Shooting Our Mouths Off

When it comes to Vancouver venues, the Commodore Ballroom is clearly a favourite of the band’s – they’ve played there several times, including during the Laid tour in 1994 and again in 2010.

Regarded as one of Canada’s most influential nightclubs and among North America’s top live music venues, the 990-capacity room is known for its Art Deco design and signature sprung dance floor. While many venues now feature sprung flooring – including the Crystal Ballroom, the band’s previous stop on this tour – the Commodore was ahead of its time. When it installed its sprung floor, very few venues anywhere in the world had anything similar.

The venue doesn’t just hold influence – it’s steeped in history. Sammy Davis Jr. famously performed there in 1948 and was interviewed on-site by CKMO radio host Wilf Ray. Over the years, the Commodore has hosted a long list of legendary acts, including U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, and Oasis.

During the VIP soundcheck, the band treated fans to performances of ‘The Lake’, ‘Senorita’, and ‘Don’t Wait That Long’. While ‘The Lake’ became something of a soundcheck staple this tour, it never made the leap into the main setlist. That said, its recent reimagining – stripped of its orchestral arrangement – has sparked fresh hope that it might finally get its moment on stage again. ‘Senorita’, a beloved track from Pleased to Meet You, was a particularly welcome surprise. Typically reserved for Greek shows, it’s made two rare appearances in sound-checks this tour, much to fans’ delight.

With Vancouver hosting the final night of the band’s North American tour – a month-long journey filled with deep cuts, full-album performances, and some of the most passionate crowds they’ve encountered this side of the Atlantic – we’ve opted for a full review instead of our usual blog post. You can find it in the review section of the site, or embedded at the bottom of this page.