Sum 41’s last-ever Los Angeles show on October 3rd at the YouTube Theater was a celebration of their legacy, bringing out fans of all ages for one unforgettable night. The energy was palpable from the start, thanks to their opening act, The Interrupters. Known for their infectious punk-ska vibe, they were the perfect start to the evening, instantly hyping up the crowd. Their electric performance had the audience fist-pumping and headbanging to the rhythm, setting the stage for Sum 41. By the time they closed the crowd was already on their feet, ready for the night ahead.
As the lights went down, anticipation grew thick in the YouTube Theater. The audience jumped to their feet as the haunting intro of AC/DC’s “TNT” echoed through the venue. A chilling voiceover announced the final curtain call, and as the massive curtain dropped, Sum 41 emerged to deafening cheers. Lead singer Deryck Whibley, bassist and backing vocalist Jason “Cone” McCaslin, drummer Frank Zummo and guitarists Tom Thacker and Dave Baksh arrive on stage. Whibley, the band’s iconic frontman, shouted, “Let’s get fucking crazy tonight!” anticipating the show they had planned. Pyrotechnics and smoke exploded as the band launched into “Motivation,” immediately sending fists pointed towards the stage in excitement.
The band’s set was a perfect blend of nostalgia and high-octane rock. “The Hell Song” had lasers slicing through the air as mosh pits erupted in the audience, while tracks like “Over My Head” kept the energy flowing with the crowd singing along at full volume. Whibley teased the audience between songs, shouting, “Where’s all the crazy motherfuckers tonight?” and telling fans to conserve their energy because “We’re going hard all damn night.”
Midway through, the band unleashed their most-requested track, “Screaming Bloody Murder,” and the YouTube Theater exploded with an intense light show as fans moshed in a fit of raging angst. With confetti and giant balloons dropping during “Underclass Hero,” it truly felt like a celebration of over 30 years of Sum 41. The band had fun kicking the balloons around the stage, with Whibley popping them with his microphone, sending the crowd into a frenzy of excitement and aggression.
One of the more emotional moments came during “Some Say,” with its magenta lighting and rattling drums creating a haunting atmosphere not soon before breaking out into some more energy found through anger. Fans waved their arms in unison and recorded the 20-year-old song with admiration. New songs from their upcoming and final double album, Heaven :x: Hell were introduced, including “Landmines,” and “Dopamine” with smoke filling the venue while neon lights energized the crowd once again.
The set continued to escalate, with Whibley sharing stories, including one about recovering his long-lost guitar, stolen in 2003, “Fuck that guy” he jokes of the burglar, as opposed to the more vulnerable tales mentioned later in the show.
Sum 41 kept the energy alive at all times, treating fans to an epic riff-off between lead guitarist Dave Baksh and rhythm guitarist Tom Thacker. They traded exhilarating solos, showing off their amazing skills by ripping through iconic riffs like Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.”
During a break in the set, Deryck Whibley took a moment to plug his upcoming book, casually mentioning, “Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell” representing “The bad, the good, and the really fucking ugly,” which is set to release next week. With a promising grin, he shared a few wild anecdotes from his 30-year career, teasing the crowd by hinting that the book would dive even deeper into the chaos, humor and struggles that shaped both him and the band. Fans cheered, expressing the excitement of gaining a glimpse into the life of the Sum 41 frontman.
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Deryck Whibley took to the piano under a single spotlight. He shared a deeply personal story about a tragic accident that occurred just outside his home years ago, where someone lost their life. Reflecting on how it “could’ve been him,” Whibley explained that this near-miss inspired the lyrics for their song “Crash.” The raw emotion in his voice as he played the piano and sang, “It’s over now, I guess it really is my time,” left the audience in awe of the singer’s vulnerability, reinforcing his message to “live every day like it’s your last.”
As the night continued, fan favorites like “Fat Lip” and “Still Waiting” brought the mosh pit back to life, complete with crowd surfers flying across the venue. The production was outstanding, with thrilling pyrotechnics, smoke and confetti elevating every song along with the fan engagement. Fans lit up the theater with their cell phone lights for the encore, eagerly awaiting more. The band took the crowd’s chants into consideration and sang more songs including “Summer,” the band’s oldest song according to Whibley, remarking how fond the band was of the single they just had to include it in not one but two of their albums.
Sum 41 returned for a surprise second encore, closing with a cover of NOFX’s “Linoleum,” marking their final show in Los Angeles. It was a night that brought nostalgia, chaos and pure excitement, ending on a high note for the band’s die-hard admirers. Sum 41 left fans desperately wanting the band to continue, creating the perfect way to end their last ever Los Angeles stay, and their soon ending farewell tour. Sum 41 fans will not only be leaving with the confetti they collected but the epic memories of the band’s rocking performance and legacy that will play in their hearts forever.
Sum 41 Setlist
1. Motivation
2. The Hell Song
3. Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
4. Screaming Bloody Murder
5. Underclass Hero
6. Some Say
7. Landmines
8. Dopamine
9. We’re All To Blame
10. No Reason
11. Walking Disaster
12. With Me
13. Makes No Difference
14. My Direction/No Brains/All Messed UP
15. Crash
16. Preparasi a salire
17. Rise Up
18. Riffs Interlude (Raining Blood & Master Of Puppets)
19. Pieces
20. Fat Lip
21. Still Waiting
22. Summer
23. Waiting On A Twist Of Fate
24. In Too Deep
25. Linoleum (NOFX Cover)
Photo Credit: Mehreen Rizvi
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