Show Review – Hedley
By: Remington Fioraso
Who: Hedley with guests USS and Classified
Where: Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre in Abbotsford, BC
When: April 12, 2014
Being the first band playing, captivating an audience can be difficult. The crowd is still entering the venue and in the process of finding their seats. However, Toronto-based USS brought an energetic performance. The audience, and myself, were on our feet, screaming, and many were singing along to the songs – something I have not seen extensively at previous shows. I found it very awesome when Jason Parsons, aka Human Kebab, scratched while doing a headstand.
I had seen Classified previously when opening on Hedley’s ‘Storms’ tour in 2012 so I was highly anticipating his performance. It was not a disappointment. Coming from Nova Scotia, Classified’s final performance of the tour kept the momentum of USS’ prior performance. For those who did not recognize his songs, he brought a throwback to the 90s hip-hop that he grew up listening to. The highlight of his performance, however, was the true, modernized Canadian anthem, entitled ‘Oh Canada’. As much as I was getting excited for Hedley to play, I did not want Classified to end his set.
Hedley has been one of my favourite artists to see live. At the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, the band played to a sold-out crowd of over 6,000 people. While this is a significant number, it was more impressive being a hometown show. From the opening track, ‘Anything’ to the finale of ‘Sweater Song’ and ‘Never Too Late’, Hedley had the crowd’s attention completely. Those in attendance sung along to every song filling the venue with one voice. Like the previous tour, lead singer Jacob Hoggard played piano, but added drums and synthesizers on stage this time. Chris Crippin had a phenomenal drum solo.
A nostalgic moment of the evening was when the first band pictures after their first show were shown. I honestly did not realize it has been nine years. From originally seeing them open for Simple Plan during their Fall 2005 tour to selling out the entertainment venues now, it is incredible to see the growth of the crowds and the band. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with on the next tour. It simply just keeps getting bigger and better every time.
Hi Everyone! My name is Remington Fioraso. I am a graduate of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Arts program in Sociology, Anthropology, and Media and Communication Studies. Within my program, I focused on social media, learning about contemporary and classical sociological theory (Including Marx, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Durkheim), and communicating effectively in various modes and for different audiences (including oral communication, business communication, academic writing, entertainment media, and presentations utilizing visual media). Within my program, the question arose for many courses, “What is the relevance in the real world?” Stepping (temporarily) away from being in university, I gained an interest in Latin American development, social movements, and business. Sooner than later, I will be applying for post-grad programs to dive further into LA development and social movements to gain a theory-background in addition to a personal perspective onto the topics. In my free time, I love to travel, consume media, eat, listen to music, and write. Listening to music and writing led to my interest in working with Canadian Beats! I have been a part of the team since April 2014. A few of my personal highlights of interviews include ones with some of my favourite artists – Sumo Cyco, Madeline Merlo, and High Valley. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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