Blue October

The Opera House

Toronto, ON

April 26th, 2018

Joyful, haunting, gut-wrenching, ethereal, passionate, other-worldly...these are just some of the terms used to describe the music that defies any one particular genre that is Blue October. It is truly something that's difficult to describe to do it justice and needs to be experienced to even comprehend. It is so rich and multifaceted that you discover different layers and something new each time you listen to it.

Just when you think it isn't possible for them to up their game, each tour for each album cycle exceeds the previous one. They are mesmerizing and conjure up so many emotions that run the entire spectrum. Their concert that had four encores left us breathless, eyes welled-up and ready to kick some ass simultaneously.  

Over 20 years as a band but only the last 8 years as an independent label, this tour for their 9th studio album 'I Hope You're Happy' brought them back to Toronto as their only Canadian date, and Toronto brought it! Each album a progression of their lives and experiences, if this concert is any indication their new album will be filled with joy, exuberance and grit.

Don't ever think they've gone soft or sappy though. They've shared snippets of songs while doing production on the new album that will melt your faces off and make you feel like you can take on the world! They always have such a mixture of flavours that there is something for everybody. I usually don't like entire albums but I've never experienced that with Blue October. Each one has been astounding from start to finish.

To pre-order Blue October's new album, click here

To find out more about Blue October, click here

Concert videos:

Sway
Into The Ocean
The Feel Again (Stay)
Congratulations
Come Back Home (New Song)
Houston Heights

[Photo Gallery]

Their opener was a relatively new band that formed in 2011 out of Charlotte, NC called Flagship. They had an 80's band kind of sound with early U2 influences and snippets of Kings of Leon. You can find out more about them here: https://www.flagshipofficial.com/

Mathew V - Let Me Go (A Cappella)

[Video] WHOA! @MathewVMusic live, one-take, a capella video of #LetMeGo

Catch him on:

April 25th - First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON
April 26th - The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
May 24th  - The Rio Theatre, Vancouver, BC
June 23rd  - Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg, MB

Get tickets here: Mathew V Music facebook events
Or here: Mathew V on Bandsintown

Andy Grammer, The Good Parts Tour

at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON April 2nd/18

Upbeat, down to earth, Andy Grammer's first headlining show in Toronto was all that and more, full of fun, humour and heart. Although it was his second time playing here, it was a far cry from the sombre affair in 2014 for a Liv, Love & Lyrics charity event. No chair dancing this time!

This tour for his third album, The Good Parts, brings him back and beyond with extensive dates in the U.S. and one other Canadian date in Vancouver. Hopefully, the next album cycle and his growing popularity will allow him to do more Canadian dates.

A prolific songwriter, he wrote 115 songs for this current album and wittled it down to just 13 tracks. His debut self-titled album came out in 2011, the most notable track Keep Your Head Up. His second album, Magazines or Novels, came out in 2014 with Honey, I'm Good which went multi-platinum. Quite a difference from his humble beginnings busking in Santa Monica.

With his penchant for writing songs, it won't be long before there's another tour for another album. If you missed him this time around, be sure to watch for future dates at: http://andygrammer.com/home/

(Note: These videos and photos do not do him justice. My vantage point was not the greatest and sometimes you just have to put the camera or phone down and enjoy the moment!)

[Video] "Spaceship"

[Video] "Workin On It"

[Video] "This Ain't Love"

[Video] "The Good Parts"

[Photo Gallery] Andy Grammer at The Phoenix