PUP @ The Concert Hall - Toronto
July 18th 2025: PUP @ The Concert Hall - Toronto, ON
Katie Gavin | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Back in March, PUP announced their residency in their hometown, Toronto, lovingly titled “PUP Presents Mega City Maddness”. The tour followed 6 dates starting as a house show and heading through the city, gracing stages from large to small – tickets predictably sold out within 5 minutes. The city has birthed some of the most iconic artists of the 21st century, but through the 6-day PUP extravaganza, the Toronto natives prove that the scenesters who grew up with them will always show up as a community. The Concert Hall marked their third show of the run with a mid-sized capacity of 1,200 bodies tightly squeezed, buzzing with anticipation for the exclusive show.
Over the week-long PUP celebration, the band has delegated a theme to each night – the set surrounds each of their studio albums released. Each night has been top secret with the chosen record. At the Concert Hall, the crowd was gifted their 2019 record, “Morbid Stuff”, unveiled via the album cover as a backdrop as the four-piece graced the stage. While each show follows a specific record, the band doesn’t play it fully through, as singer Stefan Babcock eloquently puts it, “We’ve realized while coming up with these setlists…some of these songs we don't know how to fucking play.”
Between the classic tracks from the 2019 record, PUP played their hits like “DVP” and “Full Blown Meltdown”. The famous, long-time friend and PUP collaborator, Jeff Rosenstock, hopped on the gig as an opener. Though Rosenstock played a solo acoustic set to open the show, he made multiple appearances alongside the band. Bringing along guitarist John DeDomenci, the pair performed “Paranoid”, “Get Dumber” (recorded with Rosenstock), and popped in to yell along to “DVP”, the track dedicated to Toronto and its infamous expressway.
PUP demonstrates home is where the heart is, and it's beating in a sea of former (and current) degenerate kids of Toronto.
PVRIS @ La Maroquinerie - Paris
June 6th 2025: PVRIS, Julia Wolf @ Le Maroquinerie - Paris, France
PVRIS | Photos Courtesy of: Manon Pothin
What better place for PVRIS to celebrate White Noise’s 10th Anniversary than in Paris itself?
The band, led by Lynn Gunn, was back in the French capital on July 6 for a sold-out show. The crowd, full of long-time fans, was ready as always to welcome and cheer on PVRIS for what was their 12th concert in Paris. It is indeed pretty much a tradition by now for them to perform once a year in their eponymous city, and France is always ready to welcome them here.
Divided into a two-part set, the concert’s first half consisted of a front-to-back performance of PVRIS’ debut album, White Noise. After a brief intermission, the band then came back onstage for the second half, consisting of a set of their more recent - but just as loved - songs.
The evening was full of energy, both from the band and the fans, with bassist Brian MacDonald crowdsurfing early, barely two songs in, and Lynn Gunn closing the night by singing Monster in the middle of the crowd. Whether you were a new or returning fan, there was no question whether you were welcome and belonged.
Julia Wolf is the opener for the EU/UK leg of the tour. It may have been her first time in Paris, but she was already very much loved by the crowd, with fans already knowing her songs and singing along with her. She will be back in Europe for her headline tour in December, and it looks promising already.
Julia Wolf
The Neighbourhood @ The Anthem - Washington, DC
April 11th 2026: The Neighbourhood @ The Anthem - Washington, DC
Jesse Rutherford, The Neighbourhood - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
The Neighbourhood returned to the stage for the first time in five years in support of their fifth studio album, Ultrasound. Touring back-to-back nights across the US before hitting internationally, the band has a packed schedule for the remainder of the year. The Anthem was filled with eagerly energetic fans as The Noise Dept (who later played with The Neighbourhood) opened the night, followed by After. The Neighbourhood hit the stage right on time at 9, after being introduced to the stage by an oddly placed Siri-like bot voice. Immediately jumping into two new tracks from Ultrasound. The songs ebbed and flowed with tracks from the band’s full catalogue, with not much to be said in between. Ending the night with no encore, the band finished with the obvious tracks everyone has been waiting to hear all night, “Sweater Weather” and “Softcore”. As a longtime fan of the band and this being the first time I got to actually see them live, I was not disappointed (aside from Stargazing missing from the setlist). Now is the prime time to catch The Neighbourhood.
