Pop Break Live: “Blame Canada Tour” featuring Sum 41 and Simple Plan at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park (Rescheduled Date) on Saturday August 27, 2022.
Words + Photos by Willy Mellott
Summer may be winding down, but the Stone Pony Summer Stage showed no sign of that this past weekend as the Blame Canada tour rolled into Asbury Park. Simple Plan and Sum 41, co-headlining the tour, played to sold out crowds both Friday and Saturday night.
Editor’s Note: This tour date was scheduled for earlier in year, but was moved to August due to a member of the tour contracting COVID.
After an opening set from Set it Off, Sum 41 took the stage as AC/DC’s TNT played over the venue’s sound system. They kicked off their set with “Motivation.” This was the first of several songs from the album All Killer No Filler which turns 21 this year. Lead singer, Deryck Whibley, encouraged the crowd to get crazy and the crowd followed his instruction as a circle pit opened up and crowd surfers began to rise above the crowd. Whibley reminisced on their albums from over the years and teased a new double album in the works called Heaven or Hell.
The Canadian rockers’ set was filled with hits from over the years. They went back to some of their fast paced harder punk songs featuring a trifecta of “A.N.I.C”, “Never Wake Up”, and “Underclass Hero.” The band had the crowd jumping and singing along to one of their pop-punk hits “In Too Deep.” The energy in the crowd kept going during “Makes No Difference” as Whibley had a competition of which part of the crowd could sing the loudest. The sun was setting as their set wrapped up and they ended with “Fat Lip” and “Still Waiting.”
Sum 41 Setlist via setlist.fm:
Motivation
The Hell Song
Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
We’re All to Blame
Summer
A.N.I.C.
Never Wake Up
T.H.T.
Underclass Hero
Walking Disaster
With Me
In Too Deep
Makes No Difference
Smoke on the Water / Seven Nation Army
Pieces
We Will Rock You (Queen cover)
Fat Lip
Still Waiting
Simple Plan took the stage next as the Saturday night headliners. They didn’t waste any time getting the crowd amped up with their classic “I’d Do Anything.” CO2 blasts filled the stage and were lit up by dazzling lights. Singer Pierre Bouvier and guitarists Sébastien Lefebvre and Jeff Stinco were all over the stage, jumping off raised platforms and setting the tone for their set. Bouvier later joked how most guitar players could probably play a bunch of Simple Plan songs but went on to praise Stinco’s dexterity on the guitar as he played a killer solo before “Addicted.”
Check out Pop Break’s photos of the Simple Plan’s headlining set from Maryland earlier this summer.
Aside from the band’s high energy, they also got the crowd involved throwing massive beach balls into the crowd which bounced around through the air as “Summer Paradise” was being played. One ball made it back on stage and Bouvier signed it before launching it back into the crowd. He even accommodated a fan’s request in the front row and signed their CD. Their set rolled on and Simple Plan played some snippets of covers including Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi,” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” As their set was winding down drummer Chuck Comeau came to the front of the stage during “I’m Just a Kid.” He grabbed the mic and mentioned how because of COVID he misses going into the crowd to be with fans. He came up with a solution and donned a hazmat suit and crowd surfed over the sold out crowd.
They slowed the pace for their final two songs as Bouvier came back on stage with an acoustic guitar. He thanked the crowd for their support over the years and mentioned how New Jersey has always been special to them from Starland Ballroom shows, Warped Tours, and coming back to the Stone Pony. Bouvier went on to play “Untitled” and “Perfect” as concertgoers’ phone lights lit up the night sky as they swayed back and forth. Both bands played incredible sets with decade spanning hits leaving fans with a sense of nostalgia and also excitement to hear what the bands do next.
Simple Plan Setlist (via setlist.fm)
I’d Do Anything
Shut Up!
Jump
The Worst Day Ever
Addicted
Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)
Summer Paradise
Welcome to My Life
Boom!
Crazy
Iconic
All Star / Sk8er Boi / Mr. Brightside
What’s New Scooby Doo
Where I Belong
I’m Just a Kid (with Cody Carson)
Untitled
Perfect
