Reviewed April 03, 2008
Avril Lavgine The Best Damn Tour Montreal Apr 2nd 2008
by Ron Hollywood

April 2nd 2008
Bell Centre, Montreal, Qc

Steve Fekete — lead guitar, backing vocals
Jim McGorman — rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Al Berry — bass guitar, backing vocals
Rodney Howard — drums, percussion, backing vocals
Stephen Anthony Ferlazzo Jr. — electronic keyboard, backing vocals
Charlie, Andrew, Katie, Sophie, Nancy, Sarah – dancers

From the get go we have a whole new Avril Lavinge in style, performance and tour presentation beginning with her biggest production yet featuring 3 huge screens, and a two level stage with stairs in the middle. There’s also a new band of touring musicians and dancers (?). It starts off with dancers waving flags and then choreographing with Avril to Girlfriend. Certainly not what we would have expected from her from the last two tours. Another difference from previous tours is Avril seemed to be having more fun than ever, especially with a Montreal crowd.

Complicated came early in the set with lots of handwaving. I’m With You brought on an enthusiastic singalong with glowsticks lighting up the arena. However on both songs the musical arrangement seemed messy. She worked the stage all over on a solid rocking I Get What I Want. It’s a rare feat for an unreleased song to be a highlight.

After burning up her energy she sat at a pink piano to perform a solo version of When You’re Gone. She then went and sat side stage to sing the excellent Innocence. That song should have been done on the piano since on the album it’s so piano laden.

Things stayed toned down with a small acoustic set of songs. The problem is they were shorter versions. She played a sparkly guitar on Don’t Tell Me which was great unplugged. But I think we’d much rather hear a full band version of a song like Losing Grip. Even worse was Hot which really didn’t work acoustic and shorter in length, especially with all the airplay the regular version is getting.

After the acoustic set came Avril’s cover of Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation which was played only on the big screen while rapid clips of her videos go by. Would have been nice to see her do it live with the band while the video thing happened. Avril kept the gutsy gurl attitude on a kicking Everything Back But You.

Avril decided to play drums while singing two songs last night. One of her best from the new album, Runaway, followed by a cover of Toni Basil’s Mickey. In hommage to the video, out came the dancers in full cheerleader outfits and pom poms. Guess Avril agrees with how much Girlfriend sounds like Mickey. However both Runaway and Mickey were abbreviated versions. We already had songs abbreviated in the acoustic set, now again?

An extended guitar riff opening to He Wasn’t gave time for Avril to get everyone’s hands raised up or down. She spent a good portion of the night getting people excited with hand clapping or fist pumping taunts like “hey hey hey! Hey hey ho!” while she marched around the stage.

For the encore she came out wearing a hoodie as the video for the Girlfriend remix featuring Lil Mama played on the big screen. All the dancing and production made me think once again I could have been back at The Spice Girls show (especially since this tour was designed by the same choreographer, Jamie King). Her star symbol from Let Go flashed all over the stage and she punked her way into Sk8er Boi. Just when you thought you were back in full rock mode out came the dancers again.

Another thing was her new band of musicians lack any stage personality or presence at all. In the band intros she introduced them by first name alone. I think a lot of Avril die-hards miss players like Evan Taubenfeld.

Throughout the night her voice was pitchy and off, especially in he beginning of the show. There’s a definite cross between being juvenile and mature performer. It’s also nice to see her playing guitar, piano, and drums. It adds a cool and artistic element. There were many things in her stage presence that show her growth as an artist, dancing excluded. The whole thing with the dancers is that it makes Avril more Britney than herself. In some ways this was her best tour and in other ways it was not.

setlist
Girlfriend
I Can Do Better
Complicated
My Happy Ending
I’m With You
I Always Get What I Want
When You’re Gone
Innocence
Don’t Tell Me (acoustic)
Hot (acoustic)
Losing Grip (acoustic)
Bad Reputation (video)
Everything Back But You
Runaway
Mickey
The Best Damn Thing
I Don’t Have to Try
He Wasn’t

encore
Girlfriend (remix)
Sk8er Boi

Fan comment – Ashley Saul – 10 years old
I look up to her so I loved the show. I liked hearing Complicated and S8er Boi. The dancers were great.

Other reviews
Previously: The Hives Black and White Tour Montreal Mar 4th 2008
Next: Joe Jackson Rain Tour April 4th 2008

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