Photography & Review by Sharon Steele – Toronto’s The Beaches performed to a sold-out crowd at UBC Thunderbird Arena on Saturday, October 25, as part of their “No Hard Feelings” tour. Opening the night was indie-pop band Valley, featuring Rob Laska on vocals and guitar, Karah James on drums, guitar, and vocals, Alex DiMauro on bass, and Feurd on guitar. Valley played a lively set, with a standout moment when Feurd ran to the front of the stage, jumped midair, and fell to the floor while continuing to play. Valley set the tone well for the main act.
The Beaches include Jordan Miller on vocals and bass, Kylie Miller and Leandra Earl on guitars, and Eliza Enman-McDaniel on drums. This was my second time seeing them live, and they continue to deliver strong performances. The band’s songs about breakups and relationships connect easily with fans. Touring across the U.S. and earning positive reviews, the Juno Award–winning group shows no signs of slowing down.
Highlights of the show included “Lesbian of the Year.” Before the song, Kylie and Eliza left the stage while Jordan and Leandra sat down to talk about why the song mattered to them, with Leandra sharing her coming-out story. She played the song on keyboard while Jordan sang, dedicating it to Tegan and Sara. The crowd lit up their phones in support, creating a memorable moment.
Other standouts were “Edge of the Earth,” “Jocelyn,” and one of my favorites, “Blame Brett.” The Beaches closed the night with “Last Girls at the Party,” ending the show on a high note.
VALLEY
