Simple Plan was solid. The offspring were even more so. It was a totally insane and totally insane Saturday at the Videotron Center.
• Also read: Offspring and Simple Plan at the Bell Center: an explosive evening
After several passages in Quebec, on the Agora, at the Coliseum and on the Plains, the Californians landed in the “new” amphitheater for the first time on the occasion of the “Let the Bad Times Roll” tour.
No “Tataouinage”, The Offspring opened this crazy night with Come Out and Play followed by All I Want from the album Ixnay on the Hombre. It went very strong.
Singer Dexter Holland and guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman then publicized the compliments. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. The most attractive audience and the most beautiful smile. It was in the bag. After two songs.
It must be said that after the performance the audience was warmed up during the break. We were treated to big 80’s rock hits in the grappling hook and a ‘kiss cam’ which left some viewers having a blast and even a bit more.
A blimp in the air and cameras circled the crowd to film people headbanging and dancing. The atmosphere was particularly weak and electrifying. Outrageous and above all an excellent idea by The Offspring.
Always solid on the boards, The Offspring have rarely performed poorly on their visits to Quebec, although Dexter Holland’s voice no longer has the power of a bygone era. We’ve been able to do that a few times, but hey, it’s moving in the same direction, as the 10,000 or so spectators in attendance will surely attest.
Solid single level
“Noodles” took control for a few minutes, accompanied by bassist Todd Morse, drummer Josh Freese and multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy, with excerpts from Rush’s Tom Sawyer, Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train and Van Halen’s Eruption.
The Californians of The Offspring were generous on the big tunes with Hit That, Bad Habit, Gotta Get Away, a very nice Gone Away delivered with Dexter Holland alone on piano, Blitzkrieg Pop by the Ramones and the Pretty Fly (For a White Man ), the children are not well, you will go far, child and self-esteem.
A great show that ended with the voice of Neil Diamond and Sweet Caroline sung by the audience leaving the stands. Stupid. Just stupid as an atmosphere.
In the first part, the Simple Plan Training showed a solid performance. Energetic vocalist Pierre Bouvier, guitarists Jeff Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre, and drummer Charles “Chuck” Comeau played like they were the stars of the night.
To the sound of the Star Wars theme, Simple Plan landed on the stage and started their performance with I’d Do Anything, followed by Shut Up! During Jump, people started jumping together.
“We are not here for the first time. We know what kind of energy you can reproduce,” launched Pierre Bouvier.
After Marie-Mai, who joined the group on stage at the Bell Center for jet lag on Saturday night, it was Claudia Bouvette in Quebec.
Simple Plan hit the mark with the “Oasis” Your Love is a Lie, Iconic from new album Harder Than It Looks, a medley featuring Smash Mouth’s All Star, Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boy and The Killers’ Mr. Brightside.
During I’m Just a Kid, drummer Chuck Comeau admitted that the reactions were a little stronger in Quebec than at Bell Center. He gave up his battery to indulge in a short, intense bodysurfing session on the ground. We even got a visit from Champion, the Remparts mascot.
Her performance ended with Perfect and thousands of cell phones turned on and fans singing the lyrics. Firmly.