Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Saturday September 10, 2016 :
As I approached the venue, the amount of fans lined up outside of the Enmore Theatre surprised me. The line went on and on around the block as everyone eagerly waited to get a glimpse of their favourite band. The Australian tour is sold out but I had never expected the amount of people that I was faced with.
Warming up the crowd was Australian pop punk band Forever Ends Here, who took to the stage with ease, electrifying the audience with their stage presence and engaging song lyrics. The lead singer, Luke McChesney, rocked the audience with his extraordinary voice, while the band kept the audience entertained for approximately an hour.
Shortly after, Simple Plan dominated the stage, opening with their newest single ‘Opinion Overload’ from their most recent album, Taking One for the Team. Simple Plan presented their fans with their old sound through powerful drum beats and guitar riffs. The undeniable energy from the band projected onto the crowd, which had everyone in the audience going crazy.
They then continued onto ‘Jet Lag’, a crowd favourite, with the whole theatre singing the lyrics back to the band. Front-man, Pierre Bouvier, states the way in which Simple Plan has been together for over 15 years, thanking the fans for the possibility to continuously travel the world touring and doing what they love. It’s clear that the relationship between the band and the audience is highly important to the band, with crowd involvement and interaction being a big thing for the boys. Throughout the entire concert, the members of Simple Plan would interact with the audience, either by pointing at individual fans within the audience or interacting with everyone as a whole.
The setlist consisted of both old and new songs, with many songs from their new album being played with the unbelievable passion that Simple Plan is known for. Throwback songs such as ‘I’m Just A Kid’, ‘Shut Up!’ and ‘Welcome To My Life’ had the crowd reminiscing and singing along at the top of their lungs, highlighting the passion for this experience.
Right before leaving the stage, the band pulled out one of their most famous songs ‘Perfect’, drawing on the heart strings of their audience. The song began as an acoustic version, with Bouvier and his guitar the only things visible on the stage. Bouvier is joined by the rest of the band halfway through as the acoustic sound is now transformed into a pop punk anthem, driving the crowd crazy as the guitar riffs join in.
As they bid goodbye to the crowd, the band thanked their fans from the bottom of their hearts, showing everyone there that this band is still the same as they always have been. There is no denying that Simple Plan is still as extraordinary as they have ever been and I personally cannot wait for them to return to Australia again to see what they bring once again.
Reviewer: Madeline Trevethan
Photographer: Alicia Stephenson
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