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Simple Plan 30.03.2008 Written by: PP on 2/4-08 at 15:32:40 Date: 30. March 2008 Venue: Store Vega, Copenhagen, DEN Support: Elliot Minor You can consider me a Simple Plan convert. I used to hate everything Simple Plan up 'til about three years ago when I caught them live because they had brought Canadian emo/screamo act Silverstein with them to play in Store Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark. That set changed my perception of the band permanently. Their set was so energetic, so full of vivid, colorful lighting and infectiously catchy songs that there was no way I couldn't have liked it. I can still remember the floor of Store Vega bending underneath the 1500 or so fans jumping up and down in harmony to songs like "Jump" and "Shut Up". So I knew exactly what I was going in for tonight, a nearly sold-out crowd of screaming teenage girls who consider Simple Plan their heroes. But even that hadn't prepared me to the sight of 100 or so people queuing outside the venue already at half past 2 in the afternoon, considering how the doors opened first at 19:00. I guess some people do anything to get to the front for their favorite band...which brings me to my first complaint: Why does the Vega website state that the show starts at "20:00" and disregard the fact that doors open already at 19:00? Thinking I'm well on time for the supporting act Elliot Minor, I arrived at roughly quarter past 8, only to discover that Elliot Minor's set had been going on full blast for over fifteen minutes now.
Elliot Minor
Question: Who the hell are Elliot Minor? How can they be this good live/on record without having released a single album/EP yet? Living on only a couple of single relases in the UK and none in Denmark as far as I'm aware, the band is just about gearing up for the release of their debut album, but live they are one of the tightest band's I've seen for a while. Supported by a near-perfect sound-quality, their classical-music influenced choruses impressed me straight away, and their genuine, honest stage performance did the same. Somehow this band has perfected the art of standing still by their microphones, rocking from side to side, and make it seem like an awesome musical performance. During the solos and the instrumental bits the band members exploded into every direction of the microphones, doing jumps, circles, and all the classic pop punk trickery, despite the band being positioned rather far away from the said genre. Shame I didn't get to catch more than fifteen minutes of their set, but one thing's for sure: that set made me really excited for their forthcoming debut album. [7½]
Simple Plan
 Time for tonight's main act: Simple Plan. Entering on the stage with the backing track of the electronic elements of "Generation", the band got the girls screaming and the crowd moving straight away. I can't say I'm a big fan of the song but somehow it worked as a decent opening for the show, and lead the band straight away into the faster pop punk track "Take My Hand". But by this song, the backing track shit started bothering the hell out of me. I understand the need for a backing track for the electronic elements given that the band doesn't have a DJ in their band, but once you see their drummer just sitting still during an elementary drum beat that even I could easily do, you get pissed off over the artificiality of the show. On record, things are different and you can use looping tracks and whatnot, but live you should be able to play those songs. The only thing drummer Chuck was doing in the song was fortifying some of the drum beats and hitting the cymbals every now and then - pathetic choice by the band if you ask me.
Luckily, the band saved their set from absolute destruction from a critical perspective by playing "Shut Up" straight after. Now this is a song that has kick to it, and had the entire audience moving, singing along loudly (which didn't happen during the two new songs), and even the band itself looked like it was having much more fun playing than in the two songs before. Especially rhythm guitarist Lefebvre seemed relieved, as he was now allowed to jump all over the place and enjoy playing some solid pop punk. But something was still wrong - where was the volume? My trusted earplugs, which I wear to every show, could've just as well been in my pocket because the volume at Store Vega was perhaps half of that what it usually is. Maybe it was because the show was an all-ages show, and there were so many children and young teenagers around, but it took so much power away from the band's show. I don't know about you guys, but I can't imagine rocking out hard to my song when the volume is nearing the level of my home stereos. Despite the sound-levels, "Jump" continued the trend of great old songs, and like the title already suggests, it had the entire audience jumping up and down, bending the floor of Store Vega the same way as it happened in 2005.
 After that, however, Simple Plan returned to the crappy backing track stuff. "When I'm Gone" saw about half of the instruments on backing track (and even bits of vocals??) which isn't something I'm going to allow them to get away with. Couple that with Lefebvre's facial impressions which could best be described as him thinking "oh God why am I forced to play this crap", and the fact that he lost all that energetic movement that he had in the earlier songs. Some kind of conflict of objectives within the band, perhaps? The contrast between vocalist Pierre and bassist David was stark: these two held the crowd in the palm of their hands especially in the newer songs, and David's Pete Wentz-style look and "the second frontman" antics had all the girls of the venue wish he'd take them backstage after their set. The set continued with the band alternating with the (mostly) crappy new songs that lacked all passion and the older songs that were fast, fun, enjoyable and received a much better reception from the crowd. Towards the end of the set, however, it was time for Simple Plan to introduce the ballads, and Pierre even made his way to the mixer desk in the middle of the crowd for one of the ballads. But when the volume at the venue is so low, the ballads came across as even weaker than they do on record, and mostly bored me and my companions at the show tonight.
