Its a bit early in her career for a ‘greatest hits’ run, but the fans are here for it
Avril Lavigne has entered her ‘Best of’ Era.
The pop punk princess has returned to the road to celebrate her greatest hits package. At just 39, she boasts a catalog of classics that has her selling out amphitheaters across North America. Last night was no exception, as fans packed PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey to the very brim. Although it feels a little premature for a “greatest hits” run, we can only hope that this is just the beginning of a new chapter Queen Lavigne.
As the sun began to set, Girlfriends kicked off the evening’s festivities. Travis Mills and Nick Gross, was the first act of the night. Though a newer addition to the pop-punk scene, they quickly won over the audience with their energetic performance and catchy songs. They opened with “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” setting a lively tone for their set. Their sound, which blends the raw edge of early pop-punk with modern production, resonated well with the audience, many of whom were probably discovering these guys for the first time.
At one point, that thanked the likes of Avril Lavigne and others for taking them out on the road. Their style certainly reflects the acts that have given them special guest slots.
They made the most of their time, rolling through an eight-song set that included their most popular tracks like “Where Were You,” “Jessica,” “Over My Dead Body,” and more. They wrapped things up with their biggest hit, “California,” which has racked up nearly 24 million streams on Spotify.
Simple Plan still got it. Casual fans can forget just how many get songs these guys have. But, when it came time for them to take the stage, the venue was at full capacity which is a telling testament to their staying power. It has been over two decades since Simple Plan first broke out into the mainstream. Fans that have been with the band for all these years showed up last night with their kids. It was a beautiful sight to see.
A certain highlight from their set was their 2002 hit “I’m Just a Kid” from their eponymous 2002 debut LP. The song went through a renaissance recently on TikTok, which saw a trend where people posted photos as adults recreating a photo from their childhood. Now, there’s a shirt at the merch booth that reads, “I’m just a kid adult,” which is a hilarious full-circle moment and a great souvenir for everyone that grew up with this band in middle school and high school. Yeah, life can still be a nightmare at this point, with all the trials of being a grown-up, but at least one of your favorite bands is still touring. Simple pleasures, you know?
Other highlights included “I’d Do Anything,” “Welcome to My Life,” Where I Belong,” and others. Sadly missing was “Addicted,” but fans wouldn’t have to wait too long to hear it. They wrapped things up with a beautiful rendition of their hit, “Perfect.” One of the great pop punk power ballads of all time, frontman Pierre Bouvier starts off by himself with just an acoustic guitar. Hearing the lyrics during the stripped-down chorus make it all the more heartbreaking, and it really hits differently as an adult. The rest of the band eventually joined it and brought their set to a powerful close.
Then, it was time for the motherfuckin’ princess to take the stage.
Avril took the stage with purpose, kicking off her greatest hits set with one of her greatest hits, “Girlfriend.” The track is perfect sing-along fodder and was the best way to get things going. She followed it up with “What the Hell,” and then served the capacity crowd with her chart-topping platinum smash, “Complicated.” Fans sang every word of the GRAMMY©-nominated track, as they did with most songs throughout the night. More casual fans may forget just how many bangers Avril has, but this tour is an excellent reminder of just how stacked her discography is.
Remember when Simple Plan suspiciously left out their hit, “Addicted?” Well, towards the end of Avril’s set, she brought the boys back out for a duet of the song. It was an extra-special treat for the fans, and a really fun way to mix things up.
More highlights from Avril’s set included “Don’t Tell Me,” “When You’re Gone,” “My Happy Ending,” and more. The nostalgic “Here’s to Never Growing Up” resonated so well, with fans showing up after following Avril for more than two decades. She eventually wrapped things up with another GRAMMY©-nominee, “Sk8er Boi.” With no one heading for their cars, Avril returned to the stage for a two-track encore. She started off with “Head Above Water,” and then brought the show to a close with a powerful rendition of “I’m with You” from her diamond-certified debut.
If she didn’t have them already, it’s time to give Avril Lavigne her flowers. This best-of run is a testament to her entire career, and the size of the crowds are a testament to her staying power. If you look around at a show, the age range of fans is vast. Over a career spanning just over two decades years, she’s transcended two generations, and that speaks volumes. Hopefully, though, this tour is serving as a catalyst for a new chapter, and she won’t ride off into the sunset with it’s over.
Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour runs through September 18, wrapping up at the ScotiaBank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada.