Wednesday night I made my way to Hartford for Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits tour. I’m not the biggest Avril fan, but Simple Plan was opening and I absolutely love them and don’t often get the chance to see them. I also ended up jumping at the chance to get a VIP Pre-Show Pizza Party with Simple Plan.
For the pizza party we got let in a little early and were able to eat pizza and have drinks before the guys came in. They said they’d “talk to everyone” which based on other similar events I’ve gone to I didn’t think would happen but I managed to talk to each of them and get selfies. Seb and Jeff sat at the table with me but I had to track down Pierre and Chuck since they were in one spot and had everyone going to them. We also got a group photo taken with our device of us with the band and then a big group photo of everyone. We also got a signed laminate, signed poster and a clear tote bag.
Once we were done, the doors to the pavilion still weren’t open. I took a quick look at merch and there was a shirt I wanted but I didn’t want to wait in the line. Once I got in and to my spot, I saw they were doing mobile order and pick ups at the merch booth so I ordered it that way, knowing I’d be leaving before the show was over and could quickly grab it on my way out.
The first band went on at 8 and was called Girlfriends so I was a bit surprised to see 3 men walk out as the band! They sounded like a lot of other pop punk bands but weren’t bad.
Then it was time for Simple Plan! They had a decently long set and I haven’t seen them in so long I was just so happy to see them again! Also – my new earplugs are awesome! (Even if I did drop one mid set and had to get security to help me recover it) They basically did all their hits and the crowd really seemed into it.
Avril didn’t hit the stage until 10. I knew she did a song with Simple Plan so I was going to stay until then, but as the set went on I decided I was leaving at 11, Simple Plan or not. I’m getting old and it was too late for a middle of the week show lol. Fortunately for me, Simple Plan came out at 10:53 and finished at 10:59.
I grabbed my merch, headed to my car, and was on the main road by 11:16 and home just after midnight.
I’m still not the biggest Avril fan but fortunately with a greatest hits tour I knew most of the songs simply from listening to the radio for the last 22 years. (The fact that both Simple Plan and Avril have singles that are 22 years old is mind-blowing to me)
