Simple Plan Gives Vancouver a Show That Made Us Laugh and Sing

After a four-year hiatus without a new CD or going on tour, Simple Plan finally returned.

5 stars

The Montrealers released their new CD in February and have been touring to promote it – and the reaction from the fans was outstanding.

On September 3rd 2008, the boys of Simple Plan graced the stage at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum and treated us with new and old songs alike.

The night started off with bang when Vancouver pop-punk rockers Faber Drive opened and played some of their most requested songs, such as Second Chance, Without You and Sleepless Nights.

In a bright yellow t-shirts, pop-rock group Cute Is What We Aim For was next. The band came out and instantly had our attention when they played Practice Makes Perfect and Doctor.

The entire stadium was filled with screaming girls and guys wanting more – and the fun didn’t stop there. Metro Station was still to come. Mason, Trace, Blake, and Anthony from the hit-making pop band ran out and got everyone to their feet, even the people in the stands we screaming to Shake It.

Finally, it was the main event.

After waiting an hour and a half, the huge curtain hiding the stage fell to the ground and Generation filled the stadium. Pierre, David, Jeff, Sebastian and Chuck had huge smiles on their faces as they played for their biggest supporters. The band was off to a great start. They played some of the old: I’m Just A Kid and I’d Do Anything, some of the new: Your Love Is A Lie and When I’m Gone – and of course everyone’s favourites: Shut Up and Crazy.

The band provided comic relief throughout the night by, for example, hanging the bras that were thrown on stage on their guitars.

Pierre, David and Sebastian also showed the crowd some of their funny dance moves. Pierre’s move was rolling the dice, Sebastian was a guy always reaching for his pocket to see if his cell phone is vibrating and David described his move as though your feet are stuck to concrete.

The band then got serious and personal with their shout out to Jeff Bouvier, Pierre’s Brother, and his ongoing battle with cancer. Pierre took a moment to say thanks to him and then started in with the song Save You, which was dedicated to his sibling.

The band went the extra mile when a blackout filled the arena and Pierre appeared on a solo platform in the mosh pit, singing to all of us. The band even got everyone jumping, including the people in the stands, when they played their oh-so-famous song Jump.

Simple Plan went all out for their Canadian fans that night, from playing our favourites, to voting which song we would want to hear near the end and even a rap preformed by Pierre dedicated to Vancouver and our trees.

Sadly it was time for the end and Simple Plans final song, an acoustic version of Perfect preformed by Pierre.

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The fans of Simple Plan were not let down that night, and we will be waiting for the next time they’re in Vancouver.