To sum it all up, Simple Plan's new album seems to have removed a lot of the steam and joy from their live show, both from their stage performance and from the crowd. Before every song used to get everyone worked up and you could sense the temperature of the venue rising to dangerous levels, whereas today only half of the songs did that. For a die-hard fan of Simple Plan, however, tonight's show must have been extra great considering that the band played a whopping 16 tracks live today. But for a casual listener and a critic, especially the backing track seems like an impossible obstacle to truly enjoying the show. [5½]
Setlist:
1. Generation
2. Take My Hand
3. Shut Up
4. Jump
5. When I'm Gone
6. Addicted
7. End
8. Me Against The World
9. Your Love Is A Lie
10. Time To Say Goodbye
11. I Can Wait Forever
12. Welcome To My Life
13. I'd Do Anything
14. What If
---Encore---
15. You Don't Mean Anything
16. Perfect › Related items.
hahah!
| | Written by: x) on 8/6-08 at 00:35:34 |
| I\'ve been to alot of show\'s in my life and the sound was not low it was 120 dc | | Written by: Ana on 7/5-08 at 17:13:13 |
Hi
I was at the show in Vega, and i really ont agree wioth you! I loved it, and it was really one of the best whows I have ever been to! The reason that all us fans maybe were not sooo \"excited\" was that we ofcourse dont know the songs yet. All the old songs we have listened to in a looong time, but these songs were new, and how could we possibly sing along or anything like that, if we dont know the song?
Now I dont want you to misunderstand me, I really loved that they played some of the new songs!
Hugs from a biiig fan :) | | Written by: A big fan of Simple plan! on 4/5-08 at 12:22:21 |
Amanda. I totally see where you are coming from. I had the exact same feeling myself in the first 10 or so shows I went to, and the only reason is because I simply had nothing else to compare the shows to. They felt amazing because of that.
Today, after having been to closer to 100 shows, I can compare shows to each other objectively (something I couldn\'t do in the start, obviously!), because I\'ve been to so many. This means I have a basis of comparison for a \"10\" show, a \"9\" show, and so on. I might like a lot of Simple Plan\'s stuff on record, especially the older stuff, but the new record is just pushing it into the wrong direction, if you ask me. Just look at my review of their show 2 years before this one, they got a much higher score and the reason for that is in the review - the songs were just that much better. | | Written by: PP on 3/5-08 at 04:53:50 |
\"How many shows have you been to then, Amanda? Not too many is my guess - not rock shows at least. Now, it seems your perception of rocking out at a show is jumping up and down for one hour screaming like a little girl while your parents stand at the back. \"
AP, your comment made me laugh. Especially those pieces I\'ve posted in my comment.
Gotta give you credit for guessing I haven\'t been to that many shows. \'Cause that is very true. But each and everyone has been an experience of a life time.
And no; my perception of rocking out is not like you said. But when I think a band is doing good, and \'rocking out\', then I think jumping up and down is a natural part of the show, \'cause with them rocking out makes you wanna do that stuff.
But you\'re right, I did scream like a little girl, I probably screamed for 10 little girls, a thing that happens when I\'m really happy. =) Which, again, is something you\'d do if you find the show good.
I did not have my parents standing in the back, I never have and I won\'t start. =)
But hey, I don\'t mind when kids do, let them. =)
Try to jump up and down at a show and scream like a little girl. It\'ll probably make your show a lot better. =)
Yes yes.
| | Written by: Amanda on 20/4-08 at 21:50:22 |
| Have you even listened to James Blunt and his song \"You\'re Beautiful\"? If that\'s not an example of intellectually insulting, then I don\'t know what is :D | | Written by: PP on 10/4-08 at 15:01:50 |
| which is because you have no mind for music without guitars, which is fine albeit a little narrow.. | | Written by: TL on 9/4-08 at 08:17:26 |
| And I of course meant the pop artists, not the bands | | Written by: PP on 7/4-08 at 18:59:19 |
| Imo all the artists you just listed suck major ass :P I agree that the new SP is doing a \"Green Day\" in producing corporate stuff, but their old songs are awesome, even if the lyrics are geared towards a younger audience | | Written by: PP on 7/4-08 at 18:58:55 |
Simplicity is good, stupidity is not. I could come up with the first handful of interesting pop releases any given time of the day. How about:
Matchbox 20 - More Than You Think You Are
Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up The Girl
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills me
- All those bands can be considered to play pop/rock these days and do so at an aesthetically higher level than SP. I for one would rather listen to quality pop (say James Blunt, Gnarls Barkley, Justin Timberlake, Kate Nash etc. etc. etc.) than this crapflavoured corporate crowdpleaser. | | Written by: TL on 7/4-08 at 15:21:54 |
| TL i think you are missing the point a bit though. If you read the interview the band itself states that they play pop music with some guitars, not necessarily pop punk as such. Pop music is and will always be more simplistic. | | Written by: PP on 7/4-08 at 14:31:59 |
I cannot see why you hate their new album so much - It is just more grown than \"Shut up\". I like both the old and new music.
