Photo: Chris Chadwick
Sum 41 are in town. Yes, that’s right. No, you are not dreaming, and no, you have no entered a time warp.
These modern punk heroes return to the stage with their original ensemble including guitarist Dave ‘Brown Sound’ Baksh after nine years away from band. Fronted by Deryck Whibley after conquering his near-death battle with alcoholism, a newly reunited band makes for one hell of a nostalgia-filled, energy-fuelled fire, shining a light towards the future - oh, and the perfect headliner for this year’s sold out Kerrang Tourat Kentish Town Forum.
“It's been a while,” says the unmistakable platinum blonde frontman Whibley, “but God damn it we’re back. Let's keep it going!” With two chords raining from stage, those of us in the room who are familiar with a debut studio album that changed teenaged lives from 2001, All Killer, No Filler (which is 99.9% of us), instantly recognise the smash single, ‘Motivation’.
After wetting our appetites with old school classic, we are granted rest-bite, but not for long. “That’s enough of the slow stuff. This one’s for the metal heads,” Whibley declares, as ecstatic fans rejoice when ‘We’re All to Blame’ causes our eardrums to vibrate like a washing machine on a spin cycle.
Between their epically unforgettable hits, Sum 41 squeeze in some much-loved extras. “Here's the first song I ever learnt to play on guitar,” Whibley chugs out Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’ then The White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ and a punk-up rebirth of Queen's 'We Will Rock You'. There’s time for honesty and hilarity too - “This is for all the pissed off motherfuckers. This songs called ‘Sick of Everyone’ - but for the time being I'm changing the tile to ‘Sick of Donal Trump’” - much to everyone appreciation.
If you thought you were going to stand at the back, nod your head a little, then leave unscathed, you were mistaken. From start to finish, every note implored your body to throw fists to the sky, scream until your lungs gave out and head-bang with the ferocity of slamming your head into a trampoline repeatedly.
“This tour has been fucking awesome”, shouts a sincerely smiling Whibley. We quite agree, but moreover, can't wait to see what they do next.
Sum 41 played:
Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
Motivation
The Hell Song
Summer
Handle This
Skumfuk
We're All to Blame
Walking Disaster
Screaming Bloody Murder
Underclass Hero
Sick of Everyone (Sick Of Donald Trump chorus)
Pieces
King of Contradiction (with Frank Zummo drum solo)
What We're All About
We Will Rock You (Queen cover)
My Direction
Still Waiting
In Too Deep
Encore:
Grab the Devil by the Horns and Fuck Him Up the Ass
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Fat Lip
