I used to have this friend who I met back in high school that for years and years during the time we spent together, he’d periodically bring up that time we went to go see Sum 41 play at the Kee to Bala when we were like 14. “The all ages section was up on the balcony, remember? That show was amazing!”

He must have said this to me at least 60 times and I’m not exaggerating.

He never could seem to remember my response. “No, I wasn’t there with you guys. I’ve actually never been up on the balcony at the Kee.”

That part is still true, I’m always on the floor there. The balcnony always feels like a strange exclusive club that I’m not sure I belong in.

So when Sum 41 announced that this was likely to be their last tour – and yea, I know, I groaned and rolled my eyes too, because how man times have we hear that lie before from our most binge-worthy bands – I realized I had been sleeping hard on their shows.

How have I been listening to this band since I was in like 5th grade and haven’t seen them live yet? They have been hugely influential to me as a musician and I was manically addicted to their first few records and their entire story as a band.

Toronto would mark the end of the tour, a fitting place to bid farewell to our snarky little Ajax punk heroes… and that show sold out faster than I could click the button.

Buying concert tickets in this age is such a pain.

But, they did us a solid and added a second date and I quickly jumped on a single ticket somewhere in section 119. That was nearly a year ago, I could’ve almost forgotten about the show entirely if I hadn’t been anticipating it so heavily after devouring the Heaven & Hell double album since its release.

I opted to drive down to Scotiabank Arena last night after debating if I wanted to deal with the annoyance of the TTC closure from St. George to St. Andrews that was in effect and the bitterly cold winter winds. There’s a great parking lot not far from the arena that is an absolute steal on rates ($8 flat!) if you’re willing to walk a couple minutes to get to it and even though that too was under construction which was a little confusing for a moment to get around and traffic was a bother at 5PM on a weeknight with a sudden snowfall to boot, I know I made the better choice.

I vibed out to the band on the hour+ ride from Vaughan and made good use of my seat warmers.

The show was set to start at 6:50PM which seemed early. I got into the Arena sometime around 6:10 or 6:15PM and it was pretty quiet for the most part until I realized the line that I passed on my way in that curled all the way through to Sections 120 was actually the merch table line and I needed to walk my butt all the way back to get in it if I wanted to get anything in my size.

It’s cool, plenty of time, I told myself as I secured my spot.

They had a huge selection of tees, there must have been at least 10 options including hockey jerseys and hoodies. I appreciated that because nothing bums me out like when I really want to snag a tee from a band and they have a super lacklustre offering. I’m a little picky about my band tees and won’t buy just anything – design and feel of the material is important especially when you’re about to drop $65 on a single one.

While I waited in line I justified my choice to buy at least 1 Sum 41 tee and a Pup tee. Nothing against Gob, but I couldn’t buy any more than that at the prices everything is and my own lack of funds. Betweren the two I was already north of $100 (Pup’s sold for $40), and the ticket itself was like $115 if I recall correctly. My justification for my renewed love of band merch is that back in the day when I was a more regular concert goer, I would’ve easily spent that same money on too many beers for myself and my friends and pissed it all away by the end of the night. At least the tees last a couple years.

Through the corridor and as we alls huffled along the line, Scotia staff were trying to get more attention on the 50/50 draw they would be doing and I shook my head at it. I expect 50/50 draws at Jays games, but do we really need to have them all over our concert scene, too? I’m getting a little tired of all the ways this city wants to pull money from your wallet and this increased attention on casual gambling has been rubbing me the wrong way for a couple years now. What we need is better jobs, better wages and affordable services, not more opportunities to try your luck at the lottery – but that’s a conversation for another time.

Gob

Now, I know I’m early for a lot of things, but people in Toronto are generally not, especially for concerts, so I was mildly stunned and a little annoyed when I heard the house music turn off and Gob rip into their first song while I was still in line at the stupid merch table (albeit real close to it now and a stone’s throw from my section). I glanced at my watch. 6:45PM.

Booooo!

I misesed like 4 songs at least easily because Gob are not exactly known for long drawn out power ballads.

Foot in Mouth Disease was one of my favourite records as a kid, I spun that track a ton and was bummed to have missed them performing it as their opener.

But it’s alright, I won’t miss “I Hear You Calling,” I’m sure.

