Simple Plan relives 20-year music legacy in two-stop Philippine concert
MANILA, Philippines — “It’s pretty crazy that we are still here.”
This was how Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier remarked, in disbelief, on the band’s success in its 20 years in the music industry during the Harder Than It Looks tour in Manila last March 10 at the New Frontier Theatre.
With a sold-out show, the Canadian rock band gave Filipino fans a taste of its classic and contemporary hits for the much-awaited comeback to the Philippines after 11 years.
“It feels amazing to be back in the Philippines. I can’t believe it took us this long,” Bouvier said before thousands of Manila fans.
Bouvier and bandmates Jeff Stinco on lead guitar, Chuck Comeau (drums), and Sébastien Lefebvre (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) last performed in the country in January 2012 with Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne at the Araneta Coliseum. They visited Manila first in 2005 and returned in August 2008.
Even though it was the band’s fourth time to perform in the Philippines, Simple Plan proved its iconic influence in music by kicking off the Manila tour with the 2002 hit track, I’d Do Anything, from the debut studio album, No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls.
Even the seated audience at the venue could not help but stand up and cheer their hearts out when the Montreal-based band played the 2004 songs, Shut Up! and Jump, to hype the entire crowd.
Nostalgia became more vivid among Manila concert-goers during the band’s Jet Lag live performance with singer AIRxYEL, who was the show’s opening act.
The trip down memory lane continued as Simple Plan played Addicted, You Suck at Love, Crazy, and Welcome to My Life, making fans heartily sing along and relive their childhood memories listening to such legendary playlists.
“You, guys, are f***ing awesome. This is a great party going on and I’m loving it,” Bouvier exclaimed, as the show neared the second half.
After giving fans some throwback feels with the early 2000 hits, Simple Plan kept the fun night going with performances from its sixth studio album, Harder Than It Looks. Released in May 2022, it was its first album since Taking One for the Team in 2016.
The multi-platinum band further rocked the Manila crowd by singing some of the new records, such as Iconic, and Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over).
“You, guys, are very incredible singers out there,” Bouvier told the audience, as he kept complimenting the lively crowd.
Performing the 2019 song What’s New Scooby Doo, also paved the way for a lucky fan donning a Scooby Doo-inspired costume to go to the stage and jam closer with the band.
Two other fans were also fortunate to receive giant, signed beach balls from Bouvier after performing Summer Paradise. The lead vocalist then jokingly asked Filipino fans to come with them and visit a beach in the country, which they have not tried before.
As the show neared its end, Simple Plan introduced Where I Belong, a pop-funk single the band co-produced with American bands State Champs and We The Kings in 2019. Lead vocalist Bouvier stressed that the song speaks of Simple Plan’s desire to go on more shows and perform more on stage, the spot where it belongs.
Since its debut in 1999, Simple Plan has remained an international sensation. One of its chart-topping hits, I’m Just a Kid, even led to the band’s popularity among younger generations. It also helped them move forward.
When the band played the trending song that garnered 4.3 billion views on TikTok, drummer Comeau showed his appreciation to fans by going to the mosh pit area.
“It feels so good to be back on stage playing for you. You know what else I missed? I missed coming down in the mosh pit with all of you,” he said, jumping to the sea of audience.
Bouvier also expressed his gratitude to fans, whom he considered as the band’s No. 1 reason for the decades-long of existence in the music realm.
“Sometimes I ask myself the question: ‘How the f**k did we get here? What did we do to deserve to be here?’ It doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
“If you think about it, why (does) Simple Plan still exist? We exist — you know why? One reason — because of people like you! So, thank you. Salamat,” Bouvier added.
The band then made fans swoon over the 2023 version of Perfect to cap off the concert that lasted for almost two hours.
After the Manila leg, Simple Plan finished its two-stop concert in the country with the Davao show held on March 13 at the SMX Convention Center.
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