Barenaked Ladies & Guster get LA’s Greek Theatre busting up

There’s something magical about catching a show at The Greek Theatre on a perfect June night in Los Angeles. The open-air venue, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, becomes the ideal backdrop for bands that know how to connect with their audience. On June 22nd, Barenaked Ladies reminded everyone why they’ve been beloved for over three decades, delivering a performance that was equal parts nostalgic and entertaining.

The evening kicked off with Fastball, whose mellow poppy rock sound provided the perfect soundtrack as fans filtered into the amphitheater. The Texas band has always had a knack for crafty melodies and their opening set got the growing crowd swaying along to familiar tunes. Their laidback approach worked well as a warm-up, climaxing with their mega 90s hit “The Way”.

Guster followed with considerably more energy and humor.

Frontman Ryan Miller proved to be a natural storyteller, weaving tales between songs that kept the audience engaged. His most memorable moment came during “Doin’ It By Myself”, when he ventured into the crowd (fittingly, by himself) to sing directly with fans — a move that had everyone reaching for their phones! Miller also shared a touching story about touring with Barenaked Ladies years earlier and how that experience helped launch Guster‘s career; that was a nice bit of context that made their opening slot feel more like a celebration among friends than a typical supporting act.

But let’s be honest –- everyone was there for Barenaked Ladies. The Canadian quartet delivered nonstop entertainment, also with a healthy dose of humor. From the moment Ed Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, and Tyler Stewart took the stage, it was clear this wouldn’t be your typical rock show.

The band walked on with “Gonna Walk”; again, Canadian humor abounds.

Robertson, the band’s charismatic frontman, peppered the set with stories and jokes that felt spontaneous, even if they’ve probably been refined over countless performances. But the night’s biggest laugh came courtesy of Kevin Hearn, who delivered a perfectly timed deadpan story about a recent hike in the Hollywood Hills, involving snapping photos of lizards and plants only to discover his phone was dead when he reached the Hollywood sign. The entire venue cracked up. His bandmates spent the rest of the night making jokes about it, turning one story into a running gag.

The setlist was a perfect mix of classics and surprises. Fan-favorites like “Pinch Me”, “One Week”, and “If I Had $1,000,000” had the entire Greek singing along, while deeper cuts like “Big Back Yard” and “Clearly Lost” showcased the band’s range beyond their biggest hits. The inclusion of the “Big Bang Theory Theme” was a crowd-pleaser that reminded everyone of the band’s mainstream success, even if it lasted only about 30 seconds.

Robertson had some fun banter with the crowd when he jokingly claimed that earlier in the day, a fan approached him and begged him not to play the hits and go deeper for the show… and to also include new songs.

So, Ed and the fellas obliged this mysterious fan with a couple of newer tunes.

But Barenaked Ladies have always been at their best when they’re being unpredictable and Saturday night was no exception. A snippet of Van Halen’s “Jump” appeared out of nowhere, while Jim Creeggan’s bass solo during “The Muppet Show Theme / Mahna Mahna” was both technically impressive and completely ridiculous in the best possible way. As soon as the crowd caught on to what he was laying down, everyone sang along.

The real surprise came near the end of the main set with a massive medley that somehow wove together Chappell Roan‘s “Pink Pony Club” with Beyonce’s “Texas Hold’Em”, “The Gambler”, “Abracadabra”, “Hot To Go!”, Billie Eilish‘s “Birds of a Feather”, “Forever Young”, and “Sometimes When We Touch”. It sounds like chaos on paper, but the band pulled it off and the crowd ate it up.

The main set closer was perhaps the night’s biggest surprise — AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” with drummer Tyler Stewart taking lead vocals. Stewart absolutely nailed Brian Johnson’s distinctive wail, proving that Barenaked Ladies’ reputation for musical versatility is well-earned.

The encore brought things full circle with “Lovin’ Life” before Robertson invited both opening bands back to the stage for a group performance of Bryan Adams‘ “Summer of ’69″… which he jokingly called the “Canadian National Anthem”. Watching all three bands share the stage for the final song felt like the perfect end to what had been a great night of music.

Throughout the evening, the production values matched the quality of the performance.

The lighting design was dynamic without being distracting, always keeping the band members well-lit while complementing their energy. The video screen behind the stage added visual interest with song-specific content and clips that enhanced, rather than detracted from the live performance.

Most importantly, Barenaked Ladies sounded great. Their harmonies were tight, their instrumental interplay was sharp, and Robertson’s voice remains strong as ever. For a band that’s been touring for over 30 years, their enthusiasm feels genuine rather than manufactured. Cheers to 30 more!

Photography by Shane Pase

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