Section 119 is one of the better sections if you’re not on the floor at Scotia Arena. You’re off to the side but just far enough to still see the entirety of the stage with ease and you can still make out everyone’s expressions without resorting to the feeds on the projection screens.

In true Toronto fashion most of the arena was pretty bare during Gob, but that’s their loss because the band played great. Theo Goutzinakis in particular was a joy to watch, full of energy and just as silly and animated as you’d see him in their music videos. Compartively I wondered if Tom Thacker was saving some of his energy for his later-role as Sum 41 touring guitarist or if his casual demeanour is just his style now. By they time they finished, I was still just a little bummed I’d missed some of their set, but stoked I got to hear I Hear You Calling.

They brought out Cone to play bass on Soda (another Gob classic) and I figured we’d be in for a couple similar surprises through the night given the occassion, but I couldn’t help but think about how funny and odd it is that so many bands are doing these features where they just kinda pull musicians from the same bill and that’s the whole bit. I spoke about it recently during the recent Sound Off opinion piece, When The Headliner Is The Opener. I’m still not sure entirely how I feel about it given the frequency of it now.

Pup

Next up was Toronto local darlings PUP who seem to be everyone’s favourite new punk band and come up in random conversations often within the scene. I’m not sure who else right now from our city rivals the attention they receive, to be honest, so I was looking forward to finally seeing them live as well. The closest I’d gotten until this point was when their drummer filled in for Jeff Rosenstocks’ guy when I went to see them and The Gaslight Anthem and I really enjoyed his playing that night.

And they brought great energy. If you’re not familiar with Pup, they have a catchy & shouty noise-punk sound. The melody’s and riffs aren’t as clear and intentional as we saw from late 90’s-2000’s punk bands like Gob and Sum41, but when they fall into the choruses and refrains, you can’t help but want to sing (or shout) along.

Without a doubt they’re a band worth adding to your list to see if you haven’t had a chance yet.

And they had a little special guest as well. This time, PUP brought out Gob’s Tom Thacker to play guitar for a song. And I laughed to myself again about this funny phenomenon.

See, I know it’s rad as hell to play with these types of guys and I probably wouldn’t turn down the opportunity either if given the chance, but as a fan at shows, I feel like the whole special guest thing in the rock sphere is dilluting the appeal of it all when it’s just the same people playing the same stage on the same night.

We speak a lot in the industry about creating space for artists of a wide variety of backgrounds and lived experiences especailly as it pertains to the inclusion of women, POC and the LGBTQ+ communtiy, and I think what’s giving me pause is the sudden uptick in the “already successful white male musician playing with other succesful white male musciains” category of it all. I bring this up with nothing but love as respect for Gob, Pup and Sum41 and know that these fun features are just that, fun little ways for these guys to share these moments together within their own community club, but I’m just saying I think we could get a little more creative with the surprise guests within the rock and punk world. In all honesty, it’s starting to feel lazy, like the way pre-autographing your memoir with a hope to boost book sales feels lazy and cheap (to me).

When Miley Cyrus brought out Bill Idol at Lollapalooza? Cool as fuck.

Ron Sexsmith’s incredible clown-car of special guests at his Sexmith at 60 show? Tremendous, unexpected and endearing.

Oh, Carly Rae Jepson happens to be in the same town you’re in right now and you’re going to whip up a performance of Call Me Maybe with her? Hell yea, get it.

I digress.

Down below on the floor I noted that Scotia had beer vendors walking the GA area the same way vendors walk the aisles at sports events and I couldn’t recall if I’d ever seen them do that before. Sometime later, I noticed another vendor in the stands. Has Scotia always offered this service at shows and I’ve just never noticed it or is this a policy change that came with the renovations? Nice perk if you didn’t want to lose your spot on the floor, I figure.

Sum 41

A large curtain has covered the stage in the time that I was muttering to myself about this funny trend and the crowd was really pilling in now. The stage crew hustled all of Gob and Pup’s gear off the stage and anticipation grew.

Smartly, as the lights dimmed once more, AC/DC’s TNT come barreling out of the P.A and the stage lights flashed in unison. It reminded me of when I was 13 and making the long walk from where we parked to the SARS Stock show where I’d see AC/DC perform for the first (and only) time. The people we were walking with had started the same chant from TNT as we made our way and it was this incredible moment of unity and excitement shared across a completely varied generational gap just as how tonight from my section I saw Sum 41 fans as young as 5 or 6 to those in their 60’s and 70’s. The crowd got right into it and it served as a great way to signal to everyone still out buying beers and merch and popcorn to get back to their sections.

