Simple Plan, Neck Deep, und Charlotte Sands

Formed during the members’ time in high school, Simple Plan is comprised of lead vocalist Pierre Bouvier, lead guitarist Jeff Stinco, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Sébastien Lefebvre, bassist and backing vocalist David Desrosiers, and drummer Chuck Comeau. Prior to the band’s earliest incarnation, Bouvier and Comeau had played in the relatively successful Canadian band Reset, who are known for touring alongside MxPx, Ten Foot Pole, and Face to Face. Rocking a pure punk-pop sound, Simple Plan performed at the 2001 Van Warped Tour, before heading to the studio to record their debut. With vocal assistance from Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden and Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, the resulting album “No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls” was released in March 2002. Aided by the singles “I’m Just a Kid”, “I’d Do Anything”, “Addicted”, and “Perfect”, the album peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard 200, later being certified double platinum. The album was supported by an extensive tour of over 300 worldwide shows, including a headline show at the 2003 Vans Warped Tour, and opening for Avril Lavigne.

The band’s 2004 follow-up, entitled “Still Not Getting Any…” was produced by Bob Rock and represented a more mature, less teenage angst approach to songwriting. Charting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the album earned strong reviews from critics and spawned the singles “Welcome to My Life”, “Shut Up”, and “How Could This Happen to Me”. The band embarked on a tour of the world in support of the album until February 2006, before returning to the studio.

Recorded in Los Angeles, U.S., Montréal, and Miami, Simple Plan’s eponymously-titled third full-length album was released in February 2008. Featuring a more romantic aesthetic than its predecessor the album peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian Album Chart, and No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The record was produced by Dave Fortman, known for his work with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, and spawned the singles “When I’m Gone”, “Your Love Is a Lie”, and “Save You”. The band’s subsequent tour saw the band travel to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Estonia, and Poland all for the first time, as well as dates across the U.S., Canada, and the UK.

Simple Plan’s fourth full-length album “Get Your Heart On!” was released in June 2011. Featuring Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Natasha Beddingfield, and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low, the album equaled their highest-charting Canadian release, debuting at No. 2.

If word is to be believed, you’re looking at pop-punk’s new great white hopes. The genre, having been maligned and side-lined for the better part of a decade has seen something of a comeback in recent years thanks to the likes of The Wonder Years, Four Year Strong and A Day To Remember. With this four piece we have a home grown band who could surpass each and every one of them and even stand alongside the true legends of the genre, and at the time of writing, they’re barely three years old. Bands who make that kind of an impact so soon are rarely built to last, but these guys stand to go very far indeed.

The band began in 2012 as a bedroom project of guitarist Lloyd Roberts and vocalist Ben Barlow. In a way that flies straight in the face of traditional punk rock law, the first couple of songs that Roberts and Barlow put onto the internet was what got them noticed, not seventeen years of touring. The response to those tracks was so good that Barlow and Roberts set about writing a whole E.P, which they put online a few months later. The response to “Rain In July” was so positive that songs from that release are live favourites for the band even to this day, and soon after its release the duos burgeoning fanbase wanted some live shows.

Such is the health of the Welsh rock scene that Barlow and Roberts had poached the new members of Neck Deep out of several local hardcore bands in no time at all. Matt West joined them on guitar from Roberts’ main band (at the time) Spires, Fil Thorpe-Evans joined on bass from Post-hardcore group Climates and Dani Washington rounded out the group on the drums. The new band recorded and released a new E.P titled “A History Of Bad Decisions”, and started gigging around their native Wales, but it was way across the Atlantic Ocean that they were going to make their big break.

The group took the chance to play a series of shows in Florida, and the group had such a following over there that it caught the attention of alternative rock legends Homeless Records. By August 2013, the band had signed with them, making them label-mates with the likes of All Time Low, New Found Glory and Taking Back Sunday. The band came out with their debut album “Wishful Thinking” in January 2014 and ever since then, their career has read like a wish list of every punk band ever. From gigs with Blink-182, a Kerrang award for best newcomer and stints on multiple Warped Tours. The incredible thing is that they’re still a very young band, and it’s academic that Neck Deep are going to be very special indeed. Join them for the ride and you will not regret it. Highly recommended.