NJ Music Festivals

They are bigger than we thought.

Pop-punk veterans Simple Plan took their “Bigger Than You Think!” tour to a nearly sold-out Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park on Wednesday night with Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and LØLØ. The show marked the halfway point in the tour, the band’s 25th anniversary, and celebration of the band’s new documentary.

On July 8, Simple Plan and Prime Video released “The Kids in the Crowd,” a documentary capturing the band’s rise in Canada.

The documentary features the band plus familiar faces like Mark Hoppus of blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Fat Mike of NOFX, and Dexter Holland of The Offspring.

Wednesday’s set was Simple Plan’s third appearance on the Summer Stage; they previously played back-to-back nights at the venue with Sum 41 in 2022.

Before them, Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Mandel, known on stage as LØLØ, opened the night. LØLØ has been active in the Canadian pop-punk scene since 2018, releasing two EPs with Hopeless Records.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get to play her “Dancing in the Dark” cover, but for a 5:30 p.m. set, the crowd loved it, was super into it, and was already packed

3OH!3 hit the stage next, an electropop duo from Boulder, Colorado, known for collaborations with the likes of Katy Perry and Kesha.

This group was one that I didn’t anticipate being well-received from the crowd, but they loved them and seemed like they were having a ton of fun on stage.

Following that, pop-punk icons Bowling For Soup took the stage — a band who has played over 30 times in New Jersey, and one that arguably has too many hits to be opening for anyone.

The Texas quartet, now performing as a trio, has been around for more than 30 years, remembered for their Grammy-nominated single “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.” But most fans know them best for “1985,” which hit No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Pop Airplay chart.

The group took the stage to hits “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” and “High School Never Ends.”

Not only was the performance funny in itself for a few reasons (the band stopping and taking a break in between every single song, the photo opportunity in the middle of the set, and the fact that the songs were played way too fast), but it killed amongst the Asbury Park crowd.

Simple Plan and Bowling for Soup’s fanbase overlap nicely in the fact that you’ll find both 50-year-olds and 12-year-olds having just as much fun. For a performance that flows the way Bowling for Soup’s does, it’s a good mix and pretty much impossible to have a bad time.

The band threw in the theme song to Finneas and Ferb, which they wrote and released, and a cover of “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne before closing the set with “1985.”

Simple Plan’s set was that of a celebration. Not of anything too in particular — more of a multitude of things. A documentary, a quarter-decade as a band, and good music.

The band — led by Pierre Bouvier — knows how to put on a show. The band came out to some of their biggest hits: “I’d Do Anything” > “Nothing Changes” > “Shut Up!” > “Jump” > “Addicted” before bringing LØLØ back out for “Jet Lag.”

Accompanied by the high energy and showmanship of Bouvier was confetti and smoke cannons, multiplying the crowd’s excitement.

In the middle of the set, the band performed two medleys: one of their own deep cuts, and one of fan-favorite covers, including The Killers, Smash Mouth, and frequent tourmate Avril Lavigne.

Oh, and they’re not the only band on this bill with a T.V. show theme song. “What’s New Scooby Doo?” is a fan favorite.

Before the tour, the band made an agreement that any fan dressed up as Scooby Doo — which there are many — would get to come up and stage and dance to the song. There were about 15 Scooby Doos on stage tonight.

The band closed with “I’m Just a Kid” with Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup, and capped the night with their biggest hit, “Perfect.” The band performed for 90-minutes before hitting the 10:00 p.m. city-wide noise ordinance.

The band has come a long way since their first show in New Jersey, 23 years ago with Sugar Ray at the old Taj Mahal. You can catch them on the “Bigger Than You Think!” tour in Boston on Aug. 29 and Philadelphia on Aug. 30. The band will also appear on national T.V. for Good Morning America on Aug. 29.

Setlist:

1. I’d Do Anything
2. Nothing Changes
3. Shut Up!
4. Jump
5. Addicted
6. Jet Lag (with LØLØ)
7. Can’t Keep My Hands Off You
8. Astronaut
9. Welcome to My Life
10. Summer Paradise
11. Untitled (Pierre in crowd)
12. Thank You
13. The Worst Day Ever / My Alien / God Must Hate Me / Grow Up / Vacation
14. All Star (Smash Mouth cover) / Sk8er Boi (Avril Lavigne cover) / Mr. Brightside (The Killers cover)
15. What’s New Scooby Doo? (with attendees dressed as Scooby Doo on stage)
16. Where I Belong
17. Crazy / Perfect World / Save You / This Song Saved My Life
18. I’m Just a Kid (with Jaret Reddick)
19. Perfect