two acts, getting tied up in a conversation while Scenic Route to Alaska played the second stage — through a few times their catchy indie rock pulled my attention, including songs like the driving "Paris".

Serena Ryder - Christine McAvoy Photography

And finally, it was Serena Ryder closing out the night. She started off hot with "Stompa", her powerful voice carrying to the mountains. But thanks to a bit of rain and a lot of bugs, I decided to save my skin for the next day, and let the sounds of Serena serenade the walk back to the hotel.

Day two of the festival features Fred Penner, Foxwarren, Shad, Peach Pit, A Tribe Called Red, and loads more, and keep an eye out for Christine's daily photo recaps!