After 30 years, Sum 41 is saying goodbye to their fans with the ‘Tour of the Setting Sum.’ Den Bosch was at the top of the list for the band’s European tour schedule. They brought their impressive repertoire to the Brabanthallen for one final party.
Text: Sanne de Vos, Photos: Corné de Weert
With a preshow playlist filled with sing-alongs from bands like Green Day, Papa Roach, and Blink-182, the atmosphere was already set before the band took the stage. As soon as the curtain dropped and the first notes of “Motivation” played, it became clear that the band was going to do everything they could to make this a memorable final show in the Netherlands.
Guitars, guitars, guitars….
Sum 41 has been around for nearly 30 years, most of that time with the current lineup. Drummer Frank Zummo was the last addition, joining in 2015. It’s obvious that the band has been touring together for years and is musically well-attuned to each other. Frontman Deryck Whibley has a story for every guitar he plays. He mentioned buying a new guitar in Den Bosch the day before the concert, joking that while he brought most of his guitars on tour, this was the one he played the least.
For their farewell tour, the band put together a varied setlist featuring both older and newer songs. “Screaming Bloody Murder” was included by fan request, after being “the most requested song of the year.” About the 2000 song “Summer,” Deryck mentioned they liked it so much they put it on both the EP Half Hour of Power and the album All Killer No Filler. Newer songs from their latest album, like “Landmines” and “Dopamine,” also found a place on the setlist. Despite the varied selection and quick transitions between slow and upbeat tracks, everything seemed to flow seamlessly, keeping the audience engaged until the end. Even when the crowd was asked to wave along, everyone complied, all the way to the back of the hall.
A spectacle as expected for Sum 41’s farewell
As you would expect from a final show, they pulled out all the stops to create a visual spectacle. Flamethrowers, lasers, CO2 cannons, streamers, confetti, balloons filled with confetti, fireworks fountains—you name it, the Canadians had it. Maybe a bit over the top, but fortunately, the visuals never overshadowed the performance itself.
The band made the decision to stop after the release of Heaven :x: Hell. However, in Den Bosch, it seemed as though they were struggling to say goodbye to their loyal fanbase. The term “Sum 41 family” was used several times when addressing the fans. It genuinely felt like the band saw their audience that way. You might wonder: if that’s the case, why stop?
Deryck emphasized several times that the band had been around for nearly 30 years. “The world has had enough of Sum 41,” he said jokingly, knowing that this would provoke protesting reactions. Sure enough, the crowd responded with collective boos. Sum 41 will be missed by their fans, and Deryck, who frequently asked for the lights to be turned up so he could see the audience, also seemed to be struggling with the farewell.
