Spiritbox’s vocalist Courtney LaPlante was undoubtedly the star of the evening. She indulged fans with her commanding stage presence and fiercely powerful vocal performance, which perfectly transmitted the sheer weight and energy of every song performed. Her vocal fry scream did not disappoint, with the live performance feeling just as brutal as the studio recorded versions of the songs. The stage was brilliantly assembled, making use of large screens in the background projecting stunning visuals, a pyramid-like structure at the centre for the drums complete with its own set of screens for visuals, and jaw-dropping lighting accentuated by theatrical smoke.
The build-up to Spiritbox’s entrance made the start of the show all the more dramatic. The stage was plunged into darkness moments before the lights turned on again, flickering into a hue of blue once the band members got on stage, and the screen showed the opening visuals with the song’s start. Just as with their newest album release, the concert opened with “Fata Morgana,” its electrifying guitar hum and subsequent roar had fans immediately fired up and mesmerized. With each song, the stage transformed and took on a completely new personality, fitting the mood of each song and complimenting the band’s stage presence. LaPlante didn’t shy away from using all of the stage, as she constantly moved around to give every fan a chance to witness her elegant yet ethereally intimidating presence up close.
The set list demonstrated Spiritbox’s awareness of its fans’ likes and desires by playing fan favourite songs live, while also structuring the performance in such a way that the thread from one song to another flowed exquisitely. The show slowed down about halfway through, as it played a poem on the large stage screens, its theme and visuals served as the perfect precedent to the featured album’s main song, “Tsunami Sea.”
Nearing the concert’s end, the band took another pause where their founder and guitarist, Michael Stringer, dedicated a speech of gratitude to their fans and commemorated the band’s ex-bassist, Bill Crook, who departed the band in 2022 and passed away in July of 2024. To close out the concert, LaPlante shared a heartfelt speech about not being alone and staying strong, before playing their song “Ride The Wave,” which shares the theme of resilience that was present in her speech.
Despite minor hiccups with the stage preparation and wait time after each band took the stage, Spiritbox’s North American Tour was an excellent show. Even more so, the price tag for attending such an event in Vancouver was reasonable, the tickets started at around $75 CAD before fees and rendered a solid four hours of entertainment.
Spiritbox’s music offers listeners an experience that ranges from energetic and light to hard and heavy. Their music serves as an outlet for passionate energy and a way to armour oneself with bravery and positivity — the possibilities are endless. Listening to these songs live triples the excitement and cranks up the power of each piece tenfold. For any and all who are curious to experience it themselves, this concert proves that seeing Spiritbox live is a sure way to get your head banging to the beat.