I think it was awsome! | | Written by: Stella on 7/4-08 at 13:04:06 |
How many shows have you been to then, Amanda? Not too many is my guess - not rock shows at least. Did you by any chance happen to catch Dropkick Murphys and Against Me! in the same venue on the 3rd of April? That was an example of a good rock show. Not only was it sold out, the sound was both loud and good and the entire crowd rocked the fuck out. Now, it seems your perception of rocking out at a show is jumping up and down for one hour screaming like a little girl while your parents stand at the back.
TL wasn\'t at the show, but I was and I couldn\'t agree more with his statement that the music is so simple and childish that it\'s intellectually insulting to anyone who has experience in this business. And I think the dozens of interviews and features, hundreds of gig reviews, thousands of album reviews give us some credit to be able to objectively judge what is and what isn\'t a good rock show. This was average at best. | | Written by: AP on 6/4-08 at 23:06:19 |
You\'re not supposed to talk during a concert =D
Personally I think Simple Plan wouldn\'t recognize \"Rock\" even if Slash came up and bashed them on their heads with his Les Paul. Using a backing track proves and underlines that. I don\'t think they could rock to save their lives.
I think their music is overly simple and intellectually insulting, catering only to listeners with little or no musical knowledge or experience whatsoever. They not only bore me, they annoy me - And let\'s all keep in mind that I actually love pop-punk. Anyone who does so would just be soooo much better off listening to Yellowcard, Amber Pacific, New Found Glory or Fall Out Boy. All bands who have released infinetely better music than SP ever managed. That\'s a statement, not an opinion - and a correct one too. | | Written by: TL on 6/4-08 at 20:33:53 |
Of course everyone has the right to their own oppinions. But I couldn\'t disagree more with this review.
The show started out amazingly, and everyone was jumping, waving, and singing their ass off, including me. Of course some of their older songs like Shut Up was recieved a bit differently, but that song was one of their first hits to ever hit Denmark, and is still one of their biggest hits of all time. All over across the world, people go more nuts over the song because of that. It\'s like that with all bands who\'ve had succes.
They started out strong, they stayed strong and got more energetic through the show, and \"gave\" everyone have a great time.
The music not being ear-damaging was great, and made it possible to \"speak\" with your friends and hearing yourself and the crowd sing along.
All in all; the best show I\'ve ever been to.
You can hate them or love them but Simple Plan will always be Simple Plan. A band that knows how to rock a show, make amazing records, and be in touch with their fans like no other band. That is not an opinion, but a statement.
Peace out everybody.
| | Written by: Amanda on 6/4-08 at 19:53:30 |
and the support band was so AWESOME!!
EM rocks a lot. i will 100% buy their new album !!! | | Written by: elisabeth on 4/4-08 at 17:54:54 |
that was the best day of my life!
i really hope they come back again soon, and David told me that the will come back soonest as they could, but thanks for the amazing day.
I will never forget that! | | Written by: elisabeth on 4/4-08 at 17:54:04 |
| Josefin: the whole point is that the sound wasn\'t loud enough :) | | Written by: PP on 4/4-08 at 13:29:34 |
How was it amazing? I\'m curious, because we all saw Dropkick Murphys and Against Me, and I have a hard time imagining that, comparing Simple Plan with fx. them, amazing is going to be a word that\'ll come into mind in relation to SP.
And it doesn\'t really matter who dressed like that first - In fact it doesn\'t really matter what any of them dress like. | | Written by: TL on 4/4-08 at 00:55:31 |
I loved the show it was amazing.
I meen the sound was not that loud.
And David started to dress like that before Pete omg how could you just say that kind of thing.
I don\'t get this review. | | Written by: Josefin on 3/4-08 at 18:41:46 |
| I would maybe have gone up to a six just because of this band\'s energy, but the low sound, the cheap tricks and the backing track were ridiculous. | | Written by: AP on 3/4-08 at 13:50:26 |
I kind of liked the show, but the backtracking (I only really noticed the drums but I sure had a good laugh about that) and the use of EVERY cheap trick to get the audience going was pretty annoying to me.
| | Written by: KS on 3/4-08 at 12:27:23 |
| Amazing maybe if you never saw a real rock show in your life - Sellout\'s imo, glad I didn\'t see them. | | Written by: TL on 3/4-08 at 01:01:38 |
| I loved the show and I love the guys..! | | Written by: Elisa on 2/4-08 at 23:40:54 |
there amazing,
your out of order | | Written by: sherry on 2/4-08 at 17:35:47 |
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