After a wildly successful first run, Simple Plan, along with Bowling for Soup and 3OH!3, have decided to bring the “Bigger Than You Think” tour back to fans across the country! With 20 scheduled dates along the way, there is bound to be a stop near you.

I had the pleasure of getting to join them on the first stop, in wonderful Las Vegas. This was a show for the ages, and a hell of a way to start out. Selling out the Pearl Theater at the world-famous Palms Resort is no small feat, and definitely a sign that this is truly bigger than you think!

Normally, it takes a solid few minutes before a venue fills, but when you have someone like 3OH!3 opening, it would be surprising if every ticket wasn’t active. Each time I have seen Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte perform, it has been the same: non-stop energy from both of them, with excellent vocal control, despite constantly moving all over the stage. It is worth pointing out that despite being a touring act for more than 20 years, 3OH!3 just released a new track on July 24, “My Friends,” and we got to hear it performed live that same night! Right in line with their trademark style, the entire set was in your face and proving why they remain a fan favorite.
The set also included favorites “Richman,” “Starstrukk,” and, of course, ended with “DONTTRUSTME.”

Bridging opening and headline, we have Bowling for Soup.

Now, this was a part of the show I was most excited for, to be honest. Between Jaret Reddick’s stage antics, Gary Wiseman’s perfect facial expressions on drums, and watching Rob Felicetti play guitar in the most random ways, there is no shortage of fun with Bowling for Soup. I mean, just look at the photos; they speak for themselves. I will say, the only downside to this set was it felt rushed. That could just be because I enjoy them so much, and they always put so much into their performances. There is always an air of familiarity with these guys too. Yes, they are famous, and yes, they know they are stars, but they truly do treat the entire audience like friends, and you can see their love for what they do in everything.

Highlights of the night? That would be the jokes and the irony of their fame. A common joke is how people mistake the song “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne as one of theirs. Well, in true BFS fashion, they take that joke and run with it, performing that song with enough gusto to make you think it was theirs. Other hits for this performance included “Girl All The Bad Guys Want,” “Ohio,” and concluded with “1985.”

As far as headlining goes, you will be hard-pressed to find a group that can do it better than what Simple Plan showed me on this night.
From the get-go, the confetti, the cryo guns, and even streamers were almost immediate from the start of their set. There was absolutely no lull at all. Being the first time I have gotten to see them live, it was an experience for sure. I was definitely not expecting the explosive amount of energy that frontman Pierre Bouvier brought out. Within seconds of starting, I think he managed to cover every inch of the stage, giving his attention to every single attendee, even the ones in the balcony seats.

But it wasn’t only him; both Jeff Stinco (guitar) and Sébastien Lefebvre (rhythm) were cruising too! Every time I looked away to grab a different camera, there was someone new in front of me. That level of energy from a group that has seen multiple generations of fans was both unexpected and wildly appreciated. I had been given a little insight into how the show might go, but seeing it completely decimated expectations. “Bigger Than You Think” is probably the most apt name for a show of this caliber.

So let’s get into the set itself. Starting with “I’d Do Anything,” and moving through their entire catalog, we were given a taste of their history and a band. We got to experience a beach party with “Summer Paradise,” complete with giant beach balls, a Scooby party on stage with “What’s New Scooby-Doo?,” and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Simple Plan show without “Welcome to My Life.”
I think the most fun was had during their encore. With “I’m Just A Kid,” Bouvier replaced Chuck Comeau on the drums while Reddick of BFS came out on vocals. Comeau then proceeded to jump out and crowd-surf during the moment of insanity. It was chaos and non-stop fun the whole time.

The final song of the night does sit a little weird with me. I understand that “Perfect” is arguably Simple Plan’s biggest hit, but it feels really weird to me to leave the night on more of a sad song. I personally felt it was a little less climactic, but I understand the choice.

All in all, there were no negatives about any of this show. I attend a lot of concerts, and I definitely have my favorites, but I can safely say this is right there at the top. Simple Plan has me wishing I would have seen them much earlier in life.