SETLIST
Hula Girl
OMG
Cry Baby
Prey
Reflections
R.I.P. 2 My Youth
A Little Death
Wires
Afraid
You Get Me So High
Fallen Star
Nervous
Planet
Devil's Advocate
Valentines / Baby Came Home 2
The Beach
Void
Pretty Boy
Cherry Flavoured
Daddy Issues
Good Grief
Private
Lovebomb
Sweater Weather
Softcore
Red Flag
AFTER
LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York
June 27th 2025: LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York, NY
FKA Twigs | Photos Courtesy of: Em Yu
Ladyland Festival 2025 was an electrifying celebration of queer humans, non-binary, and trans artists in the heart of the music scene. The event featured an eclectic lineup spanning various genres, from indie and pop to electronic and punk, showcasing the immense talent of LGBTQ+ creators. Night 1 was headlined by rap icon Cardi B, and night 2 was headlined by the captivating FKA Twigs.
Both nights provided a safe space for all identities and were filled with vibrant outfits from the crowd. Founder of the festival and nightlife icon Ladyfag stepped up before both headliner performances to give a rousing speech about fascism the first night, and then reading the poem "I want a dyke for president" by Zoe Leonard for the second night. It felt like a truly healing experience that was all encompassing of the energy of the entire festival. Both nights included some amazing drag performances, live performances, and DJ sets, notably from Chase Icon, RPDR winner Symone, Japanese girl group f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Pabllo Vittar, vtss and ended with an overall final crescendo with FKA Twigs and her fantastically abstract performance showcasing her album Eusexua.
Alex Chapman, Chase Icon, f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Symone, Pabllo Vittar, vtss
Lucy Dacus @ Le Trianon - Paris
June 25th 2025: Lucy Dacus, Jasmine.4.T @ Le Trianon - Paris, France
Lucy Dacus | Photos Courtesy of: Manon Pothin
Just over three months after her intimate concert in church Saint-Eustache, Lucy Dacus was back in Paris on June 25th. This time, accompanied by a full band, the singer brought her Forever Is a Feeling tour to France and performed her latest album to yet another sold-out venue.
Despite the heatwave, the energy was not missing and fans were singing along to every word, rainbow flags and fans in full display. The date also marked the fourth anniversary of Lucy Dacus’s album “Home Video”, which the crowd celebrated by singing Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday in French) before having the singer perform songs off it like Cartwheel and Going Going Gone.
Jasmine.4.t was the concert opener, and it’s safe to say she gained new fans that night.
Jasmine.4.T
Simple Minds @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia
June 14th 2025: Simple Minds, Soft Cell, Modern English @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
Simple Minds - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Simple Minds brought their “Alive and Kicking Tour” to Philadelphia on June 14th, 2025. The weather could not have been more perfect as the bands took the stage in the outdoor amphitheatre at The Mann Center. To round out the 80s synth rock revival tour, Simple Minds was joined by Soft Cell and Modern English.
The seasoned bands took the stage, being sure to connect with their lively fans. Modern English opened with spirited renditions of “I Melt With You”, delivering a nostalgic, enthusiastic set that warmed up the crowd. Soft Cell followed, offering a sleek synth-pop set including their hit cover “Tainted Love” and other hits like “Memorabilia.” You could tell everyone was out to have a fun time.
Simple Minds proved why, after 40 years, they continue to fill amphitheatres around the world. Under starlit skies at the Mann, they honoured their legacy—melding old favourites with thoughtful newer material—while showing that their passion remains alive and kicking. Whether you came for the hits or the deeper cuts, this Night with Simple Minds was a resounding triumph.
Soft Cell
Modern English
Yoke Lore @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
June 8th 2025: Yoke Lore @ The Fillmore- Philadelphia, PA
Yoke Lore - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Adrian (aka Yoke Lore) took the stage in Philadelphia on June 8th 2025, opening for Jack’s Mannequin. With newer material shining alongside older favorites, Yoke Lore proved that he can translate deeply personal songwriting into an expansive, communal live experience.
