Buckle up because I’m ready to discuss Simple Plan’s tour featuring Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and LØLØ!! This entire lineup was pure perfection from start to finish. It’s one of the best shows I’ve gotten to attend all year – nothing against any other shows. But, being able to attend a show where the entire lineup are some of my favorite artists to listen to and watch perform live happens a lot less than you would probably expect. 

It was a Thursday night, but the people of Milwaukee were packing in the BMO Pavilion – located inside Summerfest grounds – for this amazing show. LØLØ was the first opener to take stage, and she knows how to bring the energy. From what I noticed, few people there were familiar with her set, but people were there for her. She sings and dances around that stage with such grace. She did a meet-and-greet later at the Punk Rock Saves Lives tent, and I was first in line, ha! But she did have a good amount of people eager to meet her, so it’s likely a lot of people became fans that night. She has another leg of her “U Tour Me On” tour later this fall, so make sure to grab a ticket.

Bowling for Soup took the stage next, and despite being more set up with mic stands, that did not stop them from waltzing around the stage to interact with the fans at the barricade. By the time they took over, most of this arena was filled in and everyone was standing. They did, in fact, play their crowd-pleasing song that is also the opening track for Disney’s TV Show, “Phineas and Ferb.” If you didn’t know that was their song, now you do! They ended their set with two covers, but also equally popular, as many have always thought “Stacy’s Mom” and “1985” were their tracks — they’re not.

The final opener to appear on stage was 3OH!3. The duo bounced around that stage, holding the mic out towards the crowd as the room screamed back lyrics to the song. Yours truly, AKA me, even had the mic pointed in my direction during their third song, “Double Vision.” I almost never know how to react to moments of recognition like this from the band because I’m working under a media pass, but it was definitely a cool moment. I made friends with a fan at barricade who managed a quick little video during that short interaction. It’ll definitely be a highlight from that night. 

Finally, it was time for Simple Plan to storm the stage, and they did indeed come out blazing. The room was vibrating during some of the openers, but it was shaking entirely by the time they came out. From start to finish, it was an ongoing night of jumping, cryo, giant inflatable balls, and for a brief moment, shirt throwing. Simple Plan made sure that this tour was BIGGER THAN YOU THINK. Lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier even slipped into the audience, where a piano had been set up, to play a song for those in the back. I could not see much from my seat, but I bet it was a good moment for those further back from the stage.

My favorite moment was when LØLØ came out on stage to feature vocals during their song, “Jet Lag.” Jet Lag usually features Natasha Bedingfield, but since she wasn’t there, of course they had to improvise. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that they’re behind the “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” title track. For that song, anyone in the crowd who was dressed up as a character from Mystery Incorporated got invited on stage to dance around while they played. So much happened during their set, but maybe I should hold back on the spoilers so you can witness the night for yourself.

During the entire show, there was a little girl up front with a sign saying it was her ninth birthday. Each band that was on stage acknowledged her sign, and Simple Plan even led a sing-along for her. I bet this is going to be a fond memory for her years to come. 

Simple Plan is still on tour for their “Bigger Than You Think” series, and it’s not a night I’d recommend missing. Snag a ticket to a show near you before it’s too late!

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