A nostalgic throwback to emo and pop punk glory

The New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City, was alive with pop-punk music as Simple Plan took the stage for their highly anticipated comeback concert in Manila. Fans of all ages — but especially the wave of millennials who grew up in the “scene kids” era — flocked to see the Canadian band, eager to relive the good old days of emo and pop punk.

Rita Ora AP PHOTO

The band’s latest concert in Manila transported the audience back to the early 2000s. PHOTO COURTESY OF WILBROS LIVE

Ppop Gen is composed of (top row) Madz, Sarah, Princess; (middle row) Char, Gabh; and (bottom row) Sofia and Angela

As soon as the band hit the stage, the crowd went wild. Simple Plan opened their set with “I'd Do Anything,” and the entire theater erupted into a chorus of deafening screams and cheers. It was like being transported back to the early 2000s, when emo haircuts, dark hoodies and skinny jeans were all the rage.

The energy in the room was electric as the band launched into a string of hits, including “Addicted” and “Welcome to My Life,” with frontman Pierre Bouvier prowling the stage like a caged tiger. His voice was as strong and emotive as ever, hitting all the right notes and stirring the crowd into a frenzy. As the band transitioned into “Jump,” Bouvier egged the crowd on, urging them to “get up, get up and dance!” And dance they did. The mosh pit was a blur of sweaty bodies, bouncing to the rhythm of distorted guitars and pop-punk-styled backbeats.

And then there were the oversized beachballs. During “Summer Paradise,” the band released a handful of beachballs into the crowd, and chaos ensued. Fans batted the beachballs around like a game of volleyball while others tried to keep them away from security guards. It was a hilarious moment that perfectly captured the carefree spirit of Simple Plan.

But the night's highlight had to be when drummer Chuck Comeau decided to take a leap of faith and stage dive right into the crowd during the band's spirited performance of “I'm Just A Kid.” It was a moment of pure rock and roll madness as fans scrambled to catch the beloved drummer and carry him around the theater.

As the night came to a close, Simple Plan left the stage to a thunderous round of applause, having given their fans an unforgettable night of nostalgia and pop-punk goodness. It was a reminder of a simpler time when life was all about blasting emo anthems in your iPods, updating that Friendster page, and putting lyrics in your Yahoo Messenger status.

Simple Plan's concert in Manila was more than just a show. It was a trip down memory lane, a chance for fans to relive their teenage years and sing along to the songs that defined a generation. It was a night of nostalgia and fun, a celebration of the emo and pop-punk scene that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

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Yung Bleu delivered his latest album, “Love Scars II,” on his Moon Boy University and Empire imprint. The album is full of elevated lyricism over sonically pleasing melodies creating another timeless R&B project from Bleu. Across 15 tracks are features and production from Ty Dolla $ign, Chris Brown, Tink, Hitmaka, Chrishan Dotson (Makasound), OG Parker, and more. Earlier this year, Bleu shared “Kissing On Your Tattoos” and “Games Women Play” to lead into this new album.

Love Scars II is the second installment of this album series, “Love Scars: The 5 Stages of Emotion,” which introduced us to the 3X Platinum hit single “You're Mines Still.” This second edition is based on the same creative vision but dives deeper and touches on situations and topics one may feel or experience amid relationships and/or situations. Love Scars II taps back into Bleu's unique and consistent sound that engaged his fanbase while simultaneously capturing a new audience.

Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, Yung Bleu is a multifaceted Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum singer, rapper, and songwriter with over 3 billion streams to date. He's been nominated at the 2023 iHeart Awards, won Best New Artist at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards, and toured with Chris Brown & Lil Baby. Before Love Scars II, Bleu also shared Tantra, which boasts “Walk Through The Fire” featuring Ne-Yo, which is Top 20 on R&B Radio, Moon Boy, which went Gold and peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 Charts, and his Investments mixtape series which boasts “Miss It” and “Ice On My Baby” — both surpassing 100 million YouTube views each.