Simple Plan – Gig Review & Photo Gallery 13th April @ Hordern Pavillion, Syd NSW

Posted on April 17, 2024 by ghaskins13

Simple Plan
Hordern Pavillion, Sydney
April 13, 2024
Support: Boys Like Girls, We The Kings, Jax

On the 13th of April, a night of pop-punk domination took over Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion, marking the first of two sold-out shows in the state. With lines spanning through the streets, it became visible that even before the music, the list of highly prolific bands was sure to conjure an unforgettable night. Together Jax, We The Kings, Boys Like Girls, and Simple Plan unified fans both young and old – dispelling the notions of mere nostalgia and legacy. And instead asserting their continuing careers built from years of tedious and strenuous journeys of growth.

Soundtracking the bodies piling into the Hordern was the ever-eclectic, Jax. Shooting to stardom and virality for her TikTok anthem, ‘Victoria’s Secret’, she quickly became a well-known entity- even if you don’t know her name. In her short set time, she exuded her infectious energy and quirky self outward- delivering a performance that was genuine, sweet, and a little bit charming. Australia is also helping to deliver some firsts for the artist- with only the third performance of new single ‘Snake’ happening at the Sydney show, as well as teasing her upcoming album to Australian audiences.

If there was one thing she did help solidify, it was the fact that this night was carefully and meticulously crafted to be hailed a haven for ’90s and early 2000s babies (even more so solidified with her guitarist hailing from kings of the 10s, Hot Chelle Rae). Scanning the crowd during her ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ switch POV song, it was heartwarming to see both young kids getting their groove on and older dads bobbing their heads. Both young and old, tonight radiates an appeal that branches beyond nostalgia, and is even indoctrinating the new generation into the pop-punk scene!

Testament to the extravagance of the night, at just the second act, Sydney’s pavilion was almost jam-packed, filled to the brim with snapbacks and tattered tees. Of course, this makes sense when discovering next up were We The Kings. From the initial moments of their set, til the very end, this band showcased talent through their crowd involvement and stage presence. Not a moment went by where the crowd wasn’t moving, clapping, singing, and cheering, not just in a typical way, but in an engaged moment of unison and shared passion. Mixing their old tracks, with current jokes about AI and technology, the band found a bridge between the wavering audiences, with giggles to be heard through the room. One of the most notable times of the night was when the band asked who DIDN’T know them… to which a total of only nine people raised their hands.

After coming from a hectic Bring Me The Horizon show the night before, this was certainly a change of pace… but it turns out We The Kings were there too, and so happened to pick up some inspiration. Taking note of BMTH’s stellar media team, they decided to shoot a music video throughout the crowd for their latest single ‘When We Were Young’, featuring Mayday Parade. Jumping over the barricade so hard Travis ripped his pants, it was a sign of the crazy energy that existed at the barricade and beyond.

This of course culminated at the final song of the set, the emo classic, ‘Check Yes Juliet’. A staple in any playlist, it almost felt like an honor to be able to scream this track with thousands of other fans! Claiming it as our song, not theirs, with raised W’s in the sky, We The Kings were sent off warmly!

Next to join the stage were American legends, Boys Like Girls. Fitting for their caliber, the band cultivated an introduction that gave each member their own time in the spotlight- one by one, claiming their respective musical pedestals and conjuring their separate applauses. The large electronic backing soon filled with montage clips of the band, housing old tour footage and behind-the-scenes videos, all in a reminiscent celebration of their long-spanning career.

The rest of their set became a flurry of the band’s greatest hits and most acclaimed tracks, of course, including, ‘The Great Escape’. However, it seemed that the performance of as many of these tracks as possible took precedence over interaction or communication with the audience. As a hardcore fan, I can imagine this set was a dream, with a multitude of songs being played and an immense section of their discography showcased. As a causal enjoyer, the immediate transition into like songs sometimes made distinctions hard to differentiate, and saw moments of the set become a little tiresome or lackluster. Part of these feelings may be influenced by the back-of-crowd vibe during their set in particular, which was a little still and uninterested. Despite this, Boys Like Girls did pull out some tricks in order to connect, including a cover of K-pop band Twice, which felt almost like a fever dream. Sliding through their tracks with tambourines in hand, Boys Like Girls asserted their history and brought it to life for the many fans within the venue.

