Tom Morello
July 11, 2025
Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
On July 11th, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tom Morello closed two sold-out nights at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC.
He’s widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of his generation—and his career reflects it. Rage Against the Machine may be the first name people think of, but his musical legacy also includes the hard-hitting sound of Audioslave and his work with the politically driven supergroup Prophets of Rage. In addition to his work with bands, he’s ventured into solo territory—putting out three acoustic folk albums as The Nightwatchman, and another three under his own name, each showcasing a different facet of his sound.
The show was high energy as Morello ripped through a 16-song set, with medleys of Rage Against the Machine songs like “Testify”, “Take The Power Back”, “Bulls On Parade”, and “Know Your Enemy”. The guitarist also paid homage to Soundgarden and Audioslave vocalist Chris Cornell, having the crowd sing “Like a Stone” while a spotlight pointed at an empty microphone centre stage. Cornell tragically took his own life in 2017.
Morello displayed his mastery of the guitar with iconic solos and the fusion of heavy metal, funk, and world music that has shaped his sound, which is both distinctive and instantly recognizable. Musical Talent certainly runs in the family, as his 13-year-old son, Roman, joined his father on stage for a few songs and tore it up, even soloing behind his head.
Tom Morello delivered a well-rounded set with hints of Rage, Audioslave, and a lot of his solo career. Although not as well known, his newer material was quite enjoyable, with folk influences, seeing the guitarist experiment in a different musical direction. It’s a testament to his catalogue with multiple legendary bands and an unmistakable sound. He certainly has nothing to prove, but he gave it his all for two sold-out nights in Vancouver.
