Phoenix @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

The crowd stormed the stage during the encore!

The Born Ruffians @ Fortune Sound Club

Walk the Moon @ Venue

Hawksley Workman @ Rio Theatre

One of my favourite shows of the year!

I Mother Earth @ Commodore

This was the easiest show I've ever shot - great lighting with a photo pit at the Commodore. Barely any editing was needed!

I didn't realize how heavy metal I Mother Earth had become (they were more alternative back in the 90s.) The only other photographer looked like a trucker and was shooting for a website called Metal Titans.

Hannah Georgas @ Zulu Records

Dragonette @ Venue

Tegan and Sara @ The Vogue

I felt extremely cool standing in the photo pit while the fans were going crazy at Tegan And Sara's sold out show at The Vogue. It is so nice not having to fight with the crowd when taking photos! I had forgotten that the photographers were supposed to meet before the show, so I plunged straight into the crowd and started pushing my way to the front. One girl behind me called me a b*tch and I turned around and glared at her until she apologized. Those girls can be so mean.

I was glad it was an early-ish show (started at 9:15) because I had to be up to fly to Courtenay at 5:30am the next day!

Mother Mother @ Zulu Records

I love how one of my favourite bands just happened to have a free performance at Zulu Records on my day off. FREE!

Hot Chip / Yacht @ Commodore

It was a super dance party, with Yacht and Hot Chip playing at the Commodore. Yacht opened up the show, and they were amazing!

When Hot Chip came out, I was shocked to see how geeky they were. I have never in my whole life seen so many gay men reach out their hands to try to touch someone as nerdy looking as the lead singer of Hot Chip.

Austra @ Venue

It was my first time arriving at a show right at 11pm. I usually go a bit early and catch the opening act, but Leonard was my plus one for this show and we didn't really feel like standing around. We killed some time by spending an hour at the rooftop bar at the Hotel Georgia - that place is really cool. I had forgotten my phone at home so I didn't take a picture (I didn't want to take out my very conspicuous SLR at this fancy bar), but I wish I had. There's a fire in the middle of the patio and lots of little cabanas and waterfalls!

Anyway, so Austra was better than I expected. It was pretty packed in there, but I pushed my way through and dragged Leonard right to the front with me. It is very helpful to have a big camera to wave in front of people's faces so that they will make way for you!

Polica @ the Biltmore

I was under the impression that Jason and Hugo would be going to the Biltmore this night, so I signed up to do photos last minute. Turns out they decided not to go, because they didn't like the band! I was already committed, so I showed up a bit later than usual in my 4 inch heels, since I wasn't sure if I would be able to get to the front. The view from four inches higher was a lot nicer, but my feet were killing me by the end of the concert. Polica played moody electronic pop, not really my kind of music but I did enjoy myself. I think half the audience was high.

Bahamas on the Beach

Cat and I went to Shorefest at English Bay before the fireworks because we heard Bahamas was playing, and Joce had told us that Bahamas was one of the best out of the 30+ concerts she's been to this year. It was such a nice day - sunny, warm, gorgeous, and PACKED. Everyone was there early to stake out spots for the fireworks. We stayed for the show (which was perfect because it was very beachy music) but left before fireworks since I had to wake up at 6am the next day and didn't want to deal with the huge crowds going home. We used to spend so much time on the beach back when I was in university - I would study my biochem while Cat would read her Vogue. I don't spend enough time on the beach anymore!

Phantogram @ Venue

Florence and the Machine @ Deer Lake Park

Young Empires @ Biltmore Cabaret

Laura Marling @ Commodore

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Venue

M83 @ The Vogue

Nothing better than going to a French electro-dream pop concert with six of your friends (plus one more we ran into there). It was my first time taking photos at a sold out show - it was a bit tough pushing my way to the front and being able to take photos without anyone's head in the way, but I managed to take some good ones.