Live Review – Simple Plan
This has got to be one of the most iconic pop-punk lineups we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in some time. Simple Plan are still held in high esteem within the hearts and minds of emo’s everywhere and it brings that extra special feeling each time they return to European shores. With it being only night two of the UK leg and on a Saturday night in Glasgow – the first time the band had set foot in the city since 2020 – they were primed and ready to throw some sunshine on a cold and bleak February night in the O2 Academy.
The venue was already filling at a quick fire pace soon after doors and there wasn’t a long wait before the first act took to the stage. Up steps American social media content creator and singer, Air Yel. Despite busting her ankle in Manchester, the show was packed with energy with the singer showing why she is deserving of this slot. Having previously been on the road with Simple Plan as their social media guru, it was nice to see the leap from behind the scenes to performing up front. A short set packed with her own material including recent singles ‘Please’ and ‘Hellgirl’ following up with a cover mashup of Paramore’s ‘Still Into You’ and Coldplays ‘Yellow’ sparking a big Glaswegian singalong.
A short change over and a band up next who could easily be a headliner based on the size and volume of the crowd – it’s State Champs. This was my first time seeing them live and I was eager to see so many songs live that have been the soundtrack to my life for a number of years and the wait was certainly worth it. They came out the gates with ‘Just Sound’ straight into ‘Frozen’ before playing songs from their entire catalog to a sea of voices singing the words to every song. It was awesome to see such high energy on stage throughout their entire set as well – these guys delivered!
Despite some issues with the kick drum, the set was rounded off in style with some classic Champs tunes with ‘Secrets’ followed by ‘Everybody But You’. The Albany icons showed they’re at their very best taking on large rooms and venues of this size could easily house their own headline slot in the near future.
Next we go from one headline act to another, one whose iconic back catalogue is enough to pack out a room to capacity and turn it in to a pop-punk party, it’s Mayday Parade. It’s always a party when these guys are on stage, for years their live shows have been a spectacle both in fields and venues across the world. It’s perhaps somewhat ironic when you take into account Mayday Parade’s idiosyncratic brand of miserable pop-punk, but it’s clear from the minute they play it does nothing but enthuse the crowd. The set was jammed full of classics that had the crowd in a unison of passionate vocals for the entirety of their set. ‘Anywhere But Here’ and ‘Piece of Your Heart’ hit mid set before a strong finish with ‘Jersey’ and as you’d expect, the loudest of the night in ‘Jamie All Over’. It was a set that highlighted where the band are at even now and that they could easily top the bill of this venue.
It’s becoming a regular occurrence at these type of shows having a big sing along to the classics spun by the PA – it builds such a high energy even before a band walks on stage. This was no different for headliners Simple Plan as the Star Wars theme echo’s round the room – this however is quickly drowned out by screams from the crowd as the band take up their instruments and launch immediately into fan-favourite ‘I’d Do Anything’ receiving a rapturous response from an instantly baying crowd. It sets the precedent for what’s to follow, as the band offset classic tracks with cover medleys, cartoon theme songs and deeper cuts that go over the heads of everyone over the age of 30 – but hit home with the younger side of the band’s fans.
They continue to throw out the bangers like ‘Shut Up’, ‘You Suck at Love’ & ‘Addicted’ – it just feels like one big nostalgic sing along with all your friends. It might have been the middle of winter, but when ‘Summer Paradise’ is on and all you can see is a beach backdrop and massive beach balls flying around the room, you tend you forget the conditions outside for a few minutes at least. A sea of confetti swarms in the air as the room lights up with little tiny colours of thin tissue giving the cleaners an almighty job when the room empties. Simple Plan prove themselves to be A level pop-punk royalty many assumed they might not reach. Yet as they plough through fan-favourites such as ‘When I’m Gone’, ‘Welcome to My Life’ and ‘I’m Just A Kid’, they harbour the talent, the chops and indeed the longevity to cement themselves as one of the big guns.
The sold out banner outside proves that. It’s been the type of show you never want to end, the fun you have at a Simple Plan show just sums up the bands overall stance in life. As we reach the home stretch the fun continues in the form of an iconic theme bringing some special guests on stage. 10 fans dressed as Scooby Doo dance across the stage as the band perform ‘What’s New Scooby Doo’ following on from a cover mashup of ‘All Star/Sk8ter Boi’ and ‘Mr Brightside’. ‘Where I Belong’ concludes this portion of the show with guest appearances from the two Derek’s of State Champs & Mayday Parade. More guest appearances followed with AirYell hopping on stage to join in the vocals on ‘Jet Lag’ before the emo national anthem ‘I’m Just a Kid’ almost blows the roof off and a change in the setup with Pierre on drums, Scott Graham from State Champs on vocals and Chuck crowd surfing his way around the room. The night sadly comes to a close – Pierre apologises he can’t be ‘Perfect’ but this is far from the truth. It was a special night of celebrating some of the best that the pop-punk scene has to offer. A night of nostalgia that made a room filled with elder emo’s throw right back to the days in their poster covered bedrooms singing their lungs out to their favourite songs. This is where we belong.
