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Celebrates 25 Years at YouTube
August 20th, 2025 Review by Joey Clark
Earlier this year, Simple Plan announced their aptly named Bigger Than You Think! Tour with support from rising rock sensation LØLØ, electropop phenomenon 3OH!3, and the pop-punk staple Bowling for Soup.
The trek would mark the band’s first headlining tour in nearly a decade, and SoCal fans were quick to jump on the opportunity to witness it. Once tickets were released, Inglewood was one of the first dates to completely sell out.
August 13th, 2025
Inglewood, California
Excitement filled the air outside the venue as fans old and new joyously donned a variety of Simple Plan merch – many of which were from prior tours. It was more than obvious an incredibly-dedicated fanbase had descended upon the theater to rally behind their favorite band that night.
Canadian-based pop rock artist LØLØ would jumpstart the night. The singer made a big splash at the Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach with a mesmerizing performance and poignant, impactful lyrics. Tonight she delivered that – and then some!
LØLØ dominated the stage like a seasoned veteran, getting the audience to sing along throughout her 10-song set – a rarity to witness from most introductory acts. Favorites were “faceplant,” “The devil wears converse,” “u turn me on (but u give me depression),” and “hot girls in hell.” It was clear LØLØ had won over the crowd as she exited the stage to thunderous applause.
Following LØLØ, was the iconic electropop duo, 3OH!3. While some may question the inclusion of the act on the tour, they were quick to put to bed any such inquiry from the moment they stepped on the stage with their hi-vis coveralls. The pairing that comprises 3OH!3 (Sean Foreman and Nathanial Motte) brought a sense of magnetism that was utterly undeniable.
Foreman and Motte are exceptional performers in their own right, but what allows them to connect with their audience – beyond a stellar execution of their songs in a live setting – is the fashion in which the two insert a hefty amount of levity.
Their sense of humor is in line with most pop punk bands; throughout the set the duo cracked jokes, and often at their own expense.
What drove the point home about 3OH!3 being a part of this tour was the strength of their conviction in each line they delivered.
They may not share the same genre as the other acts but certainly share the same sensibilities of gut-punching lyrics and ability to line their set with lighthearted moments.
Song highlights include “I’m Not Your Boyfriend Baby,” “My First Kiss,” and their biggie, “Don’t Trust Me.” The group walked off stage to an exhilarated audience as the roar of cheers emanated through the venue.
Bowling for Soup was the penultimate act of the night, and they came out in full force with their beloved hit, “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.”
The audience went absolutely crazy as the band launched into the song, singing back every line at the top of their lungs.
Sonically the legendary pop punk act sounded like they hadn’t aged a day since releasing the track over 20 years ago.
Bowling for Soup set the bar and kept surpassing it as each song concluded out of their 10-song set that included “Ohio (Come Back to Texas),” “Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day,” “Almost Turbulence,” and “Punk Rock 101.”
Of course no BFS set would be complete without their signature style of hijinks. Lead singer, Jaret Reddick had stuck a guitar pick to his forehead and joked about not stopping drinking as he chugged a beer for the audience’s pleasure. Bassist Rob Felicetti was a sideshow all his own with his patented playing between his legs and taking time wrap around Reddick’s underside as he performed.
Bowling for Soup ended their set with a classic, “1985.” The crowd had not missed a beat the entire night and for the final song, they shook the YouTube Theater by singing those cherished lyrics back. The band left the stage with the audience fully warmed up for Simple Plan.
The house lights went down, everyone fell silent, the tension had started to rise. Simple Plan’s logo appeared, and illuminated the stage, then a highlight reel played upping the ante. The band emerged and lead singer Pierre Bouvier excitedly asked, “What’s up Los Angeles?” The response that echoed through the venue was massive.
Their set kicked off with the heartfelt track, “I’d Do Anything.” Scanning the faces of the everyone around, it was obvious how much this track had impacted those in attendance – every break up, every romantic pop punk playlist made, and every crush summed up in a manner of minutes.
“Nothing Changes” was performed next, a previously unreleased track from their documentary, “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd.” One could only wonder why such an incredible song had been stored in the vault for so long!
The next highlight of the show came when opener, LØLØ joined the band onstage for “Jet Lag” and sang alongside Bouvier. The pair were absolutely sensational as they sung in tandem and it was a sight to see with one generation sharing the song with next.
What amazed me throughout the night was witnessing fans across the board singing in unison to all of the songs in Simple Plan’s set. From the melancholy “Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me?)” as Bouvier joined the pit with a beautiful piano performance, to the deep cut of “My Alien” off their debut album. The band’s fanbase were truly ride or die for these guys and nothing could be more thrilling to see than their devotion for the group.
As the night proceeded the band gave the crowd their all; a medley of songs from “No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls” “to give you a taste of 2002” as Bouvier put it, a flurry of covers that brought back the house parties of the early 2000s that included Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi”, and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.”
There was also a performance of the theme song “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” with dozens of fans being invited on stage in Scooby-Doo costumes to dance and sing-along with the group.
Simple Plan left the stage after a thunderous performance of their song, “Where I Belong,” but returned after fans demanded an encore. With the same passion they’d delivered all night, the group did a medley of their ballads then launched into the pop punk anthem, “I’m Just a Kid.”
Bouvier reminded us of all the times our parents told us listening to pop punk was just a phase and that clearly it was not. In the middle of the song, drummer Chuck Comeau swapped roles with Bouvier then brought Bowling for Soup’s frontman, Jaret Reddick, back to the stage to wrap up the remainder of the song. Comeau threw himself into the crowd, surfing through the pit, high-fiving as many fans as possible.
The night ended with Bouvier on an acoustic guitar performing “Perfect” and midway through the band followed suit. Truly a heavy sentiment to conclude the evening.
The Bigger Than You Think! Tour served not only as a reminder of the impact that pop punk has on so many lives, but Simple Plan being a pillar of the genre and they shall remain to be for years to come.
I can’t recommend enough catching them the next time they’re in a city near you.
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by Highway One Photography
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