Hamberites' Recap Vancouver Concerts
Photo Credit: Emma Summerton/Sony Music via Vancouver is Awesome
Music-loving Hamberites have been busy these past few months, with many well-known artists bringing their concerts to Vancouver. From Laufey’s jazzy serenades in Rogers Arena to R&B star Daniel Caesar’s pop-up concert in John Hendry Park, students seized the opportunity to attend local concerts, and each left with a unique experience.
Aubrey Brandt (11) went to see Laufey in early October and had a great time planning her concert outfit and interacting with other fans. Furthermore, Brandt explained that she thought “the surprise songs and choosing the best dressed person, and all the sets and outfits [were] really cool. Brandt also appreciated how interactive Laufey was with the crowd, as she was consistently commenting on their outfits and talking to her fans.
On the other hand, Sequoia Jordan (9), who also attended Laufey’s show, shared that “there was some disrespect, and there were so many people screaming during slow parts [of songs] and during Laufey’s cello solo.”
Although Brandt prefers Laufey’s album Bewitched, she still liked A Matter of Time, her newest album that the tour revolved around. However, Letizia Fan (9) had a different take, saying that A Matter of Time was Laufey’s best album. “I think A Matter of Time was so much better [than the other albums] because I relate to it and there [are] fast and slow songs,” she said. She loved hearing “Tough Luck” live and said “the atmosphere [of the concert] was whimsical and magical.”
Early in August, Tatjana Ilic (9) went to see Tate McRae at Rogers Arena for the Miss Possessive tour. She loved the audience’s energy during the concert as everyone was dancing and very engaged. “I would say there was more dancing [from Tate] than actual singing,” said Ilic, since McRae is a dancer herself. Ilic also noted how in awe she was during the concert, especially at the choreography, which made her want to see the concert again.
Hamberites also went to see The Marías’ concert at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at UBC early this summer. Chloe Conklin (9) attended and said that her favourite song from their newest album, Submarine, is either “Hamptons” or "Sienna.” She also thinks that “Submarine made the group more mainstream, and it kind of impacted their career, but it isn’t drastically different from their main aesthetic.”
Simone Rizek (9) also attended the concert with Conklin. Her favourite song from Submarine is “Run Your Mouth.” Rizek shared that she loves where The Marías are going with their music, especially with Submarine. Rizek said that overall, the concert was an amazing experience. “It was beautiful. It was cool.”
Daniel Caesar has recently begun doing free pop-up concerts in public parks around North America, including John Hendry Park in Vancouver. Maple Iqbal (9) was one of the lucky few who arrived quickly enough to get a good viewing spot. “I was right by the speakers so I could hear him well,” Iqbal said.
Her favourite songs by the artist are “Transform" and “Let Me Go.” Iqbal noted that although many fans knew most of Caesar’s songs, she spotted some people who were there just for the fun of it. “Most people probably didn’t know more than five songs,” she stated. Iqbal also felt a little unsafe, saying that there were so many people that she “didn’t have balance because [her] feet were squished together, and that somebody fainted nearby,” although first aid staff were quick to arrive.
Hamberites will have many more opportunities to attend concerts in Vancouver as more artists are coming to perform live shows, including TWICE, Men I Trust, Cardi B, Leith Ross, and Doja Cat.