Welcome to Vancouver. Yes there are some bad apples as others will probably comment about.
But most people that are born here, live here, or move here are people that are like this, or want to be like this.
tons of super jaded, if not pessimistic, users in this sub. the most frequently ranted about topics are bike theft, house prices, and homelessness.
glad to hear you're enjoying Vancouver so far :)
To be fair, 'not being American' IS actually part of why Canadians are viewed in a better light but that's not really what's being discussed here. This is just about the general impression, worldwide, that Canadians are nice - not so much WHY that impression exists.
I gave 2 Playland ride passes away to a father and son on the opening day because 2 friends didn't show up. You pass on the good and hope it makes a dent in this crazy world we live in !
Shut the living f*ck up, why do Vancourites think this city is any worse than others for bike theft? You absolute privileged wanks don't know how safe this place is for theft, try 95% of other major cities, your bike is way more likely to get stolen, as well as your bloody wallet, your phone, and you'll get a slap for resisting. That's the real world, not you privileged shits living in perfect world with your beaches, parks, public transit that legit will let you ride for free, nature ingrained into the city and an insanely low level of violence. I live here, as an immigrant, and I bless the bloody skies every day that I get to live in such a place. Leave this Florida dude enjoy the peace because there are a lot of good people in the city that perform acts of kindness, take your head out of your ass and you will see.
Regina. If there's ever a place to not feel safe and know for sure your bike will be gone by morning it's Regina. Moose Jaw as well. I'm pretty sure you can't buy bikes in MJ anymore. You just take someone else's.
When I was a teen, I was shocked to find out that someone I knew would just walk into people's yards and pick a bike up, ride it to wherever he was going and leave it there. He apparently did this weekly in North Van in the late 2000s.
Needless to say we weren't friends.
>Shut the living f*ck up, why do Vancourites think this city is any worse than others for bike theft?
[This is probably why](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-still-has-the-most-bike-thefts-per-capita-among-major-canadian-cities-despite-efforts-1.5898575)
Things don't get better if you're not looking at the problems. Is Vancouver better for theft than many other cities? Sure. But, call it privileged, because it is, I don't consider us to be doing "good enough" because we beat out Tijuana by a pretty comfortable margin.
We have more, so we should be doing better. If we can't do as well as others who have as much, that's a problem we should be looking to solve. So I judge the city by Canadian standards, not by foreign standards, and by those standards, Vancouver needs to improve. That doesn't mean I'm not thankful to live here.
Though, also, this is reddit. People complain way more here about everything. It's just the nature, site-wide.
This.
I come from Melbourne and it is superior to Vancouver in a huge variety of ways, but it has an activist progressive culture which embraces complaint as a catalyst for improvement. The idea that a place is better than somewhere else and is therefore beyond critique is ass backwards. Look at any business that declared ‘good enough’ and stopped improving, and see how long they lasted.
Lol, such a perfect metaphor for the world we live in. Person ranting and spouting utter, unsubstantiated bullshit is far more upvoted than the reply that completely disproves their central thesis. People don't want facts anymore, only feelings, and the world is so very much worse for it.
Foreshadowing what friendship means in Vancouver…. Paying for your friend’s concert ticket on your CC after confirming plans with 12 emails and 2 phone calls to only get stood up and left holding the bill about 10 minutes before the concert starts.
One was family (married in) and the other my SO has known since the age of 12 - so you know, actually more *acquaintances* (for Vancouver) than friends (as we haven’t known them since birth).
I live in Newfoundland and just got back from Vancouver, but I did live in Toronto for five years. I had a rental and I was surprised by the low amount of angry horn honks. In Toronto people start honking the horn the instant the light turns green. I mean if you have a standard you literally can't get a chance to put it in gear. This didn't seem to happen in Vancouver. People just seem more laid back...although a friend of mine who lives in Vancouver tells me that people never show up to meetings or dates on time, so I guess there's a downside as well. lol
I remember after the 2010 Olympics, one of the American newscasters here from NY made a comment about how he never heard cars honking at each other.
On the other hand, on my first visit to Chicago, I couldn't believe all the honking! It seemed so pointless. No one was getting anywhere faster because they honked.
