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On December 12, 2025, Our Lady Peace brought their signature brand of thoughtful, arena-ready rock to the intimate setting of the River Rock Show Theatre. For Canadian rock fans, this was less a concert and more a necessary reunion, a chance to celebrate the band’s multi-decade legacy of radio-friendly anthems and introspective rock ballads. The atmosphere was charged with warmth and recognition, perfectly suited for the acoustic-heavy performance and the hits that followed.

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The band, without a specified opener to precede them, immediately set the tone with a powerful sequence of tracks that demonstrated their dynamic range. Opening with “Sound the Alarm,” they quickly transitioned into the familiar hooks of “Superman’s Dead” and “Innocent.” Lead singer Raine Maida commanded the stage with his distinctive, high-register vocal delivery, sounding as emotionally raw and potent as he did in the band’s early days, instantly drawing the audience into the band’s narrative universe.

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The setlist was a curated journey through their career, blending aggressive tracks like “One Man Army” and “Naveed” with the more melodic hits that defined the late nineties and early 2000s. A heartfelt highlight arrived when the band paid tribute to a Canadian icon, performing an earnest cover of The Tragically Hip’s “Locked in the Trunk of a Car.” This moment of shared musical heritage resonated deeply with the Vancouver crowd, adding a layer of sincere camaraderie to the show.

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The performance’s emotional core centered around the tracks that hold the most nostalgic weight. The simple, effective structure of songs like “Life” and the acoustic-driven “Temporary Healing” allowed the audience to focus entirely on the lyrical content. Maida’s frequent, heartfelt interactions with the crowd reinforced the deep connection the band maintains with its fans, turning the theater experience into something more personal and reflective.

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The crowd reached a fever pitch as the band delivered their most recognizable, career-defining hits. The anthemic “4am” and the massive “Somewhere Out There” transformed the theatre into a collective sing-along, proving the durability of these tracks. The band’s tight instrumental work provided the perfect foundation for the melancholic energy, reinforcing that while their style may have evolved, their skill and ability to craft a powerful rock song remains unmatched.

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The night culminated in a strong three-song encore. After the unexpected grit of “I Wanna Be Your Drug,” the band moved into the beautiful melody of “Automatic Flowers.” They chose to close the evening with the iconic, sprawling emotion of “Starseed.” This final selection was a perfect summation of the band’s legacy: a powerful, atmospheric closer that reaffirmed Our Lady Peace’s status as a powerhouse of Canadian alternative rock and provided a truly memorable end to the show.