Simple Plan in Zurich

Another night, another concert, this time it was Simple Plan in Zurich, playing at a completely sold out Halle 622. The pop-punk band from Montreal, Canada, has been around what feels like forever (apparently since 1999 🙂) and gave us songs like I’m Just a Kid, Welcome to My Life and Perfect. More than 25 years later, they’re out on their Bigger Than You Think! Tour, and judging by the crowd, the title fits.

I’ve been lucky enough to see Simple Plan a couple of times now, most recently as the support act for The Offspring at Hallenstadion last year. Opening for another band is fun, but seeing them headline their own show, with their own fans and the full production, is a whole different story. And I was more than ready for it. You can find all photos here: The Offspring and Simple Plan at Hallenstadion.

Charlotte Sands Kicks Off the Night

There were two support acts tonight, and first up was Charlotte Sands. The American singer-songwriter mixes catchy pop melodies with a rock and pop-punk attitude, which made her a great fit for this lineup. She had great energy on stage from the very first song, running from one side to the other and getting the early crowd moving. I also absolutely loved her long blue hair. It looked amazing under the stage lights and made for some really nice shots.

Concert Photos: Charlotte Sands

Neck Deep Turn Up the Heat

Next up was Neck Deep. The Welsh band from Wrexham started out in 2012 and has become one of the biggest names in modern pop-punk, with songs like December and Gold Steps. I’d seen them before at Slam Dunk Festival last year, so I knew what to expect, and they didn’t disappoint. The energy was high from start to finish, and the venue was filling up fast. By the end of their set, it was getting properly hot and sticky inside.

Concert Photos: Neck Deep

Simple Plan Start With a Bang

Then it was finally time for Simple Plan, and the show started with a bang. They opened with I’d Do Anything, one of my all-time favorite songs, so I was happy right from the first note. And they clearly didn’t plan on saving the fun stuff for later. Within the first three songs, we already got confetti, streamers and those CO2 cannons blasting clouds over the stage.

The show just kept going and going, one song after another, and the vibes were there all night. I could see a few smaller mosh pits toward the front, and one or two crowd surfers made their way over the barrier too. Not bad for a band that some people might file under “nostalgia act.”

Merci, Pierre! A Night Full of French

One thing I absolutely loved this time was how much French Pierre spoke. Between the songs, he kept switching to French, and the crowd loved it. I love the Québécois accent so much. I do wish he would have thrown in a few more of those famous Québécois swear words, though. If you know, you know!

Beach Balls, Scooby-Doo and a Piano at FOH

It was a really entertaining show from start to finish, and we got all the hits. Huge beach balls bounced around the crowd, and a whole bunch of Scooby-Doos showed up on stage, which was just as fun and silly as it sounds. There was even a little B-stage magic when Pierre suddenly appeared at the FOH where a big piano was waiting for him. Hearing Untitled played on a piano like that, right in the middle of the crowd, was such a nice moment. Things got a lot quieter, and you could hear the whole room singing along softly.

All in all, these Canadian “boys” still got it. It’s so nice to see them having this much success again after all these years, playing to sold out rooms full of fans old and new. I can’t wait for them to come back, hopefully soon!