Arriving at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to take in Sum 41’s Tour of the Setting Sun—their final Canadian tour—on Friday, January 10, I was met with multiple generations of lovers of the punk band.
Joining the tour were Vancouver punks Gob; having them open was unfortunate as the majority of people were still waiting in line and missed the opportunity to see them perform.
The angsty PUP, celebrating their first arena tour, had a transgender flag in tow to show love for the diversity in the music community. The sound was balanced, but the lead singer was outshined by his back-up singers and was a bit shaky with nerves.
When Sum 41 was introduced with the drop of a massive curtain, it was clear I was in for a show full of love, sadness, and a band proud of their legacy. The lighting was done beautifully and matched the mood of each song.
Not only was the sound enough to immerse every corner of the Memorial Centre, but the band also made sure to include every individual in their quirks, call-outs, and collective singing.
The main theme of the show was consistently recognized as being a celebration of the Sum 41 family, the supporters through the years, and even the new lovers of the punk rock legends. The lead singer, Deryck Whibley, rallied the crowd on the floor to mosh but to make sure everyone was looking out for each other.
Sharing music from their 2024 double album, Heaven :x: Hell, they also touched back to their early music that made them who they are and was part of their rise to fame. From Half Hour of Power to the forever classics off the albums All Killer No Filler and Does This Look Infected?, it was an emotional journey from beginning to end.
Being able to sum up almost 30 years of music in one night made this one of the most touching concerts I’ve attended. The mix of concert-goers from different walks of life came together for the purpose of saying goodbye to a group that provided the soundtrack to some of the toughest years of our lives, highlighting heartbreak, teenage angst, and a love for punk.
I was holding back tears as the band came together for one last bow on stage in Victoria. You could tell it was hard for them to want the night to end. They let us know that they would only be gone in person but not in spirit. As they finish off their tour from coast to coast, the legacy will live on through the younger crowd, and that’s a feat that would be hard for any band to replicate.