Sum 41 w/ Senses Fail and As It Is
Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA
10.29.16
Filled to capacity, Seattle’s Neptune Theatre hosted the epic return of Sum 41 for their sold out “Don’t Call It A Sum-Back” tour. Both longtime and newer fans (who were not even born when Sum 41’s first album, All Killer, No Filler was released) packed in close to the stage, but none could have been aware of the full rock show experience that was about to commence.
Opening the night were young pop-rockers, As It Is, from Brighton, England. With the look of a new band still getting their tour credit under their belt, the singer, Patty Walters, carried the stage performance. Walters was impressive from the start. His entertaining presence averaged four mic swings during each and every song; a talented feat considering the small stage space given to them as the opening act. The band’s songs were loaded with catchy lyrics and easy guitar riffs.
After a quick gear change, longtime hard core rock band Senses Fail hit the stage. They brought serious momentum from the past fifteen years of killing it on stage and produced a wildly fantastic show. From the start, lead singer, Buddy Nielsen, was giving it all he had with mainly humorous stage antics. He balanced with one foot in the air, did mid-song push-ups, jumped rope with the mic cord, lifted his shirt up to rub his nipples, and laid on the stage to pose like a model. It was a juxtaposition of humorous acting and hard core screaming during the opening numbers. All was balanced out later in the set as Buddy went into more of a mic-swinging mode and jumped down into the barricade right in front of the fans.
“We have been in Canada the last few days,” referenced Nielsen, of their last couple tour stops, “Canadians don’t like Senses Fail.” He mocked that “We bore the shit out of the front row at the beginning and then just slay it at the end.” His self-deprecating humor was a boon to the crowd who loved each song, especially at the beginning. A few times, Neilsen yelled out “You’re not going to like this song,” but from the size and intensity of the ensuing mosh pit, he was being modest. The fans loved every second of it. In another sarcastic comment, Nielsen, joked that Sum 41 told him they would not play their hit song, “Fat Lip,” if the crowd did not love the show. “Right now you’re at about 60%, we have to bring you up to 80%,” he said, right as they began one of their better songs, “Calling All Cars.” With the entertaining performance of Senses Fail they left the stage with the crowd at well over the made up 80% mark and eager for Sum 41 to hit the stage.
Walking out to Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” metal compilation, lead singer Deryck Whibley saluted the crowd and they went straight into an old classic, “Hell Song.” The single guitar riff lit up the ears of the fans who were quickly screaming in excitement after hearing it. You could hardly make out the music over the yelling from the crowd in the front row. They immediately swirled into motion during this fast and well-loved song.
With the release of 13 Voices, their first record out in five years, this headlining tour was expected to showcase the new album and their new songs. After starting with two classic tracks, they played their first new song “Fake My Own Death.” On “Screaming Bloody Murder,” Whibley impressed the crowd with an incredible guitar solo and finished it off with a little tongue solo.
Stopping a few times between songs, Whibley got into a deep explanation of their meanings. He described “War,” which was one of his favorite songs off the record. “This next song is about all of you, it’s what helped me.” He explained to the adoring fans that without them, they would not have been able to write their new album.
An added bonus for longtime Sum 41 fans was the return of guitarist Dave Baksh, after a five-year break from the band. “Dave, he’s the metal king and he can play anything you want,” Whibley yelled to the fans before Baksh and the rest of the band started to cover “Paranoide” by Black Sabbath. The show was more rock and more guitar then any Sum 41 tour has ever seen, and included a second cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” New Drummer Frank Zummo got a chance to earn his mark, playing an epic drum solo as the other members left the stage.
They ended the set with “In Too Deep,” before leaving the stage with a short and simple “Bye” from Whibley. The fans shouted for one more song while the stage manager moved a small keyboard to the center of the stage. A few more moments filled with chants and screams and Whibley came out by himself for the encore, playing a “piece” before the rest of the band came out to finish the song. The night ended with the reward of “Fat Lip,” and an explosion of confetti cannons.
Photos and Review by Logan Westom
Sum 41
Senses Fail
As it Is
