Live Review

Simple Plan @ The Triffid

Let me set one thing straight. As a 22 year old living in 2016, it’s rare that I blast Simple Plan from my headphones. However, as a 10 year old living in 2003, they are the band in my CD player, on my walls, and in my heart.

As I walk excitedly to the Triffid, I send a message to a friend who sadly couldn’t make it. I press ‘send’ and look up. Who walks by me but Pierre Bouvier (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeff Stinco (lead guitar, backing vocals)! It’s surreal to see your childhood heroes walking around Brisbane as if they just hopped off the 196 bus. My journey continues. I wait in a massive line of fans for about half an hour. I’m stood behind a group of 18 year old girls who chatter excitedly. They point at every car that goes past, wondering if the band are inside. I keep quiet about my recent encounter, grinning inwardly.Upon entering, I manage to get to the third row of the crowd. We wait excitedly.

The guest band tonight is Forever Ends Here, a pop rock band from Sydney. They open with Take Me There. Before the chorus, the crowd is waving their hands in the air. After playing a few more well received songs, Luke McChesney (front man) explains that 9 years ago he was in the front row of a Simple Plan concert, singing his heart out. They dedicate the next song to their heroes - turned peers. It’s an inspiring moment. The band goes on to cover 1985 by Bowling for Soup, which is a tactful way to thrill the crowd. You get the feeling that everyone wants to live in the early 00s for the night. The band ends with Chapters, with everyone bopping along. Several guitar picks are thrown to the now packed crowd. The anticipation grows.

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for; Simple Plan walks on stage and the crowd loses it. My hopes of getting a good picture go out the window as the entire audience moves forward to try and get a better look. They open with a new song entitled Opinion Overload from their 2016 album Taking One for the Team. Although I am relatively new to this song, it’s not long before I’m bouncing along awkwardly with the rest of the crowd (who all seem to be experiencing the same childhood flashbacks as me). The band hasn’t aged and neither has their sound. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They have the same pop punk sound that we fell in love with in the early 2000s, which is exhilarating to revisit. While they sing, I notice Pierre Bouvier’s X-Flies t-shirt (a tribute to the 23rd reunion). He has the crowd in the palm of his hand as they cheer after every remark he makes. He chats about Brisbane’s hot chicks and asks the crowd if they’re ready to party. The response? Yes, Pierre - they are ready to party.

Giant beach balls bend the light as they are thrown amongst the crowd. The set is a healthy mix of old and new. The guys even manage to fit in a cover of Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk. The crowd goes wild for the old classics such as Crazy, Perfect and Shut Up. Most sing along to the new songs as well. The band seems genuinely happy to be there, which transfers to the crowd. After a 6 song encore the band say their final farewells, throwing guitar picks and towels into the sea of people. I shake the hand of David Desrosiers (bass guitar, backing vocals) and feel my 10 year old self thank me as my childhood finally has closure.

- Stephanie Gurdon

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