Simpler Plan: Older, wiser, better

MANILA, Philippines – Getting back to where they left off when they last visited the country is Canadian punk pop band, Simple Plan.

Among regular performers around these parts – having already visited our shores for the third time, Simple Plan was familiar enough with the local concert-going crowd to know the basics which is to stick to the hits.

This was very much apparent in last night’s concert held at the Araneta Coliseum, which form part of the group’s worldwide "Get Your Heart On" tour.

Though indeed it was far from being a full house, the band made sure everyone that came had fun by laying down a hits-laden set that included songs from their game-changing “No Pads, No Helmets...Just

Balls” album, up to the most recent, “Get Your Heart On.”

Amid excited screams, the band opened the show ironically enough with the frantic “Shut Up.” From then on, the  whole affair became a non-stop sing-along party with the band going on to play more familiar numbers including the frenzied “Can't Keep My Hands Off You,” and “Jump.” Of course, everyone obliged.

The band then played “When I'm Gone,” followed by the very popular

“Addicted,” which, you guessed it, triggered another sing-along.

The band didn’t let up, fulfilling its promise to run through all their popular hits including, “My Alien,” “Thank You,” and the  Green Day-ish, “Your Love Is A Lie,” sprinkling the set with new songs like  “You Suck At Love,” the seemingly Jason Mraz-inspired “Summer Paradise,” and “Austronaut.”

For full measure, the band also dished out a medley of Top 40 hits including Ceelo Green’s “F*** You,” Taio Cruz’ “Dynamite” and Pink’s “Raise Your Glass.”

The promotional tour that it was, the band had to, once again, insert new songs, “Jet Lag,” and “This Song Saved My Life,” before finishing with two of their early classics, “Welcome To My Life,” and “ I'd Do Anything.”

They tried to encore with two new numbers, but the crowd didn’t let them leave the stage until the band allowed them one more glorious sing-along. Simple Plan more than willingly obliged with a more-sentimental-than-usual nightcap: a rendition of “Perfect.”

Simple but effective.