Setlist
Cruciform I
Softy
Chin Up
Shake
Hallucinate
Goodpain
Winona
Beige
Pierce The Veil @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheater - Chicago
June 7th 2025: Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheater - Tinley Park, Illinois
Pierce the Veil | Photos Courtesy of: Amanda Huerta
Pierce The Veil is forever.
The first time I ever got to see Pierce the Veil live was at the Vans Warped Tour in Chicago in 2010. I’ve had the privilege of going to almost every single show they’ve ever had in Illinois since then, and 15 years later, they STILL make me feel like I did that very first time. I was a teenager at the time and had to beg my mom to take me to the show. She finally caved and let me go as long as my cousin came with me. I remember screaming the lyrics so loud that my throat hurt the next day, and taking tons of photos on my BlackBerry, which sparked my love for concert photography. I have so many other fond memories over the years regarding this band. I used to sit at my family computer until the music video for “Caraphernelia” was released in 2010, and again for “King For A Day” in 2012. Years later, I still wait for every music video premiere, but now I can watch from my phone. It’s honestly insane to see a band graduate from playing smaller iconic venues like Bottom Lounge, to now having their headlining tour and selling out a show at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre with 26,000+ people.
Opening the show was Beach Weather, this is not a band I would expect to be on the lineup but I was happily surprised to see their name on the flyer as I’ve been a fan since 2016 when they released the Chit Chat and What A Drag EP’s. Their overall sound just exudes summer vibes, slight angst, and romance, it was the perfect way to kick off the show.
Sleeping With Sirens. Wow. They’ve toured with Pierce The Veil previously but not to the same magnitude that the I Can't Hear You Tour is. If you want to see a high energy band- this is the one! I was trying to keep up with all the movement happening on stage, not wanting to miss a second of it. As a band that has been touring for 15+ years you can immediately tell that they still give it their all and make sure that every person in the crowd is having the time of their life. The band even played “Scene Two: Roger Rabbit” at the request of a fan, a song that has not been in their setlist for this tour. Their overall set was the perfect balance of old and new which included hits ranging from “If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn” and “Bloody Knuckles.”
The moment we were all waiting for was finally here. Pierce The Veil made their way to the stage while “El Rey,” a cover by Vicente Fernández, played. Banners with symbols representing all 5 of their albums shot down from the ceiling and the entire crowd exploded. The first song in their incredible setlist was Death Of An Executioner, which is a personal favorite of mine off their most recent album The Jaws Of Life. When this tour was announced, most of us fans expected this to be an “eras” type tour, and they absolutely delivered. The setlist was sprinkled with classics from A Flair For The Dramatic like “Yeah Boy And Dollface,” “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” and even “Wonderless.” I never thought I’d get to hear songs off that album performed again so these really hit me in the heart and brought on tears of joy. I do wish there were a few more deep cuts played from Selfish Machines, but that’s okay because Disasterology was included in their encore and it was EVERYTHING. The band confirmed that not only was this the biggest show of the tour, but it was also the biggest single show in their career. I can’t believe how they managed to make a show of 28,000 people feel as intimate as their few hundred capacity shows in Chicago all those years ago. Halfway through the set, rain started falling and no one seemed to mind one bit, everyone was still screaming from the top of their lungs, dancing, and there were even pits happening on the lawn. The final song of their 3-song-encore was none other than “King For A Day,” as soon as the song began it was pure insanity, and even more so when Kellin Quinn was brought back on stage. This song means the world to many fans, it was apparent that they all went somewhere mentally during this final song, and erupting in the crowd. Pierce The Veil cares so much about their fans, the show experience, and their music. Maybe I’m a little biased as a long-time fan, but it seems impossible to dislike such a talented group of people. Thank you Pierce The Veil for this show, and everything you’ve ever done for all of us.
Catch them at their remaining U.S. Dates:
6.17.25 – Isleta Amphitheatre – Albuquerque, NM
6.19.25 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
6.20.25 – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT
6.22.25 – WAMU Theatre – Seattle, WA
6.23.25 – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA
6.25.25 – Toyota Pavilion at Concord – Concord, CA
6.27.25 – The Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
6.29.25 – PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
Sleeping with Sirens
