GWAR In Vancouver

GWAR In Vancouver: Crudity, Nudity, and... Comedy?

With enough eras to give Taylor Swift a run for her money. One of metal’s most crude, brash, and loud groups, GWAR, stormed into Vancouver and took over the Vogue Theatre. Forty years deep into their reign as the “Scumdogs of the Universe,” they still know exactly how to shock and leave jaws on the floor. Fans lined up hours before doors opened, eager to get drenched in the madness and mayhem that only GWAR can deliver. At any other concert, getting blasted with “blood” and sprayed with liquid “poo” would be unthinkable, but at a GWAR show, it’s tradition.

Celebrating their 40th anniversary, GWAR In Vancouver didn’t just meet sky-high expectations; they blasted them into another galaxy. The tour comes alongside their new album The Return of Gor Gor. A ferocious throwback that channels the chaos and raw energy of America Must Be Destroyed. Even before stepping inside the Vogue Theatre, it was clear something wild was brewing. Despite arriving late, I was greeted by lines of fans eager for their dose of intergalactic carnage. Inside, I caught the tail end of Helmet’s set, and even those last two tracks hit hard. Enough to prove the legendary band left the crowd fired up and ready for the cosmic assault.

The Fans Are ½ The Experience

Time seemed to stand still as the clock crawled toward 9:50. The anticipation inside the Vogue was electric, every second stretching longer than the last. Then, out of nowhere, a fan wearing an Oderus Urungus mask rose from the crowd and began chanting the band’s name like a battle cry. It spread fast. Voices joined in, a chorus of chaos calling GWAR to the stage. You could feel the energy surge through the room as fans shook with excitement. Fists in the air and ready for whatever insanity was about to unfold. When the clock finally struck 9:50, the wait was over. GWAR In Vancouver had arrived. The pit erupted into a sea of surfers as thousands of metal-heads surged forward. Eager to thrash, collide, and embrace whatever unholy spectacle was about to unleash.

Fever dreams Become Reality

If you tried to bet on what would happen at a GWAR show, you’d lose every time. From evil villains to a giant T-Rex and a bizarrely patriotic finale, GWAR In Vancouver delivered some of the most jaw-dropping “what just happened?” moments I’ve ever seen at a concert. The chaos began right out of the gate with “The Great Circus Train Disaster”. A brutal opener that unleashed the first waves of blood across the crowd. Instead of dodging the mess, Vancouver fans leaned into it, reveling in the glorious absurdity. It was far from a family-friendly spectacle, yet plenty of parents were there, proudly earning their title as the cool mom or dad. Their kids were wide-eyed, covered in fake gore, and making the kind of wild, traumatic, and unfiltered memories they’ll be talking about for the rest of their lives.

At a certain point, the sheer absurdity of it all just became normal. I stopped trying to piece together any kind of storyline and started embracing the chaos. One moment there was a dinosaur on stage and I caught myself thinking, “Alright, cool”. Seconds later, some grotesque, alien-looking figure was sliced in half as torrents of fake blood rained across the crowd and again, “Cool”. It was ridiculous, over the top, and absolutely captivating. Somewhere between the carnage and the comedy, I finally understood why people worshipped this madness.

Setlist & Highlights

GWAR In Vancouver unleashed a 17-track set packed with fan favourites like “Pussy Planet,” “Filthy Flow,” and “Fuck This Place”. With The Return of Gor Gor taking center stage, new tracks like “Lot Lizard” and “Tyrant King” tore through with brutal precision. The show unfolded in a wild, three-act structure. Each segment filled with battles against monstrous henchmen that ended in over-the-top dismemberments and geysers of fake blood drenching the crowd. Fans dressed in white sprinted toward the stage, eager to leave with fresh stains as proof of their devotion. The massive Gor Gor puppet was a standout moment, earning huge cheers before leader Blothar drove a spear through it. Ending the creature’s reign in true GWAR fashion. One of the loudest reactions of the night came when guitarist Grodius Maximus stormed into the crowd, blurring the line between performance and pandemonium.

In Closing

The night wrapped up with a comically chaotic finale as “Sick of You” closed the set. At one point Blothar jokingly suggested that “Canadians outta stop being pussies and just invade America”. The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers, feeding off the madness. Another point, Blothar waved an American flag upside down, sending the audience into another frenzy. While GWAR has never been shy about politics, often beheading figures and stirring controversy. This show felt more like a celebration of Gor Gor and the band’s forty years of glorious chaos. GWAR In Vancouver proved once again that the group’s wild legacy is far from over. Fans poured out of the Vogue covered in fake blood, sweat, and tears. Smiling from ear to ear, and they wouldn’t have had the night any other way.

Thank You

I’d like to thank GWAR In Vancouver and their incredible team for allowing us to capture the pure insanity of the night. If you’d like to catch a future date, or find out more on the group, visit here: GWAR Website