REVIEW: Sum 41 brings nostalgic energy to Edmonton on farewell tour: 'We're going to miss you'
Tour of the Setting Sum ends on Jan. 30 in Toronto
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Even after all these years, the boys still unleash an unbelievable amount of raw energy.
With blasts of confetti, streamers, fireworks, and flames, Canadian punk-rockers Sum 41 said So Long Goodbye to Edmonton fans at Friday’s farewell tour stop at Rogers Place.
Formed in 1996, the band announced their disbandment in May 2023 and released their final album, Heaven :x: Hell, in March 2024. It’s no surprise the crowd was on their feet from the start, with people reliving their teenage angst and introducing it to their little punks-in-training.
‘Thank you for all the love’
Sporting a muscle tank and his signature spiky blond hairdo, frontman Deryck Whibley, 44, led the unrelenting, supercharged, nearly two-hour emotional roller-coaster, commanding the audience to jump and sing along as he swapped guitars with abandon.
“We love you, we thank you, we appreciate you, but most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to f***ing miss you. We’re going to miss you so God damn much,” he said to an eruption of cheers.
“You guys have gotten us through such hard times and amazing times. Thank you for all the love, all the support. Through all the heaven and all the hell, you guys have been there for us to always make us feel special. You’ve always made us feel welcome here,” he added, thanking fans for “all the s*** that you have to go through just to be at a concert like this tonight.”
Strobe lights and laser beams kept pace with the ever-quickening beat as the moshing and crowd-surfing began, with Whibley checking in to see that no one was hurt. With Dave Baksh, Jason McCaslin, Tom Thacker, and Frank Zummo at the helm, the band’s energy never wavered.
At one point, a giant skeleton set piece with glowing red eyes appeared, its hands forming the Sum 41 salute (right hand raising four fingers and left hand raising the middle one).
Whibley shared the story of the guitar in his grasp, used in the early days of Sum 41 but stolen in 2003, drawing boos from the crowd.
“Long story short, I just got this guitar back a couple of months ago,” he said to cheers. “Twenty years, it’s back where it belongs,” as the crowd chanted, “F*** that guy!” regarding the thief.
Whibley reigned it in with a laugh: “I don’t want to ruin the beautiful moment here. We’re having a special moment.”
The boys powered through old and new hits, keeping everyone energized.
War transformed the venue into a sea of swaying hands bathed in purple and pink lights. Whibley called Underclass Hero a “jumping song,” but really, which of their tracks isn’t?
Sum 41 showcased their sharp skills with snippets of Slayer’s Raining Blood and Metallica’s Master of Puppets, delivering blistering guitar solos, punchy basslines, and airtight rhythms.
Whibley’s introduction to Dopamine was personal: “It’s about happy chemicals. The ones you make — not the ones you take. I’m done with that s***, God damn it,” referencing his struggle with alcohol addiction. He recently celebrated a decade of sobriety.
Some Say offered a breather while Walking Disaster turned the audience into a bouncing popcorn-like wave.
Taking a nostalgic tone, Whibley dedicated 2000’s Makes No Difference (Sum 41’s debut single) to “old school” fans. During Pieces, he played a stripped-down piano intro as his bandmates kicked in with a booming beat and onlookers helped finish its refrain: “I’m better off on my own.”
Fat Lip was a raucously fun highlight, with the crowd happy to belt out, “Don’t count on me.”
The encore featured Summer (which Whibley said is from 10th or 11th grade), Waiting on a Twist of Fate, and fan-favourite pop-punk anthem In Too Deep.
The band took their sweet time leaving the stage — blowing kisses, waving at every corner of the arena, and placing hands over their hearts — before taking a bow together.
PUP and Gob open
Canadian bands PUP (Pathetic Use of Potential) and Gob are along for the Tour of the Setting Sum, which ends on Jan. 30 in Toronto.
Sonic 102.9 host Layne Mitchell, who happened to be sitting next to me, provided insight: PUP is “Canada’s Blink-182,” and Gob “has been around forever in the pop-punk trenches.”
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