Jakarta. Canadian rock band Simple Plan over the weekend headlined the 2023 Everblast Festival at Jakarta’s Gambir Expo, taking many Indonesian millennials back to their school days.

“It is so good to be back in Indonesia. How are you feeling? We are so happy to see you. We came here to party with you. Jakarta, are you ready to party with Simple Plan tonight?” the group’s lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier said as he hyped the crowd up.

Simple Plan performed “Welcome to My Life”, “Jet Lag”, “Summer Paradise”, and many more. 

“Terima kasih. Aku cinta kalian (‘Thank you. I love you guys’),” Bouvier said after singing "Jump".

The group sang “I’m Just a Kid”, which went viral on TikTok with users recreating their childhood photos with their parents or siblings. 

As the night went on, Simple Plan surprised the audience with a medley of songs that rocked the early 2000s, namely Smash Mouth’s “All Star”, Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi’” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside’” The band also played the theme song to the beloved cartoon “Scooby-Doo”. Last but not least was “Perfect” — Simple Plan’s top hit that many Indonesian millennials know by heart.

Festivalgoer Rian told the Jakarta Globe that he first listened to Simple Plan when he was still in school.

“I was still in elementary school back then. Around Grade 5 or 6. My favorites are definitely ‘I’m Just a Kid’ and ‘Perfect’, but I think I like all of the songs that the band played tonight,” Rian, who is now 33 years old, said, shortly after the music festival.

“And what a super cool performance. I think that is what this Everblast Festival is all about: to give us flashbacks. Remember back then Simple Plan was a great hit in the 2000s,” Rian said.

Simple Plan fan Arum (25) also shared her thoughts after seeing the group perform in person.

“It was mind-blowing! They really met my expectations. The first time I heard Simple Plan was in middle school. I love ‘Perfect’ and ‘Welcome to My Life’ the most. Those two were my first Simple Plan songs, so they still stay in my head to this day,” Arum told the Globe.

Read More:

• Jokowi Urges Faster Concert Permits so People Spend Money
• Melbourne’s Coffee Scene Takes Jakarta by Storm