Simple Plan
Grand Sierra Resort
Reno, NV
July 29th, 2026
Photos and Review by Arik Ruiz
On July 29, 2026, Simple Plan brought their Bigger Than You Think! Tour — The Sequel to the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, marking the band’s first-ever performance in the city. The casino showroom was packed with longtime fans and punk rock devotees for a sold-out night that continued the celebration of the band’s anniversary tour, featuring the same opening lineup as the original 2025 run.
Getting to the venue was an event in itself. The entry line snaked through the casino floor, threading between rows of slot machines, with anticipation building the whole way. Inside, the showroom opened into a spacious general admission pit ringed by orchestra and mezzanine seating, giving nearly every spot in the house a clear line to the stage. It was an ideal setup for the night ahead.
Bowling for Soup kicked things off, and they remain one of the most entertaining live acts around. Jaret Reddick (vocals, guitar), Rob Felicetti (bass, backup vocals, guitar), and Gary Wiseman (drums) played their catalog tight and clean while still goofing around every time a camera pointed their way. The set included staples like “Ohio” and “Almost,” and Reddick got a laugh needling the crowd about which band, his or Simple Plan, could really claim bragging rights for cartoon theme song credits, since both acts have contributed music to animated shows.
Next up were 3OH!3, the Boulder, Colorado synth-pop duo of Sean Foreman and Nat Motte, who had everyone singing along like it was 2010 again. “STARSTRUKK,” “My First Kiss,” and “DONTTRUSTME” all got the crowd going, though the newest addition to their catalog, “MY FRIENDS,” released just days before the show, hadn’t quite caught on yet. Even so, their set carried its usual high-energy charm and set the stage for the headliners.
Then Simple Plan took over, and true to form, delivered exactly what they promise: a great time. Pierre Bouvier (vocals), Jeff Stinco (lead guitar), and Sébastien Lefebvre (rhythm guitar) tore into opener “I’d Do Anything” with an energy that belied their years, leaping off risers and moving nonstop through the set.
The production matched the intensity, cryo bursts and confetti cannons kept firing throughout, blanketing the crowd and turning the show into a full sensory experience. During “Summer Paradise,” oversized beach balls bounced through the audience while the lighting shifted into neon pinks and oranges, giving the room a glowing, retro-futuristic feel. A standout moment came during “What’s New Scooby Doo?” — the theme song the band recorded for the show back in 2002, when fans dressed as the Scooby gang joined them onstage for a dance break.
More than 25 years since forming in 1999, Simple Plan’s brand of teenage angst has clearly aged well, resonating anew with younger fans discovering the band through platforms like TikTok. Bouvier noted the recent viral resurgence of “I’m Just a Kid” before launching into it as the first encore song. Drummer Chuck Comeau, crowd-surfed while Bouvier briefly manned the drums and Reddick joined back onstage. Comeau wasn’t done yet, either, once back onstage, he climbed to the riser and launched himself off toward the main stage floor. The night closed with “Perfect,” the crowd once again swallowed in confetti as sparks and cryo blasts punctuated the final notes.
It was amazing night and we were happy to be part of this tour.
Bowling for Soup
3OH!3
Simple Plan
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