CONCERT REVIEW: "So Long, Goodbye:

Sum 41’s farewell tour made an emotional and explosive stop in The Netherlands’ Den Bosch on Monday night at the Brabanthallen, marking the final time Dutch fans would get to experience the iconic pop-punk outfit live. The night was filled with nostalgia, raw energy, and just the right hint of uncertainty as the band leaned into their final bow—but not without leaving the door open for a potential return.

As usual, the set kicked off with an adrenaline-pumping remix of AC/DC’s T.N.T, setting the stage for a night packed with a career-spanning selection of hits. From the fiery Motivation to the anthemic Still Waiting, Sum 41 made sure to showcase the evolution of their sound, blending the early pop-punk days with the heavier, more aggressive tracks from their later years.

Deryck Whibley, as always, commanded the stage with magnetic presence. Whether playing the guitar he bought in Den Bosch just a day before the show during Dopamine, or cranking out fan favorites like Over My Head (Better Off Dead) and The Hell Song, his energy never wavered.

The show was far from just music, with a visual spectacle of lasers, fire, and CO2 cannons enhancing the night. Whibley joked with the crowd, referencing the guitar he’d lost and recently recovered—a symbol of how things sometimes come full circle, fitting for a band on their final run.

One of the most touching moments came when Whibley reworked parts of “So Long Goodbye” specifically for this performance, however, he explicitly did not change the “goodbye for now,”, hinting that this might not be the end forever, but rather a temporary farewell? A hopeful sentiment the crowd clung to, if we have to believe the whispers around us.

Sum 41 didn’t just play a concert; they brought their history to life. From early hits like Makes No Difference and Summer, to the harder cuts like We’re All to Blame and Fake My Own Death, the setlist was a perfect balance of their punk roots and metal influences.

As they closed with the cover of NOFX’s Linoleum, a nod to the band’s 90s beginnings, it felt like a full-circle moment. The night wasn’t just an ending—it was a celebration of everything Sum 41 have given to its fans over the past three decades. And if Whibley’s “goodbye for now” is anything to go by, there just might be a chance we’ll hear from them again someday.

For now, however, the Tour of the Setting Sum has come to its end in the Netherlands—a fitting, powerful farewell to a band that’s left an indelible mark on the pop-punk world.