You know the pit’s going to be unhinged when you spot a sea of mullets, coveralls, and dead-serious expressions before the first band even takes the stage. Vancouver didn’t come to stand still—and what followed was an unforgettable night of high-impact, emotionally charged hardcore.
NASTY opened the show like a blunt-force uppercut to the senses. There was no easing in—just raw, untamed momentum from the very first riff. The crowd matched it immediately, erupting into a sea of movement and adrenaline. It was a perfect ignition for the night’s wildfire energy.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS took that blaze and fanned it into a full-on inferno. Within 30 seconds, the first crowd surfer launched over the rails, and it didn’t let up for a second. Their set was tight, commanding, and infused with passion—every word Jesse Barnett screamed out felt like a call to arms. STYG has always walked the line between hardcore and melody, and live, that balance hits even harder. Singalongs, breakdowns, pile-ons—it was all there, wrapped in sweat and purpose. By the time their set closed out, the pit looked like a battlefield of exhausted but exhilarated fans catching their breath.
Then came PALEFACE SWISS, and they wasted zero time establishing dominance in their Vancouver debut. The connection between band and crowd was immediate and electric. The pit transformed into a swirling storm of energy, where every riff felt like a gut punch in the best way. Crowd surfers didn’t wait—they went up and over from the jump, and the whole room fed off the relentless pace.
After “River of Sorrow,” frontman Zelli paused to address something deeply important: mental health. His words were heartfelt, genuine, and grounding—a rare, powerful moment in the middle of an otherwise high-octane set. As a mental health advocate, I appreciated it immensely. He didn’t just shout into the void—he connected.
And then came one of the most wholesome moments of the night—Zelli personally thanked everyone on their team. Not just the band, but lighting, sound, merch, tour manager, stage crew—everyone. It was one of the most sincere displays of gratitude I’ve ever seen from a frontman, and it spoke volumes about who this band is behind the curtain.
Paleface Swiss didn’t just show up—they carved their name into the Vancouver scene with a set that was heavy, heartfelt, and unforgettable. It was beautifully intense from start to finish, and I’m already counting the days until they return.
Are they back yet?
SHOW WRAP-UP:
Some shows leave your ears ringing. This one left your heart pounding.
From the first riff to the final breakdown, the night was a surge of adrenaline, connection, and catharsis. Each band brought something unique to the table—NASTY ignited the floor with sheer force, STICK TO YOUR GUNS lit it up with heart and fury, and PALEFACE SWISS closed it out with blistering intensity and rare vulnerability.
It was the kind of show that didn’t just fill a room—it shook it. Every shout, every jump, every voice in the crowd became part of something bigger. Vancouver wasn’t just watching this one—they lived it.
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