Simple Plan Closes Out 25-Year “Bigger Than You Think!” Tour in Irving

On Saturday night, the Toyota Music Factory in Irving became a time machine for a generation of pop-punk fans as Simple Plan rolled through Texas on their 25-year “Bigger Than You Think” tour. With an eclectic lineup featuring rising star LØLØ, electro-chaos duo 3OH!3, and Texas’ own Bowling for Soup, the sold-out crowd was treated to a four-hour spectacle that balanced nostalgia, comedy, and great music. What could have felt like a throwback instead felt like a full-blown celebration of a scene that’s very much alive—and a reminder of why these bands still command such loyal followings decades later.

Opening Act: LØLØ – Pop-Punk Sass and Stage Swagger

Toronto's LØLØ set fire to the evening with her cheeky charisma and biting humor. Her “u turn me on (but u give me depression)” had jaws dropping and bodies moving, and when she got the crowd to crouch only to lance into a flurry of jumping, it was like a wild emo-style “Cha-Cha Slide.”

3OH!3 – Absurdist Energy and Electro-Pop Antics

Next, 3OH!3 brought exactly what the crowd didn’t know they needed: absurd, electrifying comedic energy. Their twisted version of Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” (“I want my 3OH!3”) opened the set with a wink, and their construction-worker-meets-DEVO gear, invisible ball tossing, and quirky “dating-profile” intros had everyone laughing along. Their sarcastic close with “DONTTRUSTME”—dubbed their “favorite Simple Plan song”—was delightfully tongue-in-cheek.

Bowling for Soup – Hometown Heroes Rocking the Comedy Octane

Bowling for Soup transformed the Pavilion into their comedic playground. Their classic sing-alongs like “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” and “High School Never Ends” had everyone belting out lyrics, but the standout was “Ohio (Come Back to Texas),” a nod to Denton County that had the crowd pumping with local pride.

Simple Plan – 25 Years of Pop-Punk Perfection

Finally, Simple Plan hit the stage to deliver a spectacular, nostalgia-fueled party. The spectacle began with confetti, giant beach balls, and a Scooby-Doo costume parade during “What’s New Scooby-Doo?”, with fans flooding the stage in full cartoon spirit.

The band slipped in nods to their early days with snippets from No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls, and playful covers of early-2000s staples like The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” It was a beautiful blend of reflection and celebration.

Between jokes about whether the crowd was Dallas, Fort Worth, or Irving, Simple Plan paused to thank the packed venue. “This is where we belong,” Bouvier shared, earning applause and cheers from legions of fans who’ve grown up with the band.

As the final chords of “Perfect” rang out and the Pavilion glowed with a sea of phone flashlights, it was clear that Simple Plan’s 25th anniversary wasn’t just a milestone for the band—it was a reunion for everyone who grew up with their songs as the soundtrack to their lives.

Between LØLØ’s fiery opener, 3OH!3’s absurdist antics, Bowling for Soup’s homegrown humor, and Simple Plan’s heartfelt, high-energy set, the night proved that pop-punk’s spirit hasn’t faded—it’s simply grown up with its fans. Twenty-five years in, Simple Plan isn’t just looking back; they’re reminding us all that this music still matters, and it still hits just as hard.