Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour rolled into Ottawa on August 14, and the show was a dynamic celebration of her storied career and a re-living of early 2000s nostalgia.
The Canadian Tire Centre was abuzz with anticipation as fans came to witness two Canadian pop-punk icons Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan on Wednesday.
It truly felt like going back in time, from the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes of “Girlfriend” rang out, to the anthemic “Sk8er Boi,” it was clear Ottawa had been missing their emo phase. Old videos of Lavigne’s MTV days played on screen as the crowd sing-screamed along. Reminiscing on her start, Lavigne said that it felt like home playing in Ottawa, growing up just a couple of hours away in Napanee.
As Simple Plan took to the stage, Pierre Bouvier said it best: “Let’s party like it’s 2003 Warped Tour,” and fans responded in turn whether it be decked out in Vans or t-shirt and tie combinations. The group was full of energy, bounding off of the risers and getting the crowd engaged immediately with their hit “I’d Do Anything.”
Opening the night was Girlfriends, the punk duo who were a well-chosen starter to get the early crowd revved up for the rest of the evening.
