Sum 41 - Go Chuck Yourself Tour 2005,
Glasgow ABC Club, Scotland, 5/7/05,
With Engerica and Four Square.

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It's about time snotty noise punk/pop punk monkeys Sum 41 got round to a tour to promote their latest album 'Chuck' in the UK, and when they finally did, I was there, right at the front, pogoing and cheering like a mad eejit.

The recently opened ABC Club is a small(ish) intimate venue, and has impressive sound and a really nice disco ball. First onstage tonight are Engerica, a Sussex trio. Their Placebo-ish vocals and funny lyrics make a nice opener to a promising night. After Engerica are Four Square. Yawn, another New Found Glory-esque pop punk outfit. Seen it all before, get off the stage.

Eventually the lights dim and the crowd surges. The curtains open to reveal drummer Stevo 32, and guitarist Dave Brownsound and bassist Cone run onstage to worshipping cheers, closely followed by frontman Deryck Whibley (who all the girls are here to see tonight. Pity he's recently been taken by Avril Lavigne). The band give a wave and delve into 'The Hell Song' followed by 'Over My Head (Better Off Dead)', both from 2002's 'Does This Look Infected?' album.

Deryck is a really charismatic frontman, firing jokes and stupid lines all over the place, and ordering the audience to shout and swear at him. During one song he even hands his guitar to a nearby roadie who starts playing, while Deryck runs off, only to re-emerge dressed as Elvis.

Songs tonight include 'Anna Nicole Smith Is A ****' (AKA. 'A.N.I.C'), 'Makes No Difference', 'My Direction', 'Machine Gun', 'Motivation', 'Fat Lip', 'Grab The Devil', and from the 'Chuck' album there was 'We're All To Blame', 'Pieces', '88', 'Some Say', 'Welcome To Hell', 'The Bitter End' and 'No Reason'. They shockingly leave out the classic singalong 'In Too Deep' tonight.

But the definite highlight for me (except from when Deryck picked up the beachball I threw on-stage) was the final song, the pure evil 'Pain For Pleasure'. Stevo gets out from behind the drums and staggers to the front of the stage holding a bottle of Jack Daniel's, while Deryck gets on drums. Stevo drunkenly screams "What's up mother******s! This song is called PAIN FOR PLEASURE!". The band then blast through their heavy metal alter-egos' title track, with galloping Iron Maiden-esque riffs and Judas Priest-style screaming. After that, the band wave goodbye and leave the stage, leaving everyone present with a night they'll never forget. Totally fantastic.