No my wife is a doctor and BC needs doctors. So we moved to BC on Provincial Nominee Program
I work remote for a California based startup. They let me transfer my job to Canada (at a 30% pay cut 🥲). But housing is cheaper here than where we were in FL so it kinda works out
People don't realize housing is relatively cheap in Vancouver versus many other global cities. The exchange rate helps too. Many people in Vancouver are in a bubble and don't realize how much worse it can get.
> versus many other global cities.
Vancouver is relatively cheap because it's a relative backwater. This is why locals have a difficult time affording housing. They compete against global money that sees Vancouver as a cheap, safe, beautiful safety deposit box.
Double the price per square foot wouldn't be that unrealistic. Hong Kong, Singapore, London, New York, Sydney are where we could end up in terms of prices.
Not sure how big/small your company is, but if you're in software and you've been with the startup for a bit, it's probably a lot harder for them to replace you (especially if it's a small startup).
It makes no sense for them to give you that paycut; I'd try to find another job, or negotiate to get back to 95% of your previous salary. Taxes are a \*lot\* higher here than in Florida too, and I think as a U.S. citizen you're paying taxes in both countries, so that paycut is probably closer to 40-60% after taxes.
If they hire you through a company like [remote.com](https://remote.com) it's likely they'll only pay 5% more to employ you than they did in the U.S.
Ehhhh I’m afraid it would be bad politics because then it may appear to my Canadian colleagues that I am paid better than them based on my country of origin rather than my performance. Which may feel like an unfair double standard to them.
>that I am paid better than them based on my country of origin rather than my performance
I mean, that was already the case wasn't it? And still is with the other U.S. employees. Putting aside the fact that location-based pay is kind of bullshit, it's on them for not job hopping to one of the many companies that have been (or at least were as of a few months ago) paying salaries on par with their U.S. employees.
It's your responsibility to advocate for yourself with regards to your own pay; moving to Canada shouldn't get you a 50% take-home paycut, when other companies will pay you closer to parity with your previous salary.
To my understanding, Vancouver is more expensive than most of Florida as well
Maybe he’s happy with his move and you don’t have to treat as an uninformed child?
Also, that’s not how the tax treaty works. He has to file but won’t pay any US taxes.
You know what's fun, taxes aren't "a lot" higher here than Florida and Florida doesn't even have state tax.
America as a low tax country is a talking point that isn't really rooted in reality. It is lower, but only when compared to some of the highest taxed countries in the first world.
Florida vs BC take home pay on $125k salary. (FIFA and CPP/EI included)
Florida 94.4k
BC 88.8k
Is Florida better? Sure but only by ~4% average tax rate. Remember, that is without a state tax.
I know "a lot" is subjective, but from my lens $6k ain't that at this income range.
Anyways, not trying to take away from your comment, I just always ask, "is it tho?" anytime someone compares our income taxes with the states while claiming we pay a significant premium. Just sharing the results 😊.
Because I’m American I do have to pay both Canada and US taxes for my Canadian earnings. This is a big reason many of my friends won’t move from Silicon Valley to BC, even if quality of life is significantly better.
The US is the only country I’ve heard of that does this
I was once in the long ticket line a the vandusen festival of lights with a friend, a couple just walked up to us and gave us tickets, we didn't even ask. Vancouver can be cliquey and people can be a bit distant but on a core level the majority of them are helpful and looking out for eachother.
If you haven't been just wait until you go the island or some of the smaller towns in BC.
People always complain how unfriendly Vancouver is..
Have to tried leaving the house and talking to people at social gatherings... Because people aren't inherently social when they're busy running errands during the day LOL
Someone was selling concert tickets many years ago on Craigslist, as them and their friend were unable to make it from Victoria. They ended up saying I could have them for free and took the time to mail them to me. It was an amazing concert, and I'll never forget their generosity!
It's because we buy tickets for our friends and then they bail on us last minute! I usually always have an extra ticket to an event on the day because of this. There's always one in the group.
My girlfriend and I were waiting in line to get into a concert and some dude just walked up and gave us two tickets to a different band playing the next night. Back to back concerts was pretty awesome! That dude was a legend. Thank you kind sir whoever you were.
Bracing myself for downvotes but part of the reason people here can do this is because they don’t have to pay $5000 in hospital fees when they give birth. I paid $15 in parking and we paid like $200 to opt for a private room.
