%20(3)_edited.png){kind=small}
RECAP: LEON THOMAS BRINGS 'MUTTS DONT HEEL TOUR' TO VANCOUVER
- Backspin Canada
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Leon Thomas brought his sold out ‘Mutts Don’t Heel Tour’ to Vancouver, BC on December 16, 2025, marking his first-ever performance in the city and his debut at the legendary Commodore Ballroom. For an artist whose rise has been defined by momentum, intention, and creative confidence, the venue felt like a fitting entry point. Many careers have quietly begun inside those walls before exploding outward, and based on the response inside the room, this stop felt less like a test run and more like an early milestone.
Photos by Caroline Charruyer / Backspin HQ
The Vancouver date marked the 22nd stop of the 26-date North American leg of the tour, which kicked off on October 30 in Dallas and wound through major cities including New York, Atlanta, Toronto, and Chicago. By the time Leon Thomas reached Vancouver, the tour had already built a reputation for tightly curated performances and consistently packed rooms, and the Commodore crowd arrived fully locked in.
Leon stepped onstage dressed with intention, leaning hard into the rock-inflected R&B identity that has come to define this era. A leather beret sat low above black sunglasses, paired with a layered vest over a white tee and silver metallic pants that caught the stage lights with every movement. Guitar in hand, he carried himself like a frontman comfortable commanding space without forcing it, letting presence and pacing do the work.
Throughout the set, Leon moved fluidly through the songs that have driven his recent ascent. Tracks like 'MUTT' landed with immediate recognition, while 'NOT FAIR' and 'RATHER BE ALONE' drew loud singalongs that filled the room from front to back. Rather than rushing through the catalogue, the performance unfolded with control, giving each moment room to breathe. The crowd stayed engaged from start to finish, voices rising naturally as the songs hit familiar turns.
The tour itself supports MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, the expanded edition of Leon’s critically acclaimed sophomore album. The project deepens the themes first introduced on MUTT, pushing further into genre-blurring territory where R&B, rock textures, soul, and experimental production coexist without friction. New collaborations with Kehlani, Big Sean, and Halle expand the emotional range of the record, while Leon’s writing continues to circle ideas of vulnerability, independence, and emotional friction. The focus track 'NOT FAIR' captures that tension clearly, balancing intimacy with restraint in a way that mirrors the live show’s tone.
Leon’s recent run has been defined by visible milestones. MUTT has surpassed 1.1 billion streams, earned Platinum certification, and delivered his first Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to No. 13. The album has also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart, along with topping the R&B Digital Song Sales and R&B Streaming Songs charts. Offstage, Leon has continued to stack moments, from a viral NPR Tiny Desk performance to nominations for Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Pop Artist, along with a confirmed performance at the upcoming BET Awards.
Vancouver’s show fit neatly into that broader arc. It felt confident without being overstated, polished without losing warmth. The Commodore crowd responded accordingly, staying present and vocal throughout the night, a strong indicator of how well Leon’s material translates beyond streaming numbers.
After Vancouver, Leon Thomas is set to close out the North American leg with final stops in Portland, Oakland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, before taking the tour overseas. The international run will carry him through Helsinki, Berlin, Paris, London, and additional dates across Europe, the UK, and Australia, extending a tour that has already proven both creatively and commercially successful.
For Vancouver, this first encounter felt less like a one-off and more like the beginning of a longer relationship. If history at the Commodore is any indication, Leon Thomas will not be a stranger to this city for long.
Remaining North American Tour Dates
December 17 – Portland, OR at Roseland Theater
December 19 – Oakland, CA at Fox Theater
December 21 – Phoenix, AZ at The Van Buren
December 22 – Los Angeles, CA at The Wiltern
Gallery
