The setlist rolled out like a greatest hits sprint across 14 tracks, with frontman Jonny Hawkins leading the charge. From the moment the opener “House On Sand” kicked in, the crowd was all gas and no brakes. Crowd surfers floated overhead, headbangers locked into the groove, and Hawkins had that rare ability to turn the entire room into his backup choir. Songs like “Don’t Stop” and the powerhouse “Freefall” had the crowd shouting every word like their lives depended on it. The band behind him was just as dialed in. Guitarist Mark Vollelunga, bassist Daniel Oliver, and drummer Ben Anderson delivered the kind of tight, explosive performance that makes a heavy show feel larger than life. At one point Hawkins, Oliver and Vollelunga lined up against Anderson with one of the band’s signature stage contraptions, turning the moment into a full blown spectacle that had the whole room roaring. Midway through the night, Hawkins threw things over to the fans and asked Vancouver to decide the next song. The response was instant and loud. When the roar settled, the city had chosen “Spirits,” and the band happily obliged.