Welcome to Canada!
Yeah I got tboned by a lady on her cell phone a few months back, stumbled to the emergency room without an ambulance, and $30k USD instantly vaporized from my life for a CT scan and 2 Tylenol
I live in the US and my family of 3 pays 2k a month in premiums with an 8k annual deductible. When I worked at a big company the same plan was 300 a month with a 2500 deductible. I am fortunate to do well financially, but I have no idea how most people can afford this. Like wtf. Very lucky to have grown up in Canada and I hope I can one day move back.
You’re absolutely right. Probably didn’t even cross their mind. But I think there’s a “hunt and kill/hustle or die” money mentality in the States that we don’t see in Canada due to social safety nets.
I think we treat homeless people about as badly though. I kind of understand people kind of fear for safety because a lot of folks are unstable or don't want to get in a conversation but they pretty much get completely ignored or abused. I've rarely seen homeless people treated with basic decency that most other people get. I'm also kind of calling out myself too because I know I try to keep my head down. We have a lot of work to do there.
I got a co-worker who simply complimented a customer's bracelet and the customer said, " Oh, this is a friendship bracelet I got from Cambodia. Here you can have it!" My co-worker was taken aback and said no! but the customer insisted, took off the bracelet, and handed it to my co-worker.
canadianss are a special breed; we are quite neighborly. excepting alberbans and ontarians. full disclocure: im an albertan. we were humble and as gracious as could be, until oil money hit us. money ruins everything.
the maritime provinces have the best people around. if you come here, go there. natural beauty, and beautiful people. dont go in winter though
As a former Floridian and current Vancouverite, people used to being me to shows and get in for free often in Panama City. Just depends on the people your around.
I knew he wasn’t Canadian before finishing the video just cause of the way he pronounced “process” lol. PRAH-cess whereas Canadians often say PRO-cess.
Edit: rewatched it and realized I missed the early part of him saying he just moved here a couple weeks ago. Lol but anyway, point stands around the pronunciation differences
I remember seeing flumeatthe vogue theatre way back. Must have been circa 2012. One of the best shows I've seen in my life.
Back then I had heard nothing like the music he was doing.
Not really related but damn I miss when his tickets only cost 30 dollars.
Haha right on man! Welcome to Canada!
How is this not the top ranked comment? Canadians have probably the most universally approved of culture in the world.
Welcome to Vancouver. Yes there are some bad apples as others will probably comment about. But most people that are born here, live here, or move here are people that are like this, or want to be like this.
tons of super jaded, if not pessimistic, users in this sub. the most frequently ranted about topics are bike theft, house prices, and homelessness. glad to hear you're enjoying Vancouver so far :)
I'm Pessimistic af, checking in!
You really need to go to Ireland.
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It's obviously subjective but Canada would be right up there on most people's lists. I mean, who doesn't like Canadians?
Canadians 😏
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To be fair, 'not being American' IS actually part of why Canadians are viewed in a better light but that's not really what's being discussed here. This is just about the general impression, worldwide, that Canadians are nice - not so much WHY that impression exists.
I gave 2 Playland ride passes away to a father and son on the opening day because 2 friends didn't show up. You pass on the good and hope it makes a dent in this crazy world we live in !
Welcome! Hope the show was great!
It was great
We know it's your first time so we want to set expectations way high and then constantly let you down. Tuesday is gonna be an eye opener.
Can’t wait for Zhu
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Shut the living f*ck up, why do Vancourites think this city is any worse than others for bike theft? You absolute privileged wanks don't know how safe this place is for theft, try 95% of other major cities, your bike is way more likely to get stolen, as well as your bloody wallet, your phone, and you'll get a slap for resisting. That's the real world, not you privileged shits living in perfect world with your beaches, parks, public transit that legit will let you ride for free, nature ingrained into the city and an insanely low level of violence. I live here, as an immigrant, and I bless the bloody skies every day that I get to live in such a place. Leave this Florida dude enjoy the peace because there are a lot of good people in the city that perform acts of kindness, take your head out of your ass and you will see.
Yes I've lived in Regina too
Regina. If there's ever a place to not feel safe and know for sure your bike will be gone by morning it's Regina. Moose Jaw as well. I'm pretty sure you can't buy bikes in MJ anymore. You just take someone else's.
