D @ vA Cool concerts coming up » Shows and festivals coming to Vancouver Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor Vancouver concert scene is bright and glowing, with shows lined up in major venues across the Lower Mainland. Being an avid concert connoisseur myself, I figured I'd share some of the upcoming events worth attending. COIN Unlike some of the others on this list, I have never seen COIN live. In fact, I haven't even listened to COIN that much, despite hits like “Talk Too Much.” However, I’ve heard enough (and watched a good amount of YouTube videos of live performances) to know that they will provide a fun, casual night of singing along to fun songs witha crowd who wants to dance. I think if a concert doesn’t put too much of a strain on your wallet, any show is worth going to whether you really know the band or not. Perhaps you'll like the band, or maybe you'll just make some new friends. General admission is $31.00 including fees, and there is a VIP meet and greet option available as well. They are playing on February 24 at Venue Nightclub on Granville Street. Marianas Trench Vancouver's very own pop-rock band Marianas Trench is back on tour and set to play on March 29 at The Orpheum. This band is one of a kind in terms of its superior musicality. The harmonies are truly magnificent, as demonstrated in all their Masterpiece Theatre parts. The music comes alive in a live atmosphere. With the energy, the varied instrumentation, and Josh Ramsey’s powerful vocals, it’s hard to mistake that there’s something special there. Old hits and new hits alike, a Marianas Trench concert gets you up on your feet and dancing, all whilst crying about how utterly beautiful they sound. Prices for this emotional rock night vary depending on Have an idea for a story? M arts@theotherpress.ca seating. Stacked Festival The brand-new Stacked Festival was just announced on January 21. The lineup consists of We Are Fury, Ray Volpe, Squnto, Whipped Cream, Black Tiger Sex Machine, and Excision. Stacked is being held on April 20 at Pacific Coliseum, and general admission tickets start at $81.90. The last time I saw a show at Pacific Coliseum, it was for Blueprint’s igth anniversary in 2016. The arena is spacious ¢ Shane Dawson releases part one of conspiracy theory series ¢ ‘Roma’ film review e 'Kakegurui' anime review ..and more! Fl 2 ie & BS > & a Ky Bz ‘Oo Gg J oa =] Ls] oa rm Ls] w iS vu i] iS i) wy ra io) ° g ° o£ oa with a long front line. The visuals at that time featured a large board in front of the setup, as well as a larger one behind the artist on stage. There were also two vertical screens on each side. Seasons Festival, earlier that same year, only had the three screens behind the artist’s setup. BTSM performed at Contact 2018, so it is a surprise that they are back so soon. Nonetheless, they have high-energy music and will add an amazing flair prior to the very intense experience expected from Excision. Do you love or hate these iconic couples? > The best (or worst) teen fiction couples = a wu rs i— vu E a = FE 2 cS I S S [e} Ps uv pa = Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor Wie Valentine’s Day just around the corner, what better way to celebrate besides reading teen fiction to (if you're like me) make up for your own tragic love life? It’s rare to find a teen novel that doesn’t have an epic romantic storyline. For this reason, some of the most notable fictional characters have been introduced within these novels. What makes these couples so special, however, is the careful work of the authors who have curated the perfect yet relatable characters we can almost fantasize about being ourselves. Some of these couples are loved, others despised with a passion, but why? Warning: There are some spoilers ahead! Bella and Edward - Twilight Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait (there are probably a lot but anyways). The love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob made the teen girls of the late-2000s melt to their knees. Who wouldn't want two attractive, strong, and supernatural (?) boys fighting over them? Though honestly, Bella and Edward as a couple kind of suck (pun intended) because Edward is just so hot and cold (also pun intended). Not only is he an obsessed creep who watches Bella while she sleeps, but the second things get a little serious, he ghosts her and leaves the country. Both are super unstable and unsure of their relationship, yet the passion is what drives this pair to be one of the most popular teen fiction couples of all time. Katniss and Peeta- The Hunger Games Yet another dry love triangle. Katniss is best friends with Gale, clicks with him, and has a lot in common with him. Yet she meets Peeta under dire circumstances and suddenly they're meant to be. This couple is popular due to the whole “I’m not going to die without you—let’s die together, instead” spiel (which feels like it just romanticizes double suicide). This couple seems forced to care for each other because they’re put into circumstances where all they have is each other—so that is romantic. However, had they not entered the Hunger Games, then they probably wouldn't have ended up together. Harry and Ginny / Ron and Hermione - Harry Potter Some would say Harry, Ron, and Hermione are a love triangle, but I don't agree. JX Rowling herself admitted in an interview with Wonderland magazine that pairing Ron and Hermione was a form of wish fulfillment. Many people wished for Harry and Hermione to end up together, but I think that would have been predictable and boring. Ron and Hermione’s romance cultivates throughout the series and, despite their little issues, I think their playful relationship is a cute one. Harry and Ginny are another story. The couple seems a bit awkward to me. Suffice to say, if my best friend’s little sister had a crush on me foryears, | probably wouldn't go on to marry her. There wasn’t much development either. I don’t even think Harry really talks to Ginny until the last few novels in the series. I do like that Harry and Ron become brothers-in-law, but that’s all I really saw in this relationship. Jace and Clary —- The Mortal Instruments My personal favourite couple, Jace and Clary are just as much, if not more, of a mess than the rest of the couples on this list. These two go on huge adventures, and while intertwined in many off-putting situations, they remain extremely independent in their motives and character development. They even get tortured by the (later falsified) melodrama of being told they’re siblings. What I found clean about this couple is that, while there are small crushes and relationships among other characters, none are large enough to label a love triangle. The reader knows they are meant for each other from the moment they meet, so the rest is just a heart- wrenching journey of what it takes for them to finally be together.