Montreal, Canada’s finest Simple Plan embark on “No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls” 15 year anniversary tour, and it’s a glorious one.

Be warned, it might get pretty emotional.

You might say 15 years it’s a plenty of time. Sure, but if you go to see one of favourite bands play, it always seems like nothing’s changed and we’re still the same bunch of kids going nuts at a live show. Well, at least that’s what happened last Friday night.

Having arrived quite early at Kentish Town’s iconic The Forum only reminded me of the significance of this band’s fan base. No surprise there when I saw many people camping alongside the venue, all ages let’s add, proudly sporting Simple Plan shirts and exchanging personal stories about how much the band helped them in their life. Alright, I might have eavesdropped a little bit but the point is that from time to time a band comes along that changes more than just your playlist choices.

When the time comes Simple Plan deliver an outstanding performance. Nostalgia is taking over from the very beginning as their abundant catalogue shines with precision and vigour, masterfully translating the beloved songs into the live format. The lights go out and the band jumps straight into I’d Do Anything and The Worst Day Ever, which however seems more like the-best-day-ever for many gathered here tonight.

“15 years… I’m old but I still have my hair”, singer Pierre Bouvier says, and as I look around I understand some can relate to that too. “London it’s good to be back. You’re looking fucking sexy tonight. As always. 15 anniversary, that’s right. I know those songs meant a lot to you back then, and they mean a lot to you now. We’re gonna play the entire album!”. And loud screams are all we hear in response.

It’s astonishing, and slightly ridiculous, that after all those years the band sounds exactly as on the record. Whilst You Don’t Mean Anything and When I’m With You keep the energetic spirit on the highest level, the boisterous I’m Just A Kid is what we need in that very moment. We just need to feel that recklessness again to forget the outside world for a while. Five songs down and my voice is completely gone as I’ve sung my lungs out already. Yes, both of them.

A while back Simple Plan announced that bassist David Desrosiers wouldn’t join them on the rest of their tour dates because of his mental health condition. Naturally, all fans have shown nothing but compassion and understanding, and a beautiful moment occurs in the middle of Addicted as vocalist says: “You’re gonna have to sing this part as David is not here. He’s not here but he’s still in the band. He’s gonna be alright and we’re here for him and you’re here for him. I hope you still love him too. You guys are unbelievable tonight, you might be the best crowd on this tour.”

The set continues in the best possible way. We all know what song is gonna be played next and yet, that’s what makes it even more exciting. From the emotive Meet You There to “let’s go back to 2002, all the way before Instagram, YouTube, Myspace… Yep, this one is for the ladies”, Pierre says and a bra lands on the stage as the band dives into My Alien.

The restless and breathless fans keep on jumping to God Must Hate Me and One Day as the band has no intention on slowing down. “There’s always something I’m saying at the beginning of the show but I forgot. We’re Simple Plan!”, Pierre shouts, but naturally no introduction is needed. “Sébastien is the best looking one in the band, Chuck is the hardest working drummer in the industry and Jeff is our secret weapon”, he continues as all members show off some skills.

Their stage persona is strong with a piercing charisma of a band that is confident in what they do, and even more importantly it’s a band who still knows how to have fun. Next thing we notice is giant beach balls being thrown in the air. Of course, there’s an explanation for that: “I had a dream to travel the world and play with my balls. And that dream came true”, Pierre shares as he signs one of them and kicks it back onto the crowd.

But that’s not all as the entertainment goes on. A quick swap during Grow Up and Pierre lands on the drums when Chuck takes to the edge of the stage, saying: “Thank you! I had a dream too, a dream that I would be a lead singer one day. Tonight is all about good old-school vibes” and before we realise what is happening,  he courageously stage dives and crowd surfs to the back of the room, being gracefully tossed above our heads.

Acoustic Perfect rounds off the main set so here it is, No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls in its marvellous entirety. But they wouldn’t leave us like this, would they? Of course not. To be fair, it seems like they’re just about to start.

Whatever energy there’s left, it goes off to the blistering soundscape of Shut Up and infectious Jet Lag as some shirts are flying to the sun-drenched melodies of Summer Paradise. Even a disruption in the crowd is handled swiftly thanks to the emergency services and Boom! has its second go, accompanied by the occasional effects of stage fire cannons.

At this point we all sense the ending is fast approaching. Almost two hours of your favourite pop punk tunes and yet it doesn’t seem like enough.

Pierre quickly runs to the back to surprise all gathered there as the band continues spinning Crazy. “We’re thankful to be here tonight with you guys. This world has gone far crazy and this song has got a different meaning now.”

Welcome To My Life indicates the absolute finale of tonight’s set. With music still ringing in my ears as I walk out and into the warm night, I hum the words of the last song “Do you ever feel like breaking down? / Do you ever feel out of place? / Like somehow you just don’t belong / And no one understands you”, just to realise that tonight was all about the opposite.

We laughed as much as we cried, and for that one night they took us back, back to where it all started and when nothing else mattered. And that’s precisely what you expect from a grandiose live experience.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka