REVIEW: Avril Lavigne has her happy ending, at Parx Casino
Oct 14, 2019 3:14:40 GMT
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REVIEW: Avril Lavigne has her happy ending, if too briefly, at Parx Casino
By John J. Moser
The Morning Call |
Oct 13, 2019 | 8:48 AM
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call
“So much for my happy ending,” Avril Lavigne sang in her 2004 hit “My Happy Ending.”
And for the past five years, it might have seemed the poppy punky princess might, indeed have a less-than-perfect conclusion to her career: A lengthy battle with Lyme disease and the dissolution of a marriage.
But Lavigne showed with her concert Friday at Parx Casino in Bensalem that, at very least, the conclusion to her 15-date tour to promote her new album “Head Above Water” gave her plenty to be happy about. And prospects for an equally cheerful future seem exceptional.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Her performance power -- with, at 35, just a hint of maturity added -- was perhaps better than ever. Her song catalog held up exceptionally well (though significant songs from it went unplayed -- more about that later). And her new material (that’s where much of the maturity comes in) was strong, too.
Lavigne showed just how strong that new material could be by opening the show with the title cut, and first single, from her new disc -- and showed why it was her first gold hit in six years. It was a powerful plea for help, and submission, to overcome struggle that would have been unthinkable from the ultra-confident Lavigne of her commercial peak.
Lavigne clearly understood the power of the message and played it fully -- performing in a flowing, white lacy dress.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
And after a brief moment offstage to change into a black lacy shirt and black leather pants, she re-emerged to ask, “Are you ready to party?” and, indeed, make claim to the resurgence with “My Happy Ending.” She sang it with total abandon -- to the point of her voice squeaking with emphasis.
And her last U.S. Top 10 hit, 2011′s “What the Hell,” was equally perfect: bounding, bouncy pop that Lavigne sang in a wonderful world-weary affect that increased in intensity, to a squeal, as the song went on.
“It’s so incredible to be up on stage again after five years away,” Lavigne said in one of the few times she addressed the sold-out audience of about 1,500.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
And in another move that seemed well calculated, Lavigne performed her chart-topping debut hit, “Complicated” that she now noted was released half her life ago. As if to overtly connect with fans, she spent the time singing it shaking hands with those in the front rows.
In another juxtaposition, she played another strong new cut -- the disc closing “Warrior,” in which she tellingly sings, “I’m a warrior/I fight for my life like a soldier ... I won’t give up, I will survive.” And she sang it with the potency it requires.
A surprise highlight was Lavigne singing “Breakaway,” the song she wrote that became a gold hit for Kelly Clarkson, and she used the opportunity to again tell the audience that “it’s been so amazing, seeing everyone at the shows.”
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Lavigne’s version of the song showed it was very much hers, but she disappointingly sang only the first verse and chorus -- just a couple of minutes of it.
She strapped on a guitar to sing her 2006 platinum hit “Keep Holding On” -- her voice rising and clearly pushing herself, but also very short at two minutes -- and her 2004 gold hit “Don’t Tell Me.”
Lavigne again left the stage as her five-man band played her minor hit “Hello Kitty,” and she returned for another highlight: a fun and delightfully catty version of her 2007 platinum hit ″Girlfriend," her voice yelping with abandon as she marched and stepped as if it was a decade ago.
“Dumb Blonde,” the second single from “Head Above Water,” was a change-up -- thumping and chanty -- but very good.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
But Lavigne’s choice to play the 2005 minor hit ″He Wasn’t" was disappointing with so many of her hits -- “When You’re Gone,” “Nobody’s Home,” “Smile” and “Wish You Were Here," all gold singles, were skipped.
Her biggest omission was her last platinum hit, 2013′s “Here’s to Never Growing Up,” which would have been a perfect statement for the show. But the truth is that Lavigne has, in fact grown up.
Despite that, she closed her main set with her sophomore single, 2002′s “Sk8er Boi,” and brought out opening act Jagwar Twin" as she skipped across the stage and, with band introductions, stretched it to six minutes.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
The encore opened with Lavigne at the piano for her most recent single, “I Fell in Love with the Devil.” It was OK, but clearly important to Lavigne, and she elevated it by singing the the heck out of it. But it also helped highlight the fact that she also sang just three songs from her new disc.
In fact, if you deducted the time Lavigne was away for costume changes, she was on stage just 58 minutes. She played just 14 songs.
Perhaps the singer still is limited by still recovering from her battle with Lyme, but the fact is she left the audience wanting more. Which perhaps is a good indicator for her future.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Lavigne closed the night with another highlight -- perhaps her best song, “I’m With You.” It both connected the audience with Lavigne’s hit past, and displayed her new maturity.
Despite it being an emotionally wrenching song, it was very much a happy ending for Lavigne.
Supporting act Jagwar Twin was good, but front man Roy English was a bit much to take. Starting the show in a fur jacket over a bare chest and smoking what appeared to be a fat spliff, later strutting in what appeared to be an awkward attempt at a Mick Jagger impersonation, he clearly thought more of his abilities than the crowd did.
Jagwar Twin performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
The eight-song, 30-minute set was way too self-serious. But a couple songs -- the closing “Loser,” for example, were good.
Morning Call Lehigh Valley Music reporter and columnist John J. Moser can be reached at 610-820-6722 or jmoser@mcall.com
By John J. Moser
The Morning Call |
Oct 13, 2019 | 8:48 AM
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call
“So much for my happy ending,” Avril Lavigne sang in her 2004 hit “My Happy Ending.”
