When people think about the pioneers and major influencers of pop punk, they think Blink 182, New Found Glory, Good Charlotte and rightly so. But there is another inclusion and more often than not the Canadian 5 piece Simple Plan are missed off that list. They have been around for fifteen years and have released their fifth and most recent album this year.
Pierre Bouvier, Singer of Simple Plan (Natalie Lam)
Bristol welcomes opening band The Bottom Line with open arms. Though British, their nationality is entirely disguised through American-esque vocals and typical pop punk power chord progressions. Admittedly, they’re not ground-breaking but they’re pleasing many and they’ve gained new followers, resulting in a win win situation for everybody.
Kevin McCullogh, Singer of Ghost Town (Natalie Lam)
Ghost Town burst on to the stage next. Their rigorous energy is contagious from the onset. They are carefree and almost subconscious in movement on stage. They incorporate elements of pop in catchy melodies and sounds often heard in electronic music. It’s all very 2009, but there’s a good chance they’re helping bringing that sound back.
Pierre Bouvier, Singer of Simple Plan (Natalie Lam)
There is a huge long roar of excitement from every single member of the audience when Simple Plan take to the stage. Though this quickly quietens with the anti-climatic opener Opinion Overload it immediately is sparked back to life with energy-invoking tracks I’d Do Anything and Jump.
Jeff Stinco, Guitarist of Simple Plan (Natalie Lam)
The empathy amongst the crowd during Welcome to My Life and Your Love is a Lie is high, the pure emotion painted on the faces of the crowd urges the band to channel even more into the performance. They’re incredibly aware of their strengths and they’re not afraid to boast these.
Manny Dominick, drummer of Ghost Town (Natalie Lam)
From the positively generic but incredibly relatable I’m Just a Kid to the solely ‘poppy’ but undeniably enjoyable Summer Paradise, the fans are clinging on to every word that vocalist Pierre Bouvier is singing. The band even throw in a curve ball cover of Uptown Funk sliding into Can’t Feel My Face, which instantly convinces any anti-mainstream music listeners to unashamedly bop their heads and sing along too.
Pierre Bouvier, Singer of Simple Plan (Natalie Lam)
A new observer would find it difficult to determine the longevity of Simple Plan‘s life span. Is their incredibly tight and near-enough-perfect performance an indication of a long span or does the non-stop palpable energy exuded suggest they’re fresh, full of life and ready to prove themselves? Nevertheless, the ability to pull off this juxtaposition is proof that Simple Plan deserve to always be on the list of pop punk heroes. They are influencers, still relevant and most importantly, timeless.
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Live review and photography by Natalie Lam of Simple Plan at Bristol O2 Academy on 20th March 2016
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