Hidden Beats
Your Ultimate Source for Music, Entertainment and Community
The Marías In Vancouver
The Marías In Vancouver was a prolific venture through one of indie rock’s most interesting bands. What was originally supposed to take place at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Expanded to a 2-night sold-out arena show at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird. We were lucky enough to catch the first night of the Submarine (Extended Edition) Tour, and it was everything I hoped for and more. I say that because this isn’t my first time experiencing María Zardoya and her incredible group. Last year, I watched them open up for Billie Eilish at Rogers Arena. That performance was at the height of the album Submarine’s release, and while it was a brief set, it gave a very underwater, dreamy feel. Something that heavily transitioned to this headline show. Blending perfectly with the red themes of one of their previous projects, Cinema. The 23-track set, covered quite a bit of their discography. But before diving in, let’s take a moment to talk about their vibe-heavy opener, Julie.
Julie Sets The Tone
Formed in 2018, this Orange County “shoegaze” group has been getting their name on the scene. Especially with last year’s My Anti-Aircraft Friend album and EP Pushing Daisies. While the band’s mostly known in the underground scene, this UBC performance was their moment to shine. While there was a dedicated set of fans, many, myself included, were unfamiliar with their work. Well, after this opening performance, I and so many others became instant fans. “Flutter,” “Skipping Tiles,” and “Catalogue” are just a few standouts from the set that captured the vibe that The Marías put out. Although the group has a track, “Very Little Effort,” the trio performed the exact opposite. Keyan, Alex, and Dillion were very technical yet playful. It was something that you could tell helped the crowd get loose and dance to the very underground, almost garage-band-esque group. By the end of the set, newcomers became fans and screamed for more. It was a sure sign we’ll be hearing Julie in the near future. With that, it’s onto the main event: the absolute cinema that was The Marías In Vancouver.
The Marías Submerge Vancouver Into The Ethereal Sounds of Submarine
As the sold-out crowd filled every inch of the venue, there was a built-up excitement. The mostly young adult audience was buzzing as they were only mere moments away from what could be a highlight show of the year. Whispers from the venue confirmed my theory that so many were impressed by the opening set for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, they knew they needed to be here tonight. As 9:15 rolled around, the lights went dark, ushering in the screams of thousands ready to be submerged into The Marías’ world. Blue lighting set the tone for a moody atmosphere that comes straight from the album’s cover art. Suddenly, members Josh, Jesse, and Edward strolled on stage to resounding applause, but where’s María, you ask? Risen above stairs was a stage prop that in a way resembled what looked like a portal. As the band kicked off, the “portal” lit up to reveal a silhouette of María as “Hamptons” initiated the moody night.
Setlist
From “Blur” to “Only In My Dreams” and “Run Your Mouth,” The Marías In Vancouver whopping 23-track set pleased every fan and more. Thrown into the mix was a cover of The Cardigans’ “Lovefool,” a staple of almost every Marías show. Even Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s “Ojos Tristes” and Bad Bunny’s “Otro Atardecer,” made the mix. A major highlight of the night was the intimate breaks. Multiple times, María talked about her love for Vancouver, and her Puerto Rican heritage. They were touching moments that really connected the audience and band. Outside of that, so many people throughout the audience could be seen singing every word and dancing like no one cared. The band and audience were one, so much so that if María told the audience to jump, they’d try to create quakes.
In Closing
The Marías In Vancouver was an intimate experience that won’t soon be forgotten. By the end of the final track “Cariño,” all in attendance were begging for more. The performance encapsulated the heavy, sometimes broody, yet upbeat nature of Submarine, and with this “pitch perfect” performance, Vancouver was soaking in the memories made. Watching the band’s growth over the last little while has been rather remarkable, and knowing they hadn’t forgotten our city since their last visit made The Marías feel a little more special in so many fans’ hearts. I could go on forever about the love felt at the night’s performance, but I’ll leave things with a thank you.
Thank you to The Marías In Vancouver and their incredible team for putting on a show to remember and allowing us to experience all things the Submarine (Extended Tour). If you’d like to find out more about this wonderful band, please visit here: https://www.themarias.us/
© Hidden Beats Corp. All Rights Reserved 2020