Torontonians hate staying in their seats and they definitely needed the extra time to get back and fill in the obvious holes of this sold-out show.

I was super pumped. Did I mention I’ve never seen Sum 41 before? Wild.

From the moment the curtain came down and Deryck’s voice jumped into the microphone, I knew we were in for a great night.

That iconic rasp. The almost evil and gleeful sneering that exudes the spirit and soul of veteran punk and metal frontmen that influenced our spikey-haired pop-punk legend. You certainly know how to make an enterance.

Sum 41 these days doesn’t tour with their full original line-up, noticeably absent is machine-gun drummer Stevo32, replaced some years ago by Frank Zummo (who is a TANK in his own right) but we do have Dave Brownsound back and of course mainstay staples Cone and Bizzy D. And of course, there’s busy body Tom Thacker filling in on rhythm guitar so that Deryck can freely wander and do what he does best – command the crowd.

And truly, that is the part of this show that really stood out to me the most. I’ve always thought Deryck was a great frontman, but you really don’t appreciate the level he performs at until you’ve been in the room with him.

He’s not a big dude in stature, but damnit does he ever have that incredible ability to make himself, his voice and his presence larger than the stage he stands on.

As it progressed, it was apparent this really is less of a Sum 41 show as it is the Deryck Whibley show, and I’m not fussed about it.

That said, it was a real treat to see Dave Baksh perform his iconinc solos through the night; longtime Sum 41 fans like myself remmeber how gutted we all were when he made the decision to leave the band because his sound and style was such a big part of what made this band so unique.

Cone kept it cool and steady through every song and played as well as you’d expect someone so seasoned without adding much flash. He almost seemed more comfortable drifting back into the stage and hanging out closer to Tom instead of up front like Dave and Deryck.

Zummo had some solid solo moments and I always appreciate seeing great drummers have the spotlight. They’re so unbelievably critical to the entire feel of the show and there’s just something about drum solos that always impresses me and keeps me so engaged.

As far as I can tell, Sum 41 played most of the same songs they’ve been hitting the festival circuit with over the last couple years and their stage show aesthetics matches the big-arena rock atmosphere they were shooting for. Complete with tasteful pyrotecnics, beach balls jumping around the audience and a heaping helping of confetti cannons, you really felt like you were at a well-thought out, tightly produced professional rock show.

They just don’t breed bands like this anymore.

Highlight songs for me were Summer (arguably favourite of the early stuff), Makes No Difference, Noots, Still Waiting, Some Say, Walking Disaster and The Hell Song, but the biggest crime of the night was that they didn’t have enough time to play more of their extensive discography. Sum 41 has one of the best and most interesting collection of songs out of any band in their respective punk/metal sphere and with Deryck’s unrelenting stage presence, they always leave you wanting more.

I do want to also acknowledge that Deryck made many points throughout the nights to show his appreciation and gratitude to the Sum 41 family, all of us in attendance and all those who have been around through the years and we certainly heard and felt you last night. From powerful ballads that remind us of these little punks sensitive side to heavy hitters that masterfully mesh genres like We’re All to Blame, you knew you were getting the band at their best and perhaps at their most present, certainly healthiest, than they’ve been through their at times chaotic and destructive career.

The band took their time after the final encore to wave to the crowd and take their final bow, a bittersweet moment that had me thinking, “Surely, this is not the last we will see of Sum 41.” They seemed like they didn’t even want to leave the stage and frankly, I didn’t either.

Firmly secured with absolutely no debate necessary, Sum 41 showed me and the audience last night just how to put on a damn good rock show and for that I am grateful I was able to be in attendance. Even if it is the only time I will ever see them, I know I’ll always note Deryck as one of Canada’s most charismatic and entertaining front men rivaling Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and the band as one of the most deserving of our utmost praise.

Thanks Sum41. See ya when we see ya.

If you’re lucky to have snagged a ticket, Sum 41’s final Toronto show goes down tomorrow. Same time, same place, and some of the same people, probably. Have a great time.