Sum 41 Concert Review-Arizona Financial Theater Phoenix, AZ 10-02-24

Review and Photos By Maxwell Williiamson-Editor Roc Boyum

The Tour of The Setting Sum (the final tour) brought an influx of fans to the streets of downtown Phoenix on a Wednesday evening. Enthusiasts queued along the sidewalk outside the stunning Arizona Financial Theater. As soon as the doors burst open, fans of all ages rushed to the floor, while others settled into their seats or visited the merchandise stand for some sweet merch. An incredible night was in store as thousands of supporters gathered to bid farewell to Sum 41 after three decades filled with amazing music and unforgettable performances.

Kicking off the evening was Many Eyes, a relatively new band led by Keith Buckley, the former frontman of Every Time I Die. Unaware of Buckley’s new band Many Eyes, I, along with others, were pleasantly surprised to see Buckley take the stage in this cool new project! The band delivered a strong opening set, acknowledging that they understood the fans were primarily there for Sum 41, but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform. They were warmly received and set the perfect tone for what would be an incredible night ahead!

Nest up was a Ska Punk band from Los Angeles, CA, The Interrupters. The trio of Bivona brothers, were impeccably dressed, and were fronted by the dynamic Aimee (Interrupter) Allen on lead vocals. From the moment they hit the stage, the energy and charisma soared to new heights for the evening. Their punk energy performance had the venue vibrating with excitement. They definitely won over the local audience by announcing that one of their members was an Arizona State Alumni! They encouraged fans to cheer if they hailed from Tempe and then playfully called out names of nearly every suburb in the greater Phoenix area. Overall, it was an entertaining set; even as someone who doesn’t typically listen to Ska Punk, I found myself dancing along and thoroughly enjoying the experience!

With the venue nearly at full capacity and the two opening acts setting an incredible atmosphere, Arizona fans eagerly awaited the iconic Sum 41 to grace the stage! As the lights dimmed, ACDC’s “TNT” blasted from the speakers, accompanied by a dazzling light show illuminating the enormous curtain concealing the stage. The excitement intensified with each chant of “TNT.” Suddenly, the curtain fell, and Sum 41 dashed onto the stage, igniting an explosion of cheers from the crowd! Frontman Deryck Whibley greeted fans on stage left, then quickly moved to stage right, asking, “How are we doing over here?” It was clear that the fans were thrilled and ready to rock!

Sum 41 opened with “Motivation” from the immensely popular 2001 release, All Killer No Filler. This performance was a spectacle, featuring massive bursts of flames, shooting columns of smoke, and spectacular explosions of pink confetti raining down from above. Giant balloons bounced around the audience, and whenever one reached the stage, Whibley would pop it with his microphone. The last balloon managed to evade the stage throughout the song, prompting Whibley to yell out to the fans; “get that thing up here!” which they eagerly did. Once it arrived, DW once again popped it, releasing even more pink confetti! All of this excitement unfolded within the first four songs—pure chaos, in the best way imaginable!

Throughout the set, there were several moments when fans could take a breather from the relentless jumping, moshing, crowd surfing, and fist pumping that filled the venue from beginning to end. DW expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the fans for making Sum 41 feel “so special” over the years, through all the highs and lows. Emotional and touching stories were also shared on stage. One particularly poignant moment followed a lively drum solo by Frank Zummo. The lights dimmed for a moment before shining on a piano placed center stage. DW sat down at the piano and began to play, narrating a somber tale about a tragic car accident that occurred outside his home, where he and his ex-wife Avril Lavigne were the first to arrive. He reflected on how, in the days that followed, he found himself in a dark place, often sitting at the piano to play and sing. This experience led to the creation of the beautiful song “Crash”. This segment of the performance was deeply moving, likely bringing tears to the eyes of some fans.

One aspect that truly stood out to me was how Whibley had a story for each guitar he switched to. One standout was a stunning 1968 Gibson Les Paul he named White Gold, which was previously owned by Social Distortion. He also recounted that one of his very first guitars, the one he used to write the first two albums and was featured in several early Sum 41 music videos, was stolen from him a few years back. Recently, he was reunited with that guitar and he humorously remarked that it brought him immense joy, like the experience of finding a long-lost relative. He also added, “I’m the worst guitar player on this tour, yet I have the most guitars.” He continued, “These two guys are far better guitarists than I am,” gesturing towards Tom Thacker and Dave Baksh, and encouraging them by saying, “Why don’t you show these fans what a real guitar player can do?” Thacker then launched into the iconic intro of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” prompting the Arizona fans to chant “Thunder” in perfect harmony with the powerful guitar riff! Next, DW called out to Baksh, saying, “First riff that comes to your head, GO!” The crowd erupted with excitement as the unmistakable riff of Slayer’s “Raining Blood” blasted from the amplifiers!

Sum 41’s Tour of The Setting Sum is a spectacular journey that spans their 30 year career. Throughout the show, the band demonstrated their immense gratitude as they delivered a high-energy performance that showcased their undeniable talent. With such a powerful and successful show, one might ask; are these guys really ready to retire their guitars? Their setlist included 25 songs, featuring a mix of new tracks, beloved classics, and as DW commented, some of the “really, really old songs!” They treated us to selections from seven out of their eight iconic albums and even delighted us with a double encore performance, which I nearly missed, to be honest! I’m so glad I stayed, as they surprised us with a cover of one of my all-time favorites, “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring. After expressing their gratitude to the Arizona Sum 41 family, the band showered fans with drumsticks and guitar picks before departing the stage for the final time in the 48th State.

This tour is absolutely a must-see for any and all rock and roll enthusiasts. Sum 41 has been rocking for three decades, delivering timeless hits like “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep,” along with many other fantastic tracks! They performed all the fan favorites while adding some delightful surprises along the way. Whether you’ve caught these guys live before or not, this is most likely your last chance. So, make it a priority to catch them on this tour before it’s too late. They’re riding off into the sunset on this final tour, and they deserve the presence of every fan. When DW offered his goodbye to the fans, the crowd responded with a chorus of “boos” and discontented shouts. With a final thank you DW bid the fans farewell by stating; Thank You,Thank You, “The world has had enough of Sum 41.”

Be sure to see them before The Tour of The Setting Sum shines it’s last light and fades off into the distance……it’s not too late, get out there now!

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Check Out The Sum 41 Photo Gallery:

The Interrupters Photo Gallery:

Many Eyes Photo Gallery: