Avril Lavigne brought her timeless hits to Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville on Wednesday evening (Sept. 4) on The Greatest Hits Tour, delivering a performance that took fans on a journey through her storied 22-year career. The 39-year-old pop-punk icon stormed the stage at around 9:00 PM, making a grand entrance atop a pile of illuminated guitar amps. The stage was decked out in her signature style, complete with a skull and crossbones heart emblazoned in pink and black plaid, setting the mood for a night of nostalgia and emo anthems.
Avril Lavigne Transported Fans To Early 2000s With Greatest Hits Performance In Nashville
“Nashville, what’s up, everybody? Y’all ready to party with us?” Lavigne shouted to the sold out crowd as she kicked off the show with her 2007 hit “Girlfriend.” Dressed in a bedazzled jersey that paid homage to her career, knee-high Doc Martens boots, platinum blonde hair, and heavy black eyeliner, she was every bit the pop-punk princess fans have come to know and love.
Lavigne’s set was more than just a concert, but an experience that transported attendees back to the early 2000s and took fans on a musical journey through all seven of her studio albums. The 17-song set list covered everything from her breakout debut album, Let Go (2002), to her most recent release, Love Sux (2022) as well as the projects in between, including tracks from Under My Skin (2004), The Best Damn Thing (2007), Goodbye Lullaby (2011), Avril Lavigne (2013), and Head Above Water (2019).
Fans were treated to a live retrospective of Lavigne’s greatest hits, with each song bringing back memories of teenage angst and rebellion. Whether it was “Sk8er Boi,” “My Happy Ending,” or “Complicated,” the crowd knew every word, and the amphitheater was just one massive sing-along all night. The set list reaffirmed that Avril Lavigne’s music has stood the test of time and is still adored, as fans sang along to every word of each song she performed.
One Big Celebration Of Lavigne’s Accomplishments Over The Past Two Decades
“I got signed when I was 16 and then my first album came out when I was 17, and I’ve been on this crazy ride ever since,” Lavigne said, reminiscing on the longevity of her iconic career. “Every time I put out an album, do a tour, get to play the songs live… it’s so special to see them come to life, and you know everybody showing up album after album, tour after tour. It’s so appreciative. Thank you guys for being here and sticking around all these years. There’s still so much more to come!”
The eight-time GRAMMY-nominated, diamond-certified superstar’s 90-minute concert felt like a celebration of everything Lavigne has accomplished over the past two decades. Throughout the show, she reflected on her career, using video montages to share highlights of her journey and to give fans a glimpse behind the scenes of her most iconic moments.
Lavigne And Simple Plan Sing Duet Of “Addicted”
One of the standout moments of the show came when Lavigne brought Simple Plan back on stage for an unforgettable duet of “Addicted,” a track from Simple Plan’s debut album, No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls. Their collaborative performance evoked a huge sing-along and incorporated fans from the general admission pit area to join them onstage for a memorable experience. Lavigne even designed a tattoo for one fan and gave each of the four concertgoers a free signed skateboard.
That wasn’t the only time Lavigne engaged with the sold-out crowd. Throughout the show, she interacted with her die-hard fans throughout the show by offering commentary and pointing to fans in the general admission pit, creating a more intimate experience.
Lavigne also welcomed Travis Mills and special guest, Canadian singer Fefe Dobson, to the stage to pay tribute to Blink-182 with a cover of “All The Small Things.”
The production of the Greatest Hits Tour perfectly highlighted each song with vibrant lighting and visuals. The show also featured pyro, fireworks, and CO2 cannons for added excitement. Avril Lavigne allowed her powerful vocals to take center stage throughout the show, as well as also highlighted her guitar skills at various points.
The concert was a testament to Lavigne’s staying power and proof that, even after 22 years in the business, Avril Lavigne is still the queen of pop-punk.
Simple Plan Delivered An Electrifying Performance
Supporting Lavigne on her Greatest Hits Tour were Canadian pop-punk mainstays Simple Plan, who served as direct support. From the moment they hit the stage to “I’d Do Anything,” the energy was electric and remained till the final notes of the last song, “Perfect.” The band kept the momentum going throughout their 50-minute set, which included crowd-pleasers like “Welcome To My Life,” “Shut Up!,” and “I’m Just A Kid.” The group even threw in covers of Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” which had the entire audience singing along.
Simple Plan’s frontman Pierre Bouvier was a master at working the crowd, bouncing around the stage and making sure every fan, from the front row to the back, were having the time of their lives. The band truly had the crowd in the palm of their hands with an impressive stage presence. The group’s set proved that emo music is not dead and that it was never a phase, as their music is just as relevant now and talked about just as much as when it was released in the early 2000s.
Girlfriends Kicked Off The Show
Girlfriends, made up of Travis Mills (T. Mills) and Nick Gross (Goldfinger), opened the show. Their 30-minute set included a mix of original songs and an epic cover of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl.” With tracks like “California,” “Shut Up And Kiss Me,” and “Jessica,” Girlfriends brought a fresh, infectious energy that set the perfect tone for the night. Joined by Mike Naran (Panic! At The Disco) on guitar, their set was a high-octane introduction to the pop-punk powerhouse of a show that followed.
Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour kicked off on May 23rd in Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena, and continues through Wednesday, September 18th, where the trek will wrap up in Calgary, AB at Scotiabank Saddledome. The trek comes in support of the pop-punk princess’ new album, Avril Lavigne — Greatest Hits, which arrived on June 21, 2024, via Legacy Records. The project marks her first-ever career-spanning collection that features 20 essential pop-punk hits and commemorates her 2+ decade career.
