Sloan Screens a Picture Show in Vancouver
- Tucker McLean
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Tucker McLean
November 15th, 2025
The speckled lights cast on the pleated stage curtains looked (fittingly) reminiscent of the condo-dominated skyline of Vancouver, the host city for Sloan’s concert last week. The Commodore was packed, warm with life, safe from the November chill outside. As we waited for the main event, the bubbling conversation of the crowd rose higher and higher to lap at the art deco ceiling above.
The show began with a stream of faux movie trailers – a dystopian sci-fi, a horror, a western, a spy thriller – each inspired by the title of a song off of Sloan’s new album, their 14th (!): Based on the Bestseller. The schoolyard joy the band undoubtedly found in dreaming up and realizing these off-beat, elaborate trailers was palpable, and spread onto the faces of fans watching around the ballroom.
After the coming attractions, the show began. In the space of a few breaths, the band strode onto the stage, readied their instruments, and dove into the opening track off the new album, “Capitol Cooler.” Sloan have honed their Canadiana rock sound over their accomplished tenure as a band, 33 years writing and touring with their original line-up. What’s truly unique about this quartet (joined by a fifth player last week) is their shared singing duties – depending on the track, they trade off singing lead or backup. The group feels like a genuine collective that way, and this vocal variety kept the concert’s pacing fresh and the audience rooted until the final song.
From reminiscing about playing the Commodore 32 years ago on the cusp of the L.A. Riots to breaking into a rendition of Happy Birthday for drummer Andrew Scott, the show had several moments as eccentric as the opening trailers. After what was an ample set list, the Canadian stalwarts said their goodbyes, the credits rolled, and the house lights went up. Sloan continues their A Tour de Force tour in the coming weeks and into the new year, travelling eastward to culminate in a final show at the band’s home, Toronto.
