Show Review: Sum 41 Celebrates 15 Years of Chuck at The Hollywood Palladium
Fans singing loudly during Sum 41’s “Pieces”, one of the singles off of Chuck.
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JAZMIN LEMUS
The Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Blvd was jam packed on Thursday, October 17th. It was a special occasion as Sum 41 was on their Order In DeclineTour. Additionally though, they were also celebrating 15 years of their album, Chuck. When that album was released, I was a sophomore in high school so when the news of this tour broke out, I knew it was a show I couldn’t miss. Sum 41 took two bands out on the road for these shows; The Amity Affliction and The Plot In You.
The Plot In You kicked things off. The metalcore quartet delivered a 30-minute-set and played songs off of their latest album, Dispose. They started off with “Rigged” the first song off the album. They also played the singles off the record which included “Feel Nothing”, “Not Just Breathing”, and “Disposable Fix”. With seven songs to help get the crowd warmed up, they succeeded as fans were ready for The Amity Affliction.
The Australian metalcore quartet started their set with “Drag The Lake”, off their latest record, Misery. The Amity Affliction immediately delivered a new song off their upcoming record (which has yet to be named). While fans had a chance at hearing new music live, they were also treated to older tunes such as “Chasing Ghosts” off of the Chasing Ghosts and “Don’t Lean On Me” and “Pittsburgh” off of Let The Ocean Take Me. While several fans were singing along during The Amity Affliction’s set, it seemed like the band gained new fans that night. As an observer in the crowd, sometimes you end up standing in the back and watch people take in the experience that they are becoming a part of. It’s safe to say that The Amity Affliction will play to new fans when they return in Los Angeles. With their set coming to an end, fans were ready to take in whatever it was Sum 41 was going to deliver.
I’ve been a fan of Sum 41 since the Does This Look Infected? era. At the time, I was around 13 years old. With that album and All Killer No Filler, which had been previously released, there was absolutely no way, my parents would’ve bought me those albums or would’ve allowed me to purchase them with my allowance. Those album covers had a lot to do with those decisions, yet I found a way to get my hands on those records thanks to classmates that burned me a copy (I promise I’ve bought merch at the shows since then). I’m glad and thankful that I was able to get my hands on those albums because if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be here. While, I do love all of Sum 41’s discography, Chuck, is my favorite album of theirs. I bought this record the day it was released and took an hour bus ride to the store after school to buy it. I listened to this record so much, that the CD started to skip at one point. When the band announced the tour in support of Order In Decline and also stated they’d be playing songs off of Chuck, I was absolutely in.
The second the first note dropped, there didn’t seem to be one fan NOT singing or moving around. They kicked things off with the first song off of Order In Decline, titled “Turning Away”. Sum 41 immediately went back in time and played “The Hell Song” followed by “Motivation”. Fans knew what they came for and they showed it when the band played the songs that made us fans to begin with. Shooting a band in the pit and singing along is seriously one of my favorite things. You’re doing what you love while seeing a band that you love do what they love. The minute I had a chance to go into the crowd and sing along, I did. “The Bitter End” was the first song the band played off of Chuck. I’ve thought about this and I don’t think I’ve heard that song live, so for anyone who grew up on the heavier genres, this one was a treat. Other songs we got to hear off of Chuck were “Some Say”, “Welcome To Hell”, and “88”. Of course, we also got to hear the singles from this record, which were “We’re All To Blame”, “Pieces”, and “No Reason”. I’m not sure if I’d be the only one in attendance who had some flashbacks hearing all these songs from Chuck, in particular the deep cuts since Sum 41 is a band who has grown up in front of us and has put out all these records. How bands choose their setlists with all these song choices is beyond me, yet it gets done.
The fun did not stop with Chuck and the night could not end without hearing other fan favorites such as “In Too Deep”, “Walking Disaster”, “With Me”, “Fat Lip”, and a cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”. As for an encore, Sum 41 wrapped up with a super fan favorite, “Pain For Pleasure”.
In today’s age of alternative rock music, it is truly a treat to get these type of tours. I’ve always considered myself fortunate for living in a major market such as Los Angeles because I believe music fans out here are spoiled and to get a show like this…we’re lucky. As long as they’re able to keep going, this band will continue to find a way to make fans happy with new music and new tours. I’m okay with all of that.
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