Tearing across the United States, bringing an end to the dog days of summer, is the “Let The Bad Times Roll Tour,” with a lineup of The Offspring, Sum 41, and Simple Plan. As today’s pop-punk resurgence continues to gain momentum, fueled by mainstream artists drawing inspiration from the genre’s rebellious spirit, nostalgia tours like this and festivals such as “We Were Young” stand as testaments to the enduring power of pop-punk in uniting generations of live music fans. In a bittersweet farewell to their devoted fans, the legendary pop-punk trailblazers Sum 41 are savoring the final shows of their extraordinary journey.
Kicking off Saturday’s show at New York’s Jones Beach Theater was the multi-platinum Montreal-based pop-punk band, Simple Plan. They burst onto the music scene in the early 2000s with their debut album, “No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls,” and have since become synonymous with the pop-punk genre, known for hits like “I’d Do Anything,” “Addicted,” and “Welcome to My Life.”
As the sun set at Jones Beach Theatre, Simple Plan ignited the evening with the fan-favorite “Shut Up!” Lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier’s raw and passionate vocals stoked the flames of teen angst and mall drama within us all, instantly transporting the crowd back into the Warped Tour 04′ parking lot at this very venue.
Each song in their setlist was met with enthusiastic cheers and sing-alongs from the crowd, underscoring the enduring appeal of Simple Plan’s music. One of the standout moments of the evening occurred when Simple Plan launched into a medley of covers, including Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi,” and, of course, their rendition of the iconic Scooby-Doo Theme song.
The band closed out the night with an encore that featured their hit “I’m Just a Kid.” The song’s anthemic chorus had the entire audience singing along at the top of their lungs, fostering a sense of unity and nostalgia that defined the evening.
Under a canopy of starry skies at Long Island’s Jones Beach theater, Deryck Whibley, the tireless soul of Sum 41, seized the stage with his trademark spitfire energy, kicking off the show with “Motivation” from their 2001 platinum album release, “All Killer, No Filler.”
With various lineup changes and the formidable obstacles they’ve had to overcome, including the health and physical struggles of Whibley, the band has forged a triumphant career spanning over two decades, gaining mainstream recognition and numerous accolades in the process. One of the most significant turning points came in 2006 when guitarist Dave Baksh departed, prompting a period of adaptation as they welcomed replacement Tom Thacker, of Canadian punk-band Gob into the group. Notably, Dave Baksh re-joined the band in 2015 and the group has since powered on with three core guitarists.
Earlier this year, Sum 41 revealed the news that, following the release of their highly anticipated album “Heaven and Hell” (Release Date TBD), the band would take their final bow, bringing to a close an epic saga that has left an indelible mark on the soundtrack of a generation. Original drummer Steve Jocz reacted to the news by sharing a video on his personal Instagram account, where he jammed out to the track “Still Waiting.”
Onstage, the band revealed in every note, every chord, making it clear that this was more than just another show; it was a thank-you. The crowd responded with an unbridled passion that reverberated through the night, chanting every lyric as anthems to their shared history, growth and timelessness.
(Photos & Words by Dave Sokol) @Dave__Sokol
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