Our Lady Peace Celebrates 30 Years with a Sold-Out Show at The Fillmore Detroit
After thirty years of making music and magic, Our Lady Peace brought along 90’s favorite and Michigan’s The Verve Pipe to a sold-out The Fillmore Detroit on Thursday April 2, 2026. It was a ’90s fan’s dream to have two iconic bands from the era take the stage and bring the entire venue to their feet, singing along to the classics. Nostalgia poured through the historic theatre, and for once we all forgot what was going on in the world, singing along to both bands like it was 1997.
THE VERVE PIPE
The Verve Pipe took to the stage in dim lighting, to a thunderous applause and screams, with a setlist that would make any fan squeal with delight and heal on the inside. With “Photograph” leading the set, the recognizable opening sound set the stage for a positive-vibe-only set, filled with jams: “Tea,” “Villains,” “Dust,” “Colorful,” and “Medicate.” Brian Vander Ark (vocals and guitar), Brad Vander Ark (bass), Daine Hammerle (drums), Channing Lee (background vocals, tambourine, and keys), and Lou Musa (guitar) took the stage with smiles and played the set of a lifetime- everyone in the crowd was enthralled from start to finish and sang along.
When their extremely well-known hit “Freshmen” started, Brian backed off of vocals and allowed the crowd to sing a verse, and it proved to be a powerful moment as the crowd remembered every word perfectly- the band stood in awe on stage clearly grateful for the impact their music has had on generations. To finish off their set, The Verve Pipe surprised The Fillmore with an absolutely breathtaking tribute cover of “Black Hole Sun” from Soundgarden- complete with a point to the sky and a second of silence in honor of Chris Cornell, who passed away in Detroit in 2017 after a performance at The Fox Theatre. It was a moving tribute to another 1990’s music icon. The set was nostalgic, beautiful, and packed full of positivity and good feelings- the entire band was on point and put on an unbelievable show, leaving us wanting more.
OUR LADY PEACE
Following the killer support set from The Verve Pipe, a video montage of moments from Raine Maida and Our Lady Peace’s 30 years played full of music video clips, late-night shows and interviews, spanning across this iconic band’s career. They took the stage in the dark as silhouettes, breaking into “Sound The Alarm” off the start, with Steve Mazur (guitar) full energy dancing across the stage, and Duncan Coutts (bass and keys) following the energy on the other edge of the stage. “Sound the Alarm” was such a strong start to the show and really set the headlining set with its slower moments and bursts of energy that even had Jason Pierce (drums) rocking out behind the kit. “Superman’s Dead” from the ‘Clumsy’ album was a notable and perfect second song choice, as so many fans jumped on the OLP fandom back after its release in 1997. Raine Maida’s incredibly unique and recognizable voice was just as crisp as it was back when the music hit those airwaves.
Our Lady Peace designed an incredible show and setlist that touched on all of their albums, including some of their widely known hits such as “Innocent,” “One Man Army,” “Not Enough,” “4 Am,” “Somewhere Out There,” and so many more. “Clumsy” was the song that got me hooked, as I heard it the day it was released on 96.3 in Detroit, requesting it every hour from my phone at home until I could make enough to head to Harmony House to buy the cassette for myself. It had such a grip on me that I can only imagine the impact it had on others coming from the band from Ontario, Canada. It proved to be the case as everyone waved their hands and sang along, healing our past, and all being together in the presence of our favorite bands and other people chasing the dreams of hearing them live. A poignant moment was touched on when Raine Maida discussed the need for Mental Health care, and the band played “Whatever” which used to be used as a WWE opener walk on song for a past wrestler- the band has since reclaimed the song in wake of the tragedy and it resonated strongly with the crowd as it does every time they play it live.
The setlist was perfectly mixed with music from all of their incredible albums, hitting every mood and every feeling you could possibly have. The range of songs chosen for the 30th anniversary show was clearly well-thought-out and took you on the road of their career as a band. It was packed with hits that would have everyone on their feet, songs that had people waving their hands, fans getting emotional, and healing. Seeing Our Lady Peace live isn’t just a concert, it’s an entire experience. Before “Somewhere Out There,” they discussed getting the news years ago of Duncan Coutts’s pancreatic cancer battle- and how hard that was as a band and family- but how Duncan’s positivity and perseverance kept the band going, making that song a dedication at the shows they play. If you have ever watched them live, each band member brings their own energy and personalities to the stage, and the fans just go crazy for them. The entire experience was the best kind of rush to have on a Thursday night in Detroit.
From start to finish, the entire show was a dream for any fan of both bands. It was the perfect mix of nostalgia, good feelings, and newer songs that kept everyone in the venue moving and taking it all in. It was the first show in a while where I saw the masses taking in every moment instead of watching the concert through the screen- feeling the words, the music, and being transported to an earlier time in the 90’s when things felt less heavy and terrifying. The tour is still going strong with the remaining dates located on their website. I highly recommend seeing the show live if you want to have one of the best evenings of your life, and a cathartic experience that you may not know you absolutely needed.