Set It Off Just Set the Commodore
Author: Catarina Veloso
Shows
Nov 11, 2025
Four bands. One utterly wild night. From Autumn Kings' infectious punch to Vana’s theatrical, genre-bending madness, Fame on Fire’s emotional gut-punches, and Set It Off’s explosive headliner spectacle, the Commodore Ballroom didn't just host a show—it pulsed. This was the reminder we needed that live rock isn't just alive; it’s absolutely deafening.
Autumn Kings
First up, Ontario’s Autumn Kings brought the kind of pure, raw adrenaline you need to kick off a rock show. These guys don’t mess around. Their effortless blend of rap, punk, and hard rock instantly woke up the crowd and set an impossibly high bar for energy.
They absolutely nailed their Linkin Park cover, hitting that sweet spot between honoring the nostalgia and injecting their own fire. With hooks that stick and stage chemistry you can’t fake, the mandate was clear: if you weren't moving during their set, you might need to check your pulse. Don't sleep on these Kings.
Autumn Kings
First up, Ontario’s Autumn Kings brought the kind of pure, raw adrenaline you need to kick off a rock show. These guys don’t mess around. Their effortless blend of rap, punk, and hard rock instantly woke up the crowd and set an impossibly high bar for energy.
They absolutely nailed their Linkin Park cover, hitting that sweet spot between honoring the nostalgia and injecting their own fire. With hooks that stick and stage chemistry you can’t fake, the mandate was clear: if you weren't moving during their set, you might need to check your pulse. Don't sleep on these Kings.
Vana
Then came Vana, the alt-metal artist from New Zealand who didn’t just steal the spotlight—she snatched the whole damn lamp. Her sound is a beautifully dangerous beast: metalcore brutality mixed with electro-pop textures and raw vulnerability. Seriously, imagine if Poppy and Ashnikko had the vocal range and weight of Courtney LaPlante, and you’re getting close. It’s theatrical, provocative, and just dangerously fun.
Between the masked bandmates, the aggressive red and white strobes, and her own fearless stage presence, Vana created a cinematic, almost cult-like atmosphere. “Serpentine” was a monster moment: heavy, hypnotic, and impossible to forget. Plus, when she later jumped back out to join Set It Off for “Partners in Crime,” the energy was truly next level—the perfect collaboration for a night built on pure, unadulterated rock chemistry.
Fame on Fire
Bringing that dose of polished American fire were Palm Beach, Florida's Fame on Fire. They started out crushing viral metal covers, but they’ve fully levelled up into a powerful force of their own, delivering alt-rock packed with massive, arena-ready choruses.
Their #1 Sirius XM Octane hit, “Her Eyes,” landed perfectly live, hitting with a cinematic and emotional punch. They carry that modern, post-hardcore melancholy vibe (think Caskets or Holding Absence), but their sound is 100% distinct. This is a band that’s clearly building towards headliner status—and soon.
Vana
Then came Vana, the alt-metal artist from New Zealand who didn’t just steal the spotlight—she snatched the whole damn lamp. Her sound is a beautifully dangerous beast: metalcore brutality mixed with electro-pop textures and raw vulnerability. Seriously, imagine if Poppy and Ashnikko had the vocal range and weight of Courtney LaPlante, and you’re getting close. It’s theatrical, provocative, and just dangerously fun.
Between the masked bandmates, the aggressive red and white strobes, and her own fearless stage presence, Vana created a cinematic, almost cult-like atmosphere. “Serpentine” was a monster moment: heavy, hypnotic, and impossible to forget. Plus, when she later jumped back out to join Set It Off for “Partners in Crime,” the energy was truly next level—the perfect collaboration for a night built on pure, unadulterated rock chemistry.
Fame on Fire
Bringing that dose of polished American fire were Palm Beach, Florida's Fame on Fire. They started out crushing viral metal covers, but they’ve fully levelled up into a powerful force of their own, delivering alt-rock packed with massive, arena-ready choruses.
