The moment you stepped onto the grounds of L’International de Montgolfières de Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, you could feel pop-punk in the air. We were suddenly transported back to 2002 when “Complicated” was at the top of the charts, and girls everywhere wore skateboarding shorts and loose ties around their necks. The buzz was palpable; the crowd was ready to see Avril Lavigne on her Greatest Hits Tour. The audience setting was quite unique: camping chairs and picnic blankets, with people comfortably waiting for the show.
With the Ferris wheel behind us, we found the perfect spot in the crowd to enjoy the show. We found ourselves surrounded by elder emos, families with kids, and teenagers—a testament to the impressive career Avril Lavigne has built over the last 22 years and 7 studio albums.
But before we got a chance to headbang to the hits, we were welcomed by Les Shirley, an all-female rock band from Montreal. They did a great job of warming up the crowd and, at one point, played an incredible punk cover of t.A.T.u.’s 2002 hit “All The Things She Said.” It was so good that I hope they release it someday; I would love to add it to my girl-punk rotation. The local punk trio has undeniable energy and is an act you can’t miss—check them out if you can.
It was time. The lights went out, the band came on stage, and then there she was: Avril Lavigne. The crowd was ready as the chords to “Girlfriend” sounded through every speaker. The setlist continued to deliver hit after hit, including bright highlights like “Complicated,” “My Happy Ending,” and “Losing Grip,” as well as newer bangers from her latest album Love Sux: “Love It When You Hate Me” and “Bite Me.” But the special treat was a Blink-182 cover: “All The Small Things,” and the crowd went wild for it, singing along to a song they did not expect to hear.
Surprisingly, most of the energy came from the audience. While the frontwoman can hit every note, her stage presence leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately, her band fills in some of the voids of energy, rarely stopping the music even in between songs, playing bridging melodies that make the performance flow in a very unique way.
Suddenly, rain came down from the skies, but no one cared—it just made the show more memorable. With “Sk8er Boi,” Avril said goodbye for a moment to the clamouring crowd, then came back for a short encore to close out the show. Two last songs: “Head Above Water” and “I’m With You,” left a crowd waving arms with misty eyes, happy to have sung along but sad to say goodbye.
Review – Ilse Martinez
Photos – Andres Amaya
