WORKING THE CROWD: Simple Plan vocalist Pierre Bouvier. Picture by BELINDA-JANE DAVIS
CLAP ALONG: Simple Plan's bassit and backing vocalist David Desrosiers. Picture by BELINDA-JANE DAVIS
STRONG SUPPORT: We The Kings' singer and guitarist Travis Clark. Picture by BELINDA-JANE DAVIS
Live review
Simple Plan are back and bigger than ever, and We The Kings are absorbing their fan base quicker than water to a sponge.
The mix was electric at Newcastle Panthers on Sunday night – the venue was packed with teenagers, who were mostly girls keen to capture the attention of their idols on stage.
Simple Plan’s following has re-exploded since their latest hits Jet Lag and Summer Paradise hit the radio, with young fans camping outside Newcastle Panthers from 10am on Sunday morning.
Most of their current fans were barely out of nappies when the Canadian pop-rockers first skyrocketed in popularity in 2002 with their album No Pads No Helmets … Just Balls and endeared audiences with hits like Addicted and I’d Do Anything.
When it came to the main support act, Floridian five-piece We The Kings, you could not move past their energy – their stage presence was felt from the front to the back of the venue, and who can ignore their hits Say You Like Me or Check Yes Juliet.
Simple Plan, led by charismatic frontman Pierre Bouvier, had the crowd in the palm of their hand from the minute they walked onto the stage.
Their set took the crowd back through their history and delivered them to Summer Paradise after a good mix of upbeat and acoustic tracks.
The set list featured all the crowd favourites, including Welcome To My Life, Jump, Shut Up! and Perfect.
A medley of top 40 pop covers, including Moves Like Jagger, Dynamite and Sexy and I Know It, got the dance floor moving.
For fans of high energy pop, both Simple Plan and We The Kings are must-see acts.