And for the past five years, it might have seemed the poppy punky princess might, indeed have a less-than-perfect conclusion to her career: A lengthy battle with Lyme disease and the dissolution of a marriage.
But Lavigne showed with her concert Friday at Parx Casino in Bensalem that, at very least, the conclusion to her 15-date tour to promote her new album “Head Above Water” gave her plenty to be happy about. And prospects for an equally cheerful future seem exceptional.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Her performance power -- with, at 35, just a hint of maturity added -- was perhaps better than ever. Her song catalog held up exceptionally well (though significant songs from it went unplayed -- more about that later). And her new material (that’s where much of the maturity comes in) was strong, too.
Lavigne showed just how strong that new material could be by opening the show with the title cut, and first single, from her new disc -- and showed why it was her first gold hit in six years. It was a powerful plea for help, and submission, to overcome struggle that would have been unthinkable from the ultra-confident Lavigne of her commercial peak.
Lavigne clearly understood the power of the message and played it fully -- performing in a flowing, white lacy dress.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
And after a brief moment offstage to change into a black lacy shirt and black leather pants, she re-emerged to ask, “Are you ready to party?” and, indeed, make claim to the resurgence with “My Happy Ending.” She sang it with total abandon -- to the point of her voice squeaking with emphasis.
And her last U.S. Top 10 hit, 2011′s “What the Hell,” was equally perfect: bounding, bouncy pop that Lavigne sang in a wonderful world-weary affect that increased in intensity, to a squeal, as the song went on.
“It’s so incredible to be up on stage again after five years away,” Lavigne said in one of the few times she addressed the sold-out audience of about 1,500.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
And in another move that seemed well calculated, Lavigne performed her chart-topping debut hit, “Complicated” that she now noted was released half her life ago. As if to overtly connect with fans, she spent the time singing it shaking hands with those in the front rows.
In another juxtaposition, she played another strong new cut -- the disc closing “Warrior,” in which she tellingly sings, “I’m a warrior/I fight for my life like a soldier ... I won’t give up, I will survive.” And she sang it with the potency it requires.
A surprise highlight was Lavigne singing “Breakaway,” the song she wrote that became a gold hit for Kelly Clarkson, and she used the opportunity to again tell the audience that “it’s been so amazing, seeing everyone at the shows.”
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Lavigne’s version of the song showed it was very much hers, but she disappointingly sang only the first verse and chorus -- just a couple of minutes of it.
She strapped on a guitar to sing her 2006 platinum hit “Keep Holding On” -- her voice rising and clearly pushing herself, but also very short at two minutes -- and her 2004 gold hit “Don’t Tell Me.”
Lavigne again left the stage as her five-man band played her minor hit “Hello Kitty,” and she returned for another highlight: a fun and delightfully catty version of her 2007 platinum hit ″Girlfriend," her voice yelping with abandon as she marched and stepped as if it was a decade ago.
“Dumb Blonde,” the second single from “Head Above Water,” was a change-up -- thumping and chanty -- but very good.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
But Lavigne’s choice to play the 2005 minor hit ″He Wasn’t" was disappointing with so many of her hits -- “When You’re Gone,” “Nobody’s Home,” “Smile” and “Wish You Were Here," all gold singles, were skipped.
Her biggest omission was her last platinum hit, 2013′s “Here’s to Never Growing Up,” which would have been a perfect statement for the show. But the truth is that Lavigne has, in fact grown up.
Despite that, she closed her main set with her sophomore single, 2002′s “Sk8er Boi,” and brought out opening act Jagwar Twin" as she skipped across the stage and, with band introductions, stretched it to six minutes.
The encore opened with Lavigne at the piano for her most recent single, “I Fell in Love with the Devil.” It was OK, but clearly important to Lavigne, and she elevated it by singing the the heck out of it. But it also helped highlight the fact that she also sang just three songs from her new disc.
In fact, if you deducted the time Lavigne was away for costume changes, she was on stage just 58 minutes. She played just 14 songs.
Perhaps the singer still is limited by still recovering from her battle with Lyme, but the fact is she left the audience wanting more. Which perhaps is a good indicator for her future.
Avril Lavigne performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
Lavigne closed the night with another highlight -- perhaps her best song, “I’m With You.” It both connected the audience with Lavigne’s hit past, and displayed her new maturity.
Despite it being an emotionally wrenching song, it was very much a happy ending for Lavigne.
Supporting act Jagwar Twin was good, but front man Roy English was a bit much to take. Starting the show in a fur jacket over a bare chest and smoking what appeared to be a fat spliff, later strutting in what appeared to be an awkward attempt at a Mick Jagger impersonation, he clearly thought more of his abilities than the crowd did.
Jagwar Twin performs at Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem on October 11. © Brian Hineline/Special to The Morning Call (Brian Hineline)
The eight-song, 30-minute set was way too self-serious. But a couple songs -- the closing “Loser,” for example, were good.
Morning Call Lehigh Valley Music reporter and columnist John J. Moser can be reached at 610-820-6722 or jmoser@mcall.com
John has covered Lehigh Valley music for more than 20 years, and has been The Morning Call music critic since 2009. Also was assistant metro editor and editor of its offices in Bethlehem, Lehighton and Quakertown. He has won more than two dozen statewide and national awards as a reporter and editor.
