A sold-out show in the retro-dome Forum in Kentish Town, French-Canadian Simple Plan’s final night of their European tour kicked off with a bang of powerful punk rock sound and a screaming crowd of doting fans. Their new single, Opinion Overload, opened the concert as the band jumped right in with a driving rock beat and massive energy. With nearly blinding flashing lights and pounding base enhanced by the superior acoustics, the effect was energising and impressive. Although the sound is primarily punk rock, some songs displayed elements of metal, funk, and reggae.
Simple Plan’s latest album, Taking One for the Team, released four weeks ago, is their first one in five years. Featuring in the set from this record were Boom!, I Refuse and Farewell, showing that the band is better than ever. Other songs incltuded heavy-metal sounding Perfect World, the awesome beat of Crazy, and the big audience-rousers Shut Up! and I’m Just a Kid. Playing a short version of Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling right before Jump, the Canadian rockers had nearly the entire theatre jumping.
Describing the power of music to lift spirits before launching This Song Saved My Life, Simple Plan continued with a combination of favorite hits and new songs. The show never wavered in its vivacity and impact and the crowd danced along without a wasted second.
Often interacting with the crowd, lead singer Pierre Bouvier shouted “We love you London” and “the British accent is so sexy”, before performing their biggest hit, Welcome to My Life. Unusual additions to this show were men and women dancing on stage, in particular half-naked men cavorting in towels and skivvies while the very punk I Can’t Keep My Hands Off You was playing. At another point huge beach balls were thrown into the crowd and tossed around.
The rock ballad Perfect and an impressive acoustic guitar solo by Bouvier concluded the show. Before exiting the stage, Simple Plan delighted avid fans by casting clothes and drum sticks. This vivacious performance was tremendous fun, what more could you ask?
★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick Photos: Filippo L’Astorina
For further information about Simple Plan and future events visit here.
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