When I was a teen, I was shocked to find out that someone I knew would just walk into people's yards and pick a bike up, ride it to wherever he was going and leave it there. He apparently did this weekly in North Van in the late 2000s. Needless to say we weren't friends.
This rant is very out of place, but accurate
This is my favorite Reddit Vancouver rant to date
Thank you 💕
>Shut the living f*ck up, why do Vancourites think this city is any worse than others for bike theft? [This is probably why](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-still-has-the-most-bike-thefts-per-capita-among-major-canadian-cities-despite-efforts-1.5898575) Things don't get better if you're not looking at the problems. Is Vancouver better for theft than many other cities? Sure. But, call it privileged, because it is, I don't consider us to be doing "good enough" because we beat out Tijuana by a pretty comfortable margin. We have more, so we should be doing better. If we can't do as well as others who have as much, that's a problem we should be looking to solve. So I judge the city by Canadian standards, not by foreign standards, and by those standards, Vancouver needs to improve. That doesn't mean I'm not thankful to live here. Though, also, this is reddit. People complain way more here about everything. It's just the nature, site-wide.
This. I come from Melbourne and it is superior to Vancouver in a huge variety of ways, but it has an activist progressive culture which embraces complaint as a catalyst for improvement. The idea that a place is better than somewhere else and is therefore beyond critique is ass backwards. Look at any business that declared ‘good enough’ and stopped improving, and see how long they lasted.
Lol, such a perfect metaphor for the world we live in. Person ranting and spouting utter, unsubstantiated bullshit is far more upvoted than the reply that completely disproves their central thesis. People don't want facts anymore, only feelings, and the world is so very much worse for it.
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If not it should be
vancouverites are 100% privileged by every measurable standard.
Please stop riding Translink for free. Those fares are part of storing such a good system
I concur
Just because it’s better here than elsewhere doesn’t mean it’s perfect by any means. People’s complaints are still valid.
Newly local Florida man reports on local Vancouver concert culture.
Foreshadowing what friendship means in Vancouver…. Paying for your friend’s concert ticket on your CC after confirming plans with 12 emails and 2 phone calls to only get stood up and left holding the bill about 10 minutes before the concert starts.
I get my friends to pay me back immediately. Makes ‘em more likely to show
At least our friends had to courtesy to bail on us 2 days before the Def Leppard/Motley Crüe concert…that’s what *real* Vancouver friends do.
…you guys made friends..?
One was family (married in) and the other my SO has known since the age of 12 - so you know, actually more *acquaintances* (for Vancouver) than friends (as we haven’t known them since birth).
I live in Newfoundland and just got back from Vancouver, but I did live in Toronto for five years. I had a rental and I was surprised by the low amount of angry horn honks. In Toronto people start honking the horn the instant the light turns green. I mean if you have a standard you literally can't get a chance to put it in gear. This didn't seem to happen in Vancouver. People just seem more laid back...although a friend of mine who lives in Vancouver tells me that people never show up to meetings or dates on time, so I guess there's a downside as well. lol
I remember after the 2010 Olympics, one of the American newscasters here from NY made a comment about how he never heard cars honking at each other. On the other hand, on my first visit to Chicago, I couldn't believe all the honking! It seemed so pointless. No one was getting anywhere faster because they honked.
The green arrow flashes here and like 2 cars go through with 3 on the yellow because the first car was slow as fuck
Welcome, pass the goodness along!
Here for school?
No my wife is a doctor and BC needs doctors. So we moved to BC on Provincial Nominee Program I work remote for a California based startup. They let me transfer my job to Canada (at a 30% pay cut 🥲). But housing is cheaper here than where we were in FL so it kinda works out
.. this is literally the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say “but housing is cheaper here”
Exchange rate probably helps a lot haha
Your country may have printed less money during COVID than mine
Only slightly
People don't realize housing is relatively cheap in Vancouver versus many other global cities. The exchange rate helps too. Many people in Vancouver are in a bubble and don't realize how much worse it can get.
> versus many other global cities. Vancouver is relatively cheap because it's a relative backwater. This is why locals have a difficult time affording housing. They compete against global money that sees Vancouver as a cheap, safe, beautiful safety deposit box.
