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Alex Warren Praises Shawn Mendes During Toronto Concert: 'God That Man Is Hot'

The chart-topping "Ordinary" singer played Toronto's RBC Amphitheatre last night (July 7), where he also went fishing in Lake Ontario before the show.

Alex Warren​

Alex Warren

Alex Warren

Alex Warren holds Shawn Mendes to a high standard.

Last night (July 7), the American singer-songwriter gave a shout-out to the Canadian hitmaker in his hometown while performing at RBC Amphitheatre on the Toronto stop of his debut arena headline tour, the Little Orphan Alex Live tour. In an address to the crowd, he praised Mendes' live concert during one of many comedic quips.


"Thank you very much for coming to my show. Do not go to Shawn Mendes right after this, you'll realize how terrible this one is," the singer-songwriter joked onstage. He also complimented the singer's looks, saying "God' that man is hot," and revealed to the crowd that the "Señorita" vocalist has never eaten poutine.

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While the pair have yet to collaborate, they were spotted in the studio together in New York, and Warren has been vocal of his love for Mendes' artistry. He cites him as a key influence and met him . Back in 2023, the singer ran into the Toronto native at Coachella and the pair had a wholesome conversation, before crossing paths again at a vocal lesson the following day, as it turned out that they shared the same vocal coach.

"Shawn was one of those people who got me into music, where I was truly a fan of his," Warren shared in an interview with Z100 New York. "I go up to him and I was like, 'Hey, dude, I just wanted to say you've gotten me into music when I was suffering,' and immediately, whatever he was doing, he looked straight at me. He was fully attentive, actually cared and I could tell."

Warren also revealed to the crowd that he went fishing in Lake Ontario before hitting the stage at the lakefront venue, with clips online showing him walking along the Toronto waterfront and actively attempting to catch fish. In between hits, he continued to laugh with the Toronto crowd, keeping fans engaged with countless jokes and his signature humour all night long.

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@alexwarrenarchive

He didn’t catch a single fish 😔👆

In an interview with iHeartRadio Canada, Warren also spoke about Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho's polarizing use of "Ordinary" as his walk-up music and revealed he follows him on Instagram.

Warren's concert had no shortage of flashy moments, including inviting two young fans all the way from the lawn to partake in his longstanding tradition of setting off a confetti button during his anthemic track "Fever Dream." He opened his show with loads of fireworks and sparkly pyrotechnics.

The concert wouldn't be complete without a performance of his mega-hit "Ordinary," which holds the title of being the second-longest running No. 1 ever on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, and landed at No. 2 on the 2025 Year-End Top Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Songs chart, only second to Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."

The Little Orphan Alex Live tour continues tonight (July 8) with another Canadian stop at Montreal's Centre Bell.

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Begonia
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Begonia

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Music News Digest: Begonia, William Prince Amongst Inaugural Nominees for the New Meridian Prize

Also this week: Lineups are announced for Harvest Music Festival, Dawson City Music Festival and other new and established summer events, Agneya wins a breakthrough jazz artist award, plus a benefit concert for Venezuelan earthquake victims.

The brand-new Meridian Prize terms itself ''an annual, stand alone award recognizing an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada.'' Its inaugural 10 nominees were announced on July 7, and the list includes now-established regional stars alongside new and emerging artists. The 2026 recipient will be awarded on Oct. 3 at BreakOut West in Victoria, B.C., receiving a $5,000 honourarium.

2026 Meridian Prize Nominees

Begonia – Fantasy Life
Cassia Hardy – In Relation
Emma Goldman – all you are is we
Fontine – Good Buddy
Foxwarren – 2
Home Front – Watch It Die
Jack J – Desert Blue
Jairus Sharif – Basis of Unity
Living Hour – Internal Drone Infinity
William Prince – Further From The Country

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