'Best Damn' show ... no joke

CONCERT REVIEW: Avril Lavigne at Dodge Arena
(with special guests Boys Like Girls)

April 24, 2008
By Miriam Ramirez
Monitor Staff Writer

It was an explosion of pink, glitter and plenty of pent up teen angst to fill an arena.

The pop punk princess herself, Avril Lavigne was in town for her much-anticipated show at Dodge Arena, on Thursday night.

A near sold-out crowd welcomed the blonde-haired punker and ‘the best damn tour' with open arms...exclamated by pounding fists in the air.

They chanted, "Avril, Avril" until a blast of neon pink lights filled the stage.

Her name flashed on the jumbo screen in bright graffiti letters while her band laid a few chugging power chords to start the show.

Already the crowd was bursting at the seams getting up out of their seats or pressing their bodies as close as they could to the stage.

"Hey, hey you, you..." she shouted on the mic. Those four magical words sent thousands into a frenzy.

Flanked by four energetic dancers, Lavigne opened the show with the popular hit single "Girlfriend." Wearing all black, with checkered suspenders and glittered Chuck Taylor sneakers she bounced around the stage revving up every young girl and guy in the audience.

"What's up Hidalgo, Texas?" she asked. "Y'all ready to have a good time tonight?"

I think a lot of kids in the audience shrieked their first, "hell yeah" as requested by the Canadian singer.

The excitement was hard to contain and