About two months ago, I went to see some of my first live music of the year: The Zolas playing a free outdoor show in North Vancouver. Between the anxiety of too many people being there, everyone around me talking (loudly) non-stop, the mediocre sound, and the stage being, like, an inch off the ground limiting visibility, it was... not an ideal live music experience. So I was very glad to rectify that when they returned to The Vogue Theatre for a packed show (even if showing up a bit late meant you were in the very back of the balcony for the all-seated show).

Unfortunately I missed both openers, DWI (aka Dwight Abell from The Zolas in his solo project) and Vancovuer's own Schwey. But not long after I found an empty seat, the light dimmed and the instrumental "Reality Winner" rang through the theatre, as the band appeared on stage.

Starting with “Violence on the Planet” and the eponymously-inspired, britpop-esque “Yung DiCaprio” they focused on their latest album Come Back to Life. But of course hit some old favourites like “Ancient Mars”, with the crowd reacting so strongly that singer Zachary Gray got visibly flustered and emotional at the hometown response. Always full of energy onstage, Zach also chatted with the crowd between songs, clearly happy to be live & in person, and not resorting to walking tours via Google Maps, as he joked before the band launched into “Miles Away”.

Partway through the set they brought it down with a much calmer, acoustic version of “Strange Girl”, with Zach accompanied only by bassist Dwight and drummer Cody Hiles. Then those two took a break for a moment moment while a lone Zach fielded requests for some of the fan favourites, deep cuts, and ‘weird’ songs that they rarely played. After a cacophony of voices & song titles, Gray went into an acoustic medley that started with a song that I may have yelled from the back of the room, the eternally endearing “Cultured Man”, before segueing into other old favourites, “Marlaina Kamikaze”, “You're Too Cool”, and “Cold Moon”.

The full band returned as they kicked back into high energy with songs like “I Feel The Transition” and “Swooner”, before they brought the main set to a close with the heart-wrenching “Why Do I Wait (When I Know You've Got a Lover)”.
And of course, were back for one more, as Zach appeared in the aisle of the lower section of the Vogue for a big crowd singalong — with cell phone flashlights illuminating the room — to “Escape Artist”, a beautiful way to cap off the night, as the band took a bow centre stage.

(To see Christine’s Photo Recap click here.)

setlist
Reality Winner
Violence on This Planet
Yung Dicaprio
Molotov Girls
Ancient Mars
Freida on the Mountain
Miles Away
Energy Czar
Let It Scare You
Strange Girl
Cultured Man -> Marlaina Kamikaze -> You're Too Cool -> Cold Moon (medley)
PrEP
I Feel the Transition
Swooner
Why Do I Wait (When I Know You've Got a Lover)
[encore]
Escape Artist