WE’RE ALL JUST KIDS: SIMPLE PLAN AT VICTORIA WAREHOUSE

POP-PUNK PILLARS ‘SIMPLE PLAN’ TAKE FANS ON A JOURNEY OF NOSTALGIA | BY JORDAN BRADLEY

Since the release of their 2002 debut album ‘No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls’, Simple Plan have been a pillar of the pop punk scene. Over two decades later, they are still a unit of high-energy, fast tempo fun, and that’s exactly the energy they brought to Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse on Friday night.

From the moment the band stepped out on stage to John Williams’ iconic Star Wars theme, everyone in the Warehouse knew they were in for a night of fun. As ‘I’d Do Anything’ set the pace followed by ‘Shut Up’ and ‘Jump’, Simple Plan buzzed with an energy that expressed itself through microphone tricks, guitar solos, and epic crowd singalongs. Central to this magic was Pierre Bouvier’s voice which sounds just like it did back in 2002. Tracks like ‘Addicted’ and ‘Jet Lag’ fizzed with the youthful, punchy power that fuelled their original recordings, and the show unfolded as a string of bangers that transported its audience back to the noughties.

Simple Plan (Joanna Bradtke/Northern Exposure)

The show’s production value didn’t leave anything to be desired either. Inventive and economical, the sequences and lightwork embellished each performance, supplying a gravitas that brought the band closer to its audience. ‘Million Pictures of You’ was backed by a creative collage sequence displaying cheering crowds from the group’s international travels. A bunch of beach balls were released into the venue to celebrate the audience-band harmony of ‘Summer Paradise’. The best moment of the show came when Bouvier swapped places with drummer Chuck Comeau for the final chorus of ‘I’m Just a Kid’. Bouvier saw the song out at the kit – displaying dexterous musical chops in the process – while Comeau crowd surfed.

Simple Plan (Joanna Bradtke/Northern Exposure)

From track to track, Simple Plan offered an upbeat mix of old and new with a few surprises here and there to spice things up. Between the hits – of which ‘Astronaut’ and ‘Untitled’ were surprisingly impactful standouts – Friday’s crowd was treated to a mid-show mash-up of pop punk classics. Smashmouth, Avril Lavigne, The Killers – the spontaneity and universal adoration of the song selection was a shot of pure adrenaline that got everyone singing. Slotted amongst the stellar setlist too was a mini mash-up of Simple Plan’s own tracks that didn’t make the show in full, including ‘Grow Up’, another rocket from their debut album. Thrown into the mix too was a pulsing outburst of the ‘What’s New Scooby Doo?’ theme song; one minute and nine seconds of pure exhilaration which got everyone dancing along. The show was capped off with a heartfelt rendition of ‘Perfect’, preceded by a brief outburst of Oasis’s ‘Wonderwall’, because why not?

Simple Plan (Joanna Bradtke/Northern Exposure)

Tying together Simple Plan’s rip-roaring, teenage powerhouse of a show was a palpable feeling of love for the fans and the city of Manchester. From Bouvier asking, “Is that normal?” because he’d been subjected to the snow while exploring the city, to the band bringing some fans up on stage for a photo midway through the show (many of whom were dressed as a certain cartoon dog), love and attention was paid to the city and its fans of Simple Plan. By the time the lights came up, everyone in the room was a kid again, and it was a truly special night to be a part of.

The SOLD OUT Hard as Rock Tour continues across the UK this week supported by State Champs and Mayday Parade but you can catch Simple Plan in July as special guest to Avril Lavigne in Manchester and Cardiff. Keep up to date with all tour dates here.

BY JORDAN BRADLEY @jordanabradley7