After what was already a stacked night, it was time for headliners, Simple Plan, to make their first appearance back in Sydney since 2019’s Good Things Festival installment! With no need for introductions, the band took the stage and immediately conquered it, with intense lights and swirling electronic backdrops merely an addition to their stellar presence. It was insane to see from the very beginning moments, an entirely sold-out crowd scream back the lyrics- so loud they almost dominated over that of Pierre’s!

With a call for Jeff to unleash upon the Sydney crowd, the band both physically and audibly demonstrated that their persistent performance and crafted skills are simply not abilities that fade, but merely grow in strength with time. With these whirring guitars spiraling into a real feature of some old-school Simple Plan tracks, the energy in the room buzzed just as hard as the speakers blasting reverberating bass and chords. I found myself situated toward the back during this middle section of the set, uncovering a crowd that in itself, was a spectacle. Almost everyone’s hands were in the air and were jumping, like a large wave of bodies engulfing the energy presented to them, fluctuating as their conductors also jumped. So too, in tracks like ‘Addicted’, the crowd made the room theirs, with only their vocals filling the space.

If there is a notion to be associated with a Simple Plan, it would be that of iconic, prolific, and unmatched. Their presence in the pop-punk scene has been second to none, and it is understandable why this crowd is not only filled with older individuals, but younger kids embracing the music that formulated some of their favourite bands to date. Simple Plan’s set saw them interact heavily with the crowd, whether it be with many an attempt at an Australian accent, reminiscing on past shows, or sharing tidbits from their long-lasting career. Even Pierre’s normal talking voice is iconic at this point. What comes with this status is the ability to change and be assured of oneself, which was clearly on display. Among the hits and classics, the band discussed the notion of hardcore fans, and what it means to be one. Instead of it being a competition of the most shows or longest-running fan, they concluded this chat by delving into their latest song, ‘Iconic’, bringing out Jax to sing along. I found this to be a really admirable move, clearly showcasing the confidence in their new songs, as well as making a distinct line drawn in their opinion on bands catering to fans versus making songs that grow with them as musicians.

After churning through a large portion of their discography, the band performed a short stint of covers (‘All-Star’, ‘Sk8r Boi’, and ‘Mr. Brightside’) which somehow, got the crowd even more buzzed than before. This ended up transitioning to my favourite part of the night. As tens of people dressed up as Scooby Doo donned the stage, and the visuals behind the band changed to shots from What’s New Scooby Doo, Simple Plan blasted out the theme song. Doing this theme song, and multiple tracks for both live-action movies, Simple Plan has an inextricable connection with the franchise, and as a Scooby Doo fanatic, this was all but a dream come true- and it seemed that way for many others too, with smiles un-wipeable from peoples faces.

After a brief sneaky encore break, the band came back on stage to a thunderous roar. It was in this section that Simple Plan would perform some of their biggest and greatest hits. Opening back up with ‘Jet Lag’, not a mouth was closed nor voice was quiet all the way up until their final track, ‘Perfect’. As words echoed throughout the Hordern, the band’s everlasting impact became almost tangible through the deafening cries and unified bodies.

With a stage presence exuding professionalism and legacy, and a discography to match, Simple Plan demonstrated they are the kings of pop-punk… and their crown won’t be taken anytime soon!

Gig Review by Georgia Haskins @ghaskins2002

Setlist

I’d Do Anything
Shut Up!
Jump
You Suck at Love
Your Love Is a Lie
Addicted
Welcome to My Life
Iconic (with Jax)
Summer Paradise
Take My Hand
Astronaut
Play Video
Million Pictures of You
Grow Up / Vacation
All Star / Sk8er Boi / Mr. Brightside
What’s New Scooby Doo?
Where I Belong (with We the Kings)

Encore:
Bluey Theme
Jet Lag
Crazy / Perfect World / Save You / This Song Saved My Life
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (The Angels cover)
I’m Just a Kid
Untitled (Acoustic)
Perfect

Photo Gallery by Renae Egan. Follow Renae on Facebook and Instagram.
Please credit Wall of Sound and Renae Egan if you repost.

Jax