On the evening of May 6, 2025, Vancouver’s storied Commodore Ballroom pulsated with anticipation as supporters of electronic-rock outfit AWOLNATION poured through its iconic Art Deco doors. Alongside them streamed a fresh contingent of fans drawn by the name Bryce Fox, the evening’s warmly received opener. With a capacity of just under a thousand, the room’s intimate slope and glowing balconies lent every chant and guitar riff a weighty immediacy.
By 8PM, Bryce Fox took the stage with a confident swagger, immediately setting a propulsive pace. His synth-driven opener “Horns” had the crowd bobbing and fists pumping, while mid-set moments like the stripped-back “Lucy” showcased his knack for combining confessional lyricism with earworm melodies. Between songs, Fox’s easy rapport with the audience-joking about Vancouver’s notoriously fickle weather-drew laughter and loosened the crowd for what was to come.
When Aaron Bruno finally strobed into view just before 9 PM, the Commodore erupted. Bruno wasted no time diving into the bristling energy of his band’s latest release, The Phantom Five, before weaving in giants of their catalog. Highlights included a kinetic blast through “Holy Roller,” where the floor shook with synchronized head-banging, and the emotionally charged hush-and-build of “Not Your Fault,” which saw hundreds of voices rising in unison. A brief multimedia interlude projected arresting Vancouver skyline footage against Bruno’s solitary silhouette, a poetic pause that amplified the fury of the subsequent “Barbarian” breakdown.
Visually, the show was as much a spectacle as a concert: a rig of oscillating beams cast kaleidoscopic patterns that moved the crowd as much as the beat itself. Bassist Emily Armstrong’s surprise backing vocal on “Jump Sit Stand March” elicited one of the night’s loudest roars, proving AWOLNATION’s live reinventions remain as thrilling as their studio work.
Beyond individual performances, the night underscored why venues like the Commodore Ballroom endure: they transform fleeting assemblies into collective experiences. Whether swaying to Fox’s poignant melodies or unleashing pent-up energy with Bruno’s anthems, the audience emerged feeling part of something larger. As the final chords faded into appreciative whoops just after 11 PM, it was clear: AWOLNATION’s return-and Bryce Fox’s spirited reveal-had reignited Vancouver’s dance-rock heart. Here’s hoping it won’t be another eight years before they’re back.