Their #1 Sirius XM Octane hit, “Her Eyes,” landed perfectly live, hitting with a cinematic and emotional punch. They carry that modern, post-hardcore melancholy vibe (think Caskets or Holding Absence), but their sound is 100% distinct. This is a band that’s clearly building towards headliner status—and soon.
Set It Off: The Igniters
Alright, full disclosure: I absolutely f*ing love* Set It Off, and I'm not sorry about it. This was my second time catching them this year, and the second I got the photo pass confirmation, I was practically sprinting to the Commodore.
Fresh off their killer new album cycle, Set It Off hit the stage with an energy that felt like they were trying to individually power every single light on downtown Vancouver. Compared to their opener set earlier this year, this felt more unhinged, more charged, and infinitely more chaotic—the kind of performance that forces your heart to beat in sync with the drum kit.
Cody Carson is simply an unmatched powerhouse of a frontman. The way he commands the stage and connects with every corner of the crowd is a masterclass in performance. Every track—from the venomous sting of “Fake Ass Friends” to the infectious rage of “Parasite” and the cathartic release of “Punching Bag”—was a straight shot of melody-wrapped adrenaline. And of course, they absolutely brought the house down with that necessary encore of “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing [REBORN],” cementing the whole night as legendary.
What makes Set It Off so damn them is that unmistakable sound: those cinematic backtracks, the razor-sharp riffs, and that theatrical edge that gives every single track its own unique life. They aren’t following trends; they’re carving out their own lane in the alt-rock scene and smashing the accelerator.
The Commodore was sweaty, packed, and entirely restless for more. Yes, the merch table sold out (RIP to the hoodie I wanted), but the show delivered everything that matters—authentic chaos, relentless energy, and a connection that felt like a secret shared by everyone in the
Thrilled to be seeing them again this weekend at Warped Tour. I guess the third time’s the charm.
Set It Off: The Igniters
Alright, full disclosure: I absolutely f*ing love* Set It Off, and I'm not sorry about it. This was my second time catching them this year, and the second I got the photo pass confirmation, I was practically sprinting to the Commodore.
Fresh off their killer new album cycle, Set It Off hit the stage with an energy that felt like they were trying to individually power every single light on downtown Vancouver. Compared to their opener set earlier this year, this felt more unhinged, more charged, and infinitely more chaotic—the kind of performance that forces your heart to beat in sync with the drum kit.
Cody Carson is simply an unmatched powerhouse of a frontman. The way he commands the stage and connects with every corner of the crowd is a masterclass in performance. Every track—from the venomous sting of “Fake Ass Friends” to the infectious rage of “Parasite” and the cathartic release of “Punching Bag”—was a straight shot of melody-wrapped adrenaline. And of course, they absolutely brought the house down with that necessary encore of “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing [REBORN],” cementing the whole night as legendary.
What makes Set It Off so damn them is that unmistakable sound: those cinematic backtracks, the razor-sharp riffs, and that theatrical edge that gives every single track its own unique life. They aren’t following trends; they’re carving out their own lane in the alt-rock scene and smashing the accelerator.
The Commodore was sweaty, packed, and entirely restless for more. Yes, the merch table sold out (RIP to the hoodie I wanted), but the show delivered everything that matters—authentic chaos, relentless energy, and a connection that felt like a secret shared by everyone in the
Thrilled to be seeing them again this weekend at Warped Tour. I guess the third time’s the charm.
Final Take
Four incredible bands. One night that’s going straight into the Vancouver Concert Hall of Fame. From Autumn Kings starting the fire to Vana’s magnetic, mind-bending chaos, Fame on Fire’s polished emotion, and Set It Off’s spectacular finish—this was definitive proof that rock’s pulse still beats louder and faster than anything else.
Final Take
Four incredible bands. One night that’s going straight into the Vancouver Concert Hall of Fame. From Autumn Kings starting the fire to Vana’s magnetic, mind-bending chaos, Fame on Fire’s polished emotion, and Set It Off’s spectacular finish—this was definitive proof that rock’s pulse still beats louder and faster than anything else.