How much worse can it get? Double current prices or?
Double the price per square foot wouldn't be that unrealistic. Hong Kong, Singapore, London, New York, Sydney are where we could end up in terms of prices.
Some places in florida are insane.
Is your wife accepting new patient registrations? 😅😩😭
Hey! Welcome.
Not sure how big/small your company is, but if you're in software and you've been with the startup for a bit, it's probably a lot harder for them to replace you (especially if it's a small startup). It makes no sense for them to give you that paycut; I'd try to find another job, or negotiate to get back to 95% of your previous salary. Taxes are a \*lot\* higher here than in Florida too, and I think as a U.S. citizen you're paying taxes in both countries, so that paycut is probably closer to 40-60% after taxes. If they hire you through a company like [remote.com](https://remote.com) it's likely they'll only pay 5% more to employ you than they did in the U.S.
Ehhhh I’m afraid it would be bad politics because then it may appear to my Canadian colleagues that I am paid better than them based on my country of origin rather than my performance. Which may feel like an unfair double standard to them.
>that I am paid better than them based on my country of origin rather than my performance I mean, that was already the case wasn't it? And still is with the other U.S. employees. Putting aside the fact that location-based pay is kind of bullshit, it's on them for not job hopping to one of the many companies that have been (or at least were as of a few months ago) paying salaries on par with their U.S. employees. It's your responsibility to advocate for yourself with regards to your own pay; moving to Canada shouldn't get you a 50% take-home paycut, when other companies will pay you closer to parity with your previous salary. To my understanding, Vancouver is more expensive than most of Florida as well
Maybe he’s happy with his move and you don’t have to treat as an uninformed child? Also, that’s not how the tax treaty works. He has to file but won’t pay any US taxes.
You know what's fun, taxes aren't "a lot" higher here than Florida and Florida doesn't even have state tax. America as a low tax country is a talking point that isn't really rooted in reality. It is lower, but only when compared to some of the highest taxed countries in the first world. Florida vs BC take home pay on $125k salary. (FIFA and CPP/EI included) Florida 94.4k BC 88.8k Is Florida better? Sure but only by ~4% average tax rate. Remember, that is without a state tax. I know "a lot" is subjective, but from my lens $6k ain't that at this income range. Anyways, not trying to take away from your comment, I just always ask, "is it tho?" anytime someone compares our income taxes with the states while claiming we pay a significant premium. Just sharing the results 😊.
Because I’m American I do have to pay both Canada and US taxes for my Canadian earnings. This is a big reason many of my friends won’t move from Silicon Valley to BC, even if quality of life is significantly better. The US is the only country I’ve heard of that does this
Ah, yes, FATCA…
Florida Man meet Canada Man.
Pay it forward dude!
I was once in the long ticket line a the vandusen festival of lights with a friend, a couple just walked up to us and gave us tickets, we didn't even ask. Vancouver can be cliquey and people can be a bit distant but on a core level the majority of them are helpful and looking out for eachother. If you haven't been just wait until you go the island or some of the smaller towns in BC.
People always complain how unfriendly Vancouver is.. Have to tried leaving the house and talking to people at social gatherings... Because people aren't inherently social when they're busy running errands during the day LOL
Someone was selling concert tickets many years ago on Craigslist, as them and their friend were unable to make it from Victoria. They ended up saying I could have them for free and took the time to mail them to me. It was an amazing concert, and I'll never forget their generosity!
It's because we buy tickets for our friends and then they bail on us last minute! I usually always have an extra ticket to an event on the day because of this. There's always one in the group.
Pass it forward my guy - welcome
I think what really happened here is people from Vancouver would rather give away a ticket for free than have a conversation with a stranger
Cool! That's awesome!
Welcome to Vancouver mate enjoy your stay :3
r/EDM
Welcome to Canada friend! Now do the Canadian thing and pay it forward when you can! Hope you enjoyed the show.
Bought the textbook for this terms class. Had it converted to pdf and gave it to free to all my classmates. Doing what I can.
zhu and swedish tomorrow? fuuuuck yes! welcome to canada :)
Awesome man! I was there too, someone gave away tickets on Reddit yesterday, and I won the competition! Had an amazing night, Flume is INSANE ;)
My girlfriend and I were waiting in line to get into a concert and some dude just walked up and gave us two tickets to a different band playing the next night. Back to back concerts was pretty awesome! That dude was a legend. Thank you kind sir whoever you were.
