Saturday night at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver music lovers were treated to an energizing double bill that began with L.A. Exes and culminated in a spectacular performance by OK Go. From the first chords of “Only Time,” L.A. Exes immediately established a dreamy, nostalgic mood that threaded its way through an eleven‑song set. “Skinny Dipping” followed, its laid‑back groove contrasting delightfully with the more urgent pulse of “Totally Worth It,” while the bittersweet “Temporary Goodbye” showed off the band’s knack for turning heartache into an irresistible hook.
By mid‑set, the room was swaying along to “Beach Goth,” and though “Cocaine Girl” flirted with darker lyrical themes, it never lost the trio’s breezy pop sensibility. They kept things playful with “I Don’t Wanna Be Poly” before shifting gears into the synth‑pop sheen of “West Keys.” “Get Some” had the front tables tapping their feet in unison, and “Baby Let’s Pretend” offered a tender moment before they closed with a surprising but fitting cover of The Cranberries’ “Linger,” which left the audience humming the melody long after the last note faded.
After a brief intermission, the hall darkened and OK Go launched into “This Too Shall Pass,” immediately confirming why their live shows are as much spectacle as sound. “Get Over It” and “I Won’t Let You Down” cranked up the energy, while the kaleidoscopic lighting design and confetti blasts turned every chorus into a shared celebration. During “Take Me With You,” the band’s playful stage antics-complete with synchronized treadmill choreography-had fans cheering and camera phones waving in the air.
Midway through the set, OK Go balanced fan favorites like “White Knuckles” and “Here It Goes Again” with newer material such as “A Good, Good Day at Last” and “The Writing’s on the Wall.” A particularly magical moment arrived when guitarist Andy Ross emerged into the crowd for a solo acoustic version of “This Is How It Ends,” his voice drifting over the hushed audience before “Shooting the Moon” brought back the theatrical flair with hand bells sparkling under the house lights.
As the evening ramped toward its climax, “Needing/Getting,” “Obsession,” and “Better Than This” delivered driving rhythms, then the band slowed things down with the reflective “Do What You Want” and the wistful “Oh Lately It’s So Quiet.” When the final section kicked in-blasting through “Love, Upside Down & Inside Out” before racing into “Here It Goes Again”-every seat was on its feet. For an encore, OK Go surprised the crowd with The La’s classic “There She Goes,” then capped the night with “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” and the rapid‑fire “The One Moment,” its one‑second cinematic crescendo met by roaring applause.
By the time the house lights came up, it was clear that both bands had delivered thoroughly engaging performances: L.A. Exes charm and melodic clarity set the perfect stage, and OK Go’s boundless creativity and showmanship ensured the Commodore Ballroom pulsed with excitement from start to finish.
