REVIEW BY DAVID TAYLOR AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT A CHADWICK | Go Venue Magazine
It’s not every day that Omaha, NE gets to be the first show of a nationwide tour, but that is what happened on Friday, April 19, when the Canadian pop-punk act, Sum 41, came to town to play their last-ever show here at The Astro in La Vista. Originally scheduled to perform outdoors at the amphitheater right next to the indoor venue, the band brought their cooler weather with them, so they decided to move it indoors to make it for one hot and sweaty night of live music.
Joey Valence & Brae from Pennsylvania were the opener of the night. Does a hip-hop act belong on a punk rock show? Absolutely. They understood the vibe of the night which was good, fun vibes, and they took advantage of that. They were very reminiscent of the Beastie Boys, just hyping up the crowd with their catchy tongue-in-cheek lyrics. These kids know how to put on a high-energy show. They said on stage they have a new album coming out this summer, but check out their debut album, PUNK TACTICS.
The Interrupters from Los Angeles were the direct support. Punk rock was alive in La Vista. These guys put on one of the best sets I’ve seen all year, so far. I also loved the ska they brought to their set. They had catchy lyrics and awesome sing-alongs. Guitarist Kevin Bivona was a great talker to the audience. He shouted out Lookout Lounge (RIP) and the Waiting Room. They seem to love playing in Omaha. I have to shout out touring member Billy Kottage, who did some amazing trombone playing. As someone who used to play the trombone, I felt seen. Singer Aimee Interrupter was having such a fun time on stage, interacting with fans. She had such a captivating smile while performing that kept the good vibes up. They even did a fun cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”. I left this concert a fan of The Interrupters. Check out their latest album, In the Wild.
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to Sum 41. Being my third time seeing them, I was hoping they would be doing something new I’d never seen. When I heard Sum 41 was calling quits, I wasn’t expecting them to go out with a bang. I couldn’t believe the amount of production they brought with them. There was so much pyro, multiple backdrops, tons of confetti and streamers, and an inflatable skeleton. It felt like watching an arena show. Their energetic burst of pop-punk is unique. There was so much crowd-surfing. I hope security is doing well and recovering from the night. It’s amazing, lead singer Deryck Whibley has been doing this for nearly thirty years. Not many bands can last that song, but Sum 41 is an outlier, in the best way. I hope all the members of the band still pursue musical endeavors. You can now check out their final album that was released last month, Heaven :x: Hell.
Sum 41
The Interrupters
All images © Robert A Chadwick
Follow our socials, only take a second and is free by finding us on:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Publisher: Source link
