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It’s never fun to say goodbye, but when that time comes, it’s always best if you can go out with style. That’s what Sum 41 did before more than 10,000 fans at Laval’s Place Bell this past weekend. The “Tour of the Setting Sum” began almost a year ago, with the final shows set to take place as the month comes to an end. One of the final stops was here in Laval, just a short trip across a bridge from Montreal, a city that helped break the band 25 years ago.

I seem to say this a lot lately, but how is it possible that 25 years have gone by so quickly? It only seems like yesterday that we all were introduced to these mischievous, no-goodnick middle-class brats and their hit song “Fat Lip.” I can still remember listening to our local radio morning man, Terry DiMonte of CHOM FM, championing them on the air every time one of their early singles was played. They’ve had one heck of a ride since then, and it is kind of sad seeing it come to an end.

Opening the show was some Canadian punk rock royalty, Gob. Founding member Tommy Thacker was pulling double duty on the night as he not only fronts Gob but was back later in the night as he is also a guitarist for Sum 41. They only had a short set but managed to give the fans a selection of their greatest hits. They were followed by PUP, who have a bit of history with the city, having recorded their debut album in Montreal. PUP also had a pretty short set, but like Gob, made the most of their time by giving the fans their best hits and getting them fired up.

Which brings us back to our departing headliners. Sum 41 treated the crowd to all of their hits and some callbacks to a few favourite tracks of their own. They also threw in enough pyro and confetti to make sure that this last party would be one that wouldn’t be forgotten. Almost all of their albums saw several tracks get played, from their groundbreaking All Killer, No Filler album straight through to their most recent double album Heaven x Hell.

Despite some well-publicized health and other rock and roll lifestyle issues, singer Deryck Whibley is in great form on this night. His smile and the smiles of everyone else in the band, light the stage. They are probably feeding off some of the incredible energy that is coming from the fans, who are rabid for their heroes before the curtain even dropped on this last visit to La Belle Province. One of the final songs they played was “So Long Goodbye” to what I am told was quite a few tears in the crowd. Rock n’ roll retirements often don’t always stick, but just in case this one does, we’ll let the band go out with some of their own words. Cause it’s quite all right. And so long, goodbye.

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