Sum41, Flashlight Brown, Billy Talent – Live (May 27th, 2003)

At 8 PM last Tuesday, Billy Talent walked onto the stage at Shaw Conference Center in front of about 4000 people. This hardcore band (somewhat like The Used and Finch) from Toronto has a way to energize the crowd right from the start. Maybe it was the blood curling screams from vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz, or maybe the powerful guitar melodies and backup vocals by Ian D’Sa and Jon Gallant, whatever it was, Billy Talent sure had some incredibly talent! Improvising a bit, Ben also picked up a shoe which had been thrown onto the stage and calmly placed it on his head as he continued to sing. Nearing the end he also picked up a roll of toilet paper and wrapped his face in it before throwing it back into the crowd. Try Honesty, Lies, Lies, Lies, Living In The Shadows, The Ex and Cut The Curtains were a few of the songs they played in their 30 minute set.

Nearing 9 o’clock, Flashlight Brown, another Toronto band, came on for their 30 minute set, playing songs like Patricia, Whoa Man and Ready To Roll (which they ended their set with). They put on a good set, but it wasn’t as good as the previous one by Billy Talent. They got the pit energized a bit, and tried to get it up some more, but it never went incredibly crazy.

15 minutes after Flashlight Brown finished their set, Sum 41 came blasting in with some great lighting effects, the black curtain dropped in the back to reveal a huge band logo. I believe they opened the show up with My Direction, but can not remember fully. Putting on a great show, Deryck loved to talk to the crowd and get them chanting along with him. “I love you, I love you, no, I don’t Love you, I love the big fat guy next to you.” Although that may be true, even though most people will hope it’s not, the crowd did love him back. Why you ask? Well there are many reasons, one may be the comedic ways Deryck portrays himself. “What? I can’t read lips you know. Alright, Alright! I can’t read! You happy now? I wrote this song about me, it’s called No Brains” he yelled to the crowd before the band went blasting into the sixth track from their latest album, Does This Look Infected?. 

The lighting effects were something else the crowd loved. Puke green, red, blue, and two major strobe lights gave the pit a little extra to jump around with, while projecting huge shadows off the band into the roof. Halfway through their 70 minute set, the huge logo in the background dropped down to reveal a new logo for the band. One with a devil in the middle. This got a huge yell from the crowd.

 During their hit single, Fat Lip, the crowd sung the part that goes “Don’t Count On Me…” as Deryck just guided the crowd. They played  tracks like The Hell Song, Over My Head (Better Off Dead), All Messed Up and In Too Deep, and of course many more. They also answered one of my many questions, what exactly does A.N.I.C mean? Well, before they started playing it, Deryck said that he is dedicated to Anna Nicole Smith, and then went on to say that it was called “Anna Nicole Smith is a stupid fucking cunt“. So that answered my question. Ending their set with Still Waiting, they left the stage at around 10:50, after a minute chant of “Sum41” from the crowd, they came back in with Thanks For Nothing and Motivation. Cramming in around 18 songs into their 70 minute set, they played songs from all their albums including a cover of Nirvana‘s latest single. Sum41 put on a amazing show, although you do think something is wrong when you hear “Put those away, your too young to be showing those” from the mouth of this popular pop-punk quartet.

Three amazing bands, loads of amazing songs, and never forget the amazing antics too, The Sum On Your Face Tour is a tour you do not want to miss!