Simple Plan are less than Perfect - review
Simple Plan are legendary, endlessly charismatic, and has some of the best songs in the business. But their major setlist issue leaves a sour taste. Read the full review below.
Simple Plan is one of the most iconic and powerful pop-punk bands in the world.
After just over 20 years on the scene, this small Canadian quartet have seen and done it all. They've had hits, misses, absolute jokes of songs, and all for an incredible legacy.
Rounding off their enormous UK tour at London's Eventim Apollo on Friday, February 16, 2024, Simple Plan kickstarted their show with the intensely catchy I'd Do Anything.
Despite frontman Pierre Bouvier being in his mid-40s - he could still move. Without wasting an inch of the stage, the human springboard bounced around the Apollo's hallowed stage through the band's first few hits.
The rockers - made up of Bouvier, Chuck Comeau, Jeff Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre - sauntered through Shut Up!, Jump and You Suck At Love without allowing their fans to breathe.
Want to listen to your favourite artists and the latest songs? Sign up for a free 30 day trial at the link to listen to unlimited music on Amazon Music!
Simple Plan set list - Eventim Apollo, Friday, February 16, 2024
- I'd Do Anything
- Shut Up!
- Jump
- You Suck at Love
- Your Love Is a Lie
- Addicted
- Welcome to My Life
- Iconic
- Summer Paradise
- Take My Hand
- Astronaut
- Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare's Over)
- Grow Up / Vacation
- Million Pictures of You
- All Star / Sk8er Boi / Mr. Brightside
- What's New Scooby Doo?
- Where I Belong (with Derek DiScanio)
Encore
- Jet Lag (with AIR YEL)
- Crazy / Perfect World / Save You / This Song Saved My Life
- I'm Just a Kid
- Untitled
- Perfect
Unfortunately, this may have been the highest point of Simple Plan's show.
As the setlist waned on, the band quite obviously lost steam and was forced to take easier steps to get through each track.
With more crowd participation than excitement, it became a bit of a soundtrack of their golden years.
However, what they laid down was exceptional. Simple Plan are obviously a band that knows how to make good music and perform it - and after a long tour, perhaps we can cut them some slack.
The worst part of the night, however, was a baffling string of covers from the band.
Towards the end of Simple Plan's setlist, they played a medley of cover songs, consisting of All Star (Smash Mouth), Sk8er Boi (Avril Lavigne) and Mr Brightside (The Killers).
Considering the stalwarts have built an incredible repertoire of hits over the past two decades... this batch of popular cover songs shouldn't happen. The focus should be on them; a celebration of their music. Not pulling cheap karaoke tracks of out a hat.
Although they ended powerfully with I'm Just a Kid and Perfect, capping off the night well, it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Despite this, Simple Plan are a band for the ages. If they're in town, you're almost guaranteed a great night out, and something to wash away the woes of the week.
