Live Nation, Much Music, HOT 103, and Winnipeg Free Press presents… Simple Plan with special guests Mariana’s Trench, All Time Low, and These Kids Wear Crowns at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB on February 16, 2012.
I am going to start off by stating that if you missed this concert, you missed out on a big one. This will definitely be one of the top concerts Winnipeg will see for 2012.
Starting off at 7:00, British Columbia based band These Kids Wear Crowds started their 20 minute set. Starting off with a tribute to Whitney Houston with their hit version of ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ they had the crowd jumping up and down right off the bat. They continued their set with ‘This Party Never Stops’ and then followed with ‘Break It Up’. Ending off their energetic set with ‘Jump Start’ it was evident at this point in the night, that this was going to be one fun concert.
After a 10 minute intermission, American punk-rockers All Time Low hit the stage. They started off with ‘Time Bomb’ and had the first bra of their set thrown on stage. By then end of the set they had a collection of 5 or 6 bra’s along with a pair of bright pink panties; I’d say it’s safe to come to the conclusion that the teen girls were excited to see them. In the middle of the set, Jack Barakat, the guitarist of All Time Low, came for a walk in the crowd mid-song and took pictures with many of the fans. Near the end of their set, they made sure to play their top hit ‘Weightless’ before playing one more and leaving the stage.
Another 10 minute intermission followed, while they prepared the stage for Mariana’s Trench. Lead singer Josh Ramsay arrived in the style of a Jack In The Box. They started off rocking strong, and the band continued as they played ‘Haven’t Had Enough’ and followed by ‘All To Myself’. During ‘All To Myself’ the crowd sand along, including a chorus all to the crowd. It was pretty amazing. The band then put foreword their slower hit, ‘Beside You’ as the crowd waved their cell-phones, glow-sticks, and lighters to make the stadium as bright as the night-sky. Continuing on with ‘Celebrity Status’ and then current hit single ‘Fallout’; lead singer Josh Ramsay came into the crowd, where he got mauled as he continued to sing. He went to both sides as the crowd went crazy over him. Ending off the set with ‘Cross My Heart’ the crowd was at this point ecstatic.
The night could have ended their and most of the crowd would’ve been more than pleased. However headliners Simple Plan were set to take the stage. After a 20 minute intermission, Simple Plan hit the stage at about 9:20 to a crowd of approximately 5500. Starting off with ‘Shut Up’ they merged their way into ‘Can’t Keep My Hands Off Of You’ and ‘Jump’ before taking a breath and welcoming the fans.
Playing on a stage set up with risers on either side, and 5 large TV-screens they didn’t go overboard on their visual production, but still kept it quite appealing.
They continued to play their hits including ‘Addicted’, and ‘You Suck At Love’. Following with ‘Summer Paradise’ numerous giant beach balls fell from the roof onto the crowd. Simple Plan then made their way into a 3-song medley which consisted of Maroon 5′s ‘Moves Like Jagger’, Taio Cruz’s ‘Dynamite’, and LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I Know It’ before making it into their current hit ‘Jet Leg’.
Simple Plan featured two encores, the first where the band came out in full Winnipeg Jets apparel, and the second lead singer Pierre Bouvier came out alone, and started with an acoustic version of ‘Perfect’ before having the remained of the band join him for the second half.
Overall with Simple Plan being joined by other pop-rock bands such as These Kids Wear Crowns, All Time Low, and Mariana’s Trench, the night was bound to be a success. As Simple Plan had a 90 minute set, it added to be about a total of 4 hours of hit music for the young audience. If this tour, or any of the bands participating are making their way to your city, I am highly recommending that you go see them, as all 4 of these bands are not the type to put on and settle for just an average show.
