All posts tagged with: Rogers Arena

It’s been almost 20 years since the British electronic rock band, MUSE, was first introduced to the music scene. High school buddies, Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme, and Dominic Howard, joined forces and their passion for progressive, alternative rock.

MUSE performed at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, as the final show on their 2^ND LAW North American Tour, western tour. They are on a quick trip back to the UK for one show, before returning back to North America for the second leg of their tour along the east coast and southern states.

Well known for outstanding concerts, the 2^ND LAW tour is a lighting, video, and audio spectacle. From a spaceship looking stage with screens all the way down to the floor, to a giant four-tier, multi-dynamic pyramid video and graphic projected screen system overhead; the show is full of colour and motion.

Throughout the almost two-hour set, the trio belted out a range of music from their six albums spanning from 1991-2012, including Survival, the official song of the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

With hits including Joyride, Listen to Your Heart, Dangerous, Dressed for Success, and Must Have Been Love, Roxette made a huge impression on the music scene throughout the 1980’s and 90’s. Today, the Swedish band is back on the road performing their hits spanning the last three decades, including some new songs.

Roxette recently performed at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. What many people don’t know is that lead singer, Marie Fredriksson, now suffers from blindness in her right eye as a result of having both a tumor in the back of her head and brain cancer. Her serious illnesses have dramatically altered her ability to perform on stage, however Marie has not let her disabilities diminish her desire and passion to perform on stage.

It was evident the crowd was wanted the old Roxette. The room was filled with energy and excitement for the rock band, but after the first song when Marie just stood in one place slapping her hip, the crowd had an awkward reaction. It wasn’t just for the first song, but literally for the entire concert.

As the band pushed through and other members made up for her loss of movement on stage, the crowd had a disconnected feeling. The other band members danced around the stage and tried to keep the audience engaged by dancing around the stage, but it was evident their fans were hesitant on how to react to the situation.

What made a difficult situation even more awkward was when Marie and the rest of the band would get the crowd warmed up on a song and then completely stop, hoping the crowd could keep the song going. Each time the audience struggled to keep the words going and the song would fade miserably until the band started playing again.

This was probably one of the most calm, behaved and quietest concerts Rogers Arena has ever hosted. The mix of hit songs and ballads had the crowd up and down in their seats all throughout the show.

It must be incredibly hard for the once successful rock band to step onto a stage in an arena, and with obvious deep passion for music, playing their hearts out just like they would have two decades ago when they were at their peak, only to have the crowd half-heartily engaged.

Cancer is tough. It sucks the life out of a person. In this case, it’s sad to say that it’s also sucked the life out of Roxette live on stage. Keep the CD’s handy though, and enjoy the songs on the radio, because Roxette will always have a good place in our hearts as the legendary Swedish rock band from the 80′s and 90′s.

On Wednesday, September 12, Glass Tiger hit the stage at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. The Canadian band, originally named Tokyo, is from Ontario, and still knocks out a solid concert with all their hit music, bursting with energy.

Just as exciting as they were when they burst onto the music scene in the 1980’s, Glass Tiger wowed the crowd with their classic songs that we’ve come to know and love on the radio. Fans eagerly sang along throughout the concert including to the popular hit song, Thin Red Line.

The band hit their peak in the mid 80’s when they won three Juno awards in 1986 and two more in 1987. Glass Tiger was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987 for best new artist.

The band is promoting their new album and is currently on a late-summer tour with Roxette, after having just returned from their third trip to Afghanistan.

On tour in support of their long awaited 7th album, “Coats & Keys”, Death Cab For Cutie stopped in Vancouver for a show at Rogers Arena.  A small but enthusiastic audience applauded as the band from Bellingham too to the stage.  
Over the course of the next two hours the band performed songs from their 14 year career.  The quartet’s sound is hard to define and they keep it interesting with a variety of styles throughout the show.  Indie-rock, folk, pop, emo and straight forward arena-rock all fill out the show bringing more to the set than just the expected angst-ridden rock. It was unfortunate that the Vancouver show was so lightly attended, barely half full, the huge gaps of empty seats absorbed any energy the audience was producing.  As a result the band had to work all that much harder to keep the audience attentive. Lead singer, Ben Gibbard was witty and engaging with his stories and banter between song.  A smaller theatre style venue would have suited the crowd and band better.  Hopefully poor sales don’t deter their next tour from stopping in Vancouver again.

Kesha – Rogers Arena – September 9, 2011

Try to imagine attending a party in the basement of a frat house and multiply the shenanigans by 10 and you’ll have an idea of a Ke$ha show.

Appropriately titled the “Get Sleazy Tour” and she makes sure her tour lives up the name, the audience does a pretty good job of helping it along as well. The full house at Rogers Arena in Vancouver was filled with young ladies (some of the youngest ones with their moms) wearing remarkably short skirts and revealing tops, boys in neon tank tops and short shorts with everyone covered in copious amounts of glitter.
Behind the trashy clothes and bravado Kesha does  seem to proclaim her own style of girl power and the mostly female audience, felt the power.  Except for a moment during the ballad of the set, the audience was up, dancing, cheering and having a great time, right from the opening numbers, “Sleazy” and “Take It Off” to the encore anthem “We R Who We Say We R” and Beastie Boys cover of “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party”

Without a huge catalogue, Kesha made the most of her set, turning each song into a bit of a spectacle.  Even though, it was surely rehearsed, the choreography, banter and set up for each song seemed natural and spontaneous as thought. Although “Ke$ha” is a carefully cultivated persona that stays intact throughout the show, Kesha makes sure she can back it up with her musical ability. Of course, there’s most likely a backing track helping her along but she can actually sing and plays numerous instruments through the show.  As her catalogue grows and her career matures, surely her shows will as well, for now, this down and dirty party vibe is just right.

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Each week Metropolis at Metrotown gives you the opportunity to enter for a chance to win to see the Vancouver Canucks play a home game from their private suite at Rogers Area.

It’s easy to enter. Go to Customer Service at Metropolis at Metrotown and fill out a ballot. You must me 19 years of age or older to enter. The prize package includes two tickets to the Metropolis at Metrotown private suite, great eats and non-alcoholic beverages, and an amazing view to watch the Vancouver Canucks playing live!

Don’t miss the chance to enter to win – follow Metropolis at Metrotown on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information on the Metropolis at Metrotown Hot Seats, visit their website.