Sum 41

Sum 41 • The Interrupters • Many Eyes • September 10, 2024 • The Lot at The Complex

Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney

Sum 41 stopped by the great state of Utah this last week for what appears to be for the last time on the 10th of September. They brought along some amazing bands as well as performed their last show here in Utah. The event was at the complex in downtown SLC. The venue usually has two stages that they use indoors but for this one, they were able to have a fun house so they were outside. This was my first time attending a concert there when it was outside and it was a pleasant experience. 

Photo Credit: Nate Bonney

The openers were Many Eyes and The Interrupters. Both put on an exceptional show. All three groups brought me back twenty years to when I started listening to punk/ska and rock/metalcore and this show had it all.

Many Eyes

The first opener was Many Eyes. They formed in Buffalo, NY, and Milford, CT in 2023. The members consist of. Singer Keith Buckley of Every Time I die and The Damn Things. Charlie and Nick Bellmore of Toxic Holocaust, and Jamey Hasta, Frontman for Metal Legends Hatebreed. 

Setlist:

The Rainbow
Harbinger
Servant
Speechless
Amateurs
Enough
Revelation

Many Eyes had a nice strong set. It was a good choice as the first opener. With their Rock/Metalcore style it was a great way to wake up the crowd for the night. The attendees were all into it.

The Interrupters

Photo Credit: Nate Bonney

Next up was The Interrupters from Los Angeles, CA. I will say I haven’t enjoyed a Ska/Punk band as much as I did in a long time. The definitely brought me back to a No Doubt / Joan Jett sound. Apparently they play often in Utah. This is the first time I’ve heard of them. They formed in 2012 with Aimee Allen on vocals and the Bivona brothers, Kevin, Jessie, and Justin. Here is their setlist:

The Interrupters

Gave You Everything
Title Holder
Anything Was Better
On a Turntable
In the Mirror
Kiss the Ground
Got Each Other
Raised by Wolves
She Got Arrested
Easy on You
Take Back the Power
She’s Kerosene

I will say they had a ton of energy. They were constantly moving and keeping the energy up. They knew how to interact either the crowd. Its not all the time you hear good upbeat music and enjoy it. Not that upbeat is bad, just their music is able to make you feel like you went to a motivational speaker event. I can see how their lyrics give their listeners an anthem.

Sum 41

In between sets I like to wander and check out the merch of the bands and see what Sum 41 has brought us for their final tour collection. The merch line was long and stayed long all night. It really had that “last tour” feel. I’ve seen Sum 41 a few times throughout the years and this was a different feeling just knowing that this is their last time playing in Utah. I feel everyone else had the same feeling. I’ve been listening to these guys for 25 years and their music ages well. It wasn’t a surprise to see younger kids there sing their songs that were written well before they were born. I imagine that is what a band wants to see on their last tour.

Setlist:

Motivation (88 outro)
The Hell Song
Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
Screaming Bloody Murder
Underclass Hero
Some Say
Landmines
Dopamine
We’re All to Blame
No Reason
Walking Disaster
With Me
Makes No Difference
My Direction / No Brains / All Messed Up
Drum Solo
Crash (Deryck Whibley solo on keyboard (Tour Debut))
Preparasi a salire
Rise Up
Riff interlude
(Smoke on the Water (Deryck), Ace of Spaces (Tom), Raining Blood (Dave))
Pieces
Fat Lip
Still Waiting

Encore:

Summer
Waiting on a Twist of Fate
In Too Deep

They started off their set with “Motivation.” Always a great one to start off. A classic that everyone knows and sings along. I was impressed with their lighting. I have always managed to see them indoors or during the day at festivals and never experienced them outdoors at night. They really put on a great show with their confetti fireworks and flames, especially when they played “The Hell Song.” Just when you thought the flames would go out based on your experience with other concerts, it just kept going.  

They added lasers to the third song “Over My Head (Better Off Dead).” The lighting was great. Even though they didn’t have a light on the front of them, the backlight was great. Deryck Whibley would come out on the catwalk and I was able to capture the energy of the crowd and him. 

If you look at the setlist and you are familiar with their discography you’ll notice that they played a well-balanced show. They played songs from all their albums. I didn’t walk away from the concert thinking “I wish they played…” 

Deryck would stop between every couple of songs and talk to the crowd. Explaining that he brought out of retirement the guitar that he wrote “Underclass Hero,” album and gave it one last tour. He would give insight into his life throughout the years and how much he has grown. He mentioned the book that he wrote. When you usually hear someone talking about a book they wrote, it comes off usually as bragging. You can tell that he has put a lot in his book and has been vulnerable. It didn’t come off as gloating. It came off as a sincere “if you want to know about me here you go.” I’m sure there are insights in there that are worth reading. Deryck along with Sum 41 has been around for some time and has stupidity and wisdom to share.

I think the thing that made this concert even more memorable was the lightning storm that was brewing up behind the stage. They dropped the backdrop and when he played “Crash,” on the keyboard. The lightning show continued for the rest of the show. 

They walked off but then obviously came back for an encore. They finished with 3 songs, the last being “In Too Deep.” I’m glad I was able to experience their last show here in SLC. I’m sure everyone was feeling the same way.  It’s a good thing they left us with a double album this year. So long Sum 41, Utah will miss seeing you live but you left us all great songs and memories over the years.

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