Photos of Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan by Michael O’Connor
w/ We The Kings
It’s not every night that a 20,000-fan, sold-out show transforms into a time machine. That’s exactly what happened when We The Kings, Simple Plan, and Avril Lavigne arrived at St. Louis’ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. Capitalizing on 22 years on tour, Lavigne and her tourmates gave pop punk fans an experience full of nostalgia and sentiment, proving that these artist—inspirational veterans in the entire music space—still know how to command a crowd.
Opening the night with extreme enthusiasm, We The Kings got everyone on their feet instantly. Their experience as live performers shone through, effortlessly guiding the audience through sing-along moments and high-energy tracks. The packed crowd roared as they launched into “Check Yes Juliet,” a track synonymous with We The Kings’ brand. They kept the momentum dropping an unexpected cover of the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” afterwards, raising the crowd to another tier of excitement.
Canadian band Simple Plan was able to rewind time back to 2002, playing songs like “Addicted” and “Where I Belong.” From the rafters, neon lights shimmered against confetti streamers initially launched from onstage cannons, heightening the atmosphere as these fan-favorites were played. It was spectacular to see a band that has mastered their craft interact with the audience with transitions in between tracks- whether it was introducing oversized, branded beach balls during “Heartbeat,” or getting Scooby-Doo enthusiasts hyped with their theme song performance. One of the night’s biggest surprises came when Travis Clark of We The Kings joined them onstage for “I’m Just a Kid.” As they broke into their most popular track, lead singer Pierre Bouvier began crowd-surfing through the pit at the end of the song. Before their final song, they teased an upcoming documentary, The Kids in the Crowd, a clear nod to the fans who’ve stuck with them throughout the years. The band wrapped up their set with “Perfect,” a heartfelt finale that inspired the arena with a flood of shimmering phone lights, gifting the crowd with an encounter that was truly extraordinary.
When Avril came onstage, this was an emotional experience for me. I grew up listening to her music, scribbling in notebooks, and dreaming of the day I’d get to see her live. This experience was not unique to my perspective: it was obvious how genuinely loved Avril is the second she stepped into the spotlights. She has inspired multiple generations, and transcended individual memories through these experiences. Avril Lavigne showcased her versatility after 22 years of touring, performing tracks she rarely plays live like “Things I’ll Never Say” and “Keep Holding On.” With each song, she very easily swapped guitars, displaying effortless expertise as she moved along through her catalog. One of the standout moments came when she performed “Breakaway,” a song originally written for (but not included on) her debut album Let Go before she gifted it to Kelly Clarkson. The sentimental choice highlighted her early struggles and victories, as she reminded fans of her journey from signing her first record deal in Canada, to chasing daunting dreams in New York. Afterwards came her newer track “Bite Me,” as the venue unleashed energy underneath large orange and black balloons. Her closing set however, consisting of “Sk8er Boi,” “Head Above Water,” and “I’m With You,” left the deepest mark. The final chords rang out, and 20,000 souls sang in unison one final chorus against a veil of rain-born mist, a bittersweet farewell to Avril Lavigne’s journey back in time. | Michael O’Connor