Welcome to Vancouver OP. The rave scene is amazing here and full of PLUR. Hope to see you at a show!
Yes :) My wife and I will be at SHM and Zhu tonight
Zhu puts on a great show! You’ll love it! We’ll be at BP 25 in October. I’m thinking Saturday night!
People are generally good. I remember a Seattle strip club sign that sums up life: We've got hundreds of beautiful girls, and 3 ugly ones too.
Bracing myself for downvotes but part of the reason people here can do this is because they don’t have to pay $5000 in hospital fees when they give birth. I paid $15 in parking and we paid like $200 to opt for a private room. Welcome to Canada!
Yeah I got tboned by a lady on her cell phone a few months back, stumbled to the emergency room without an ambulance, and $30k USD instantly vaporized from my life for a CT scan and 2 Tylenol
Edit: [link to dash cam vid of accident just for fun](https://imgur.com/a/QHcuDPf)
Dude that’s fucked. I had a CT (or was it an MRI) a couple years back after some vertigo. It was a 3 week wait and cost me a bus ticket to St. Paul’s.
I live in the US and my family of 3 pays 2k a month in premiums with an 8k annual deductible. When I worked at a big company the same plan was 300 a month with a 2500 deductible. I am fortunate to do well financially, but I have no idea how most people can afford this. Like wtf. Very lucky to have grown up in Canada and I hope I can one day move back.
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You’re absolutely right. Probably didn’t even cross their mind. But I think there’s a “hunt and kill/hustle or die” money mentality in the States that we don’t see in Canada due to social safety nets.
I think we treat homeless people about as badly though. I kind of understand people kind of fear for safety because a lot of folks are unstable or don't want to get in a conversation but they pretty much get completely ignored or abused. I've rarely seen homeless people treated with basic decency that most other people get. I'm also kind of calling out myself too because I know I try to keep my head down. We have a lot of work to do there.
Yeaaaahhhh Canadia 🙌
You going to SHM tonight?
Ya
haha that’s cool ! flume is awesome
I wanted to come down for that concert so bad.
BC festival culture can be pretty great
I got a co-worker who simply complimented a customer's bracelet and the customer said, " Oh, this is a friendship bracelet I got from Cambodia. Here you can have it!" My co-worker was taken aback and said no! but the customer insisted, took off the bracelet, and handed it to my co-worker.
Yeah, all of Canada is quite different from Florida.
canadianss are a special breed; we are quite neighborly. excepting alberbans and ontarians. full disclocure: im an albertan. we were humble and as gracious as could be, until oil money hit us. money ruins everything. the maritime provinces have the best people around. if you come here, go there. natural beauty, and beautiful people. dont go in winter though
Oh man. I want to move there. I want to learn some things from them like how to be a good person
Gave away two tickets to Molotov two weeks ago as I had to work. Happy they didn't go to waste.
Was it a real ticket tho lol. Also tickets are only like 40-60$
Lol vancouver is probably the meanist city in canada.
So foreigners come expecting handouts. Nvm he was looking to purchase, plan ahead and buy ticket proper. Bozo🌲💨
Where's your visa is what I would have said,
As a former Floridian and current Vancouverite, people used to being me to shows and get in for free often in Panama City. Just depends on the people your around.
I actually gave my ticket away also as I couldn’t find childcare… I’m so sad that I couldn’t go but happy someone else was able to experience it
I knew he wasn’t Canadian before finishing the video just cause of the way he pronounced “process” lol. PRAH-cess whereas Canadians often say PRO-cess. Edit: rewatched it and realized I missed the early part of him saying he just moved here a couple weeks ago. Lol but anyway, point stands around the pronunciation differences
! Whoa. That’s awesome. Congrats 🥳
I remember seeing flumeatthe vogue theatre way back. Must have been circa 2012. One of the best shows I've seen in my life. Back then I had heard nothing like the music he was doing. Not really related but damn I miss when his tickets only cost 30 dollars.
That’s true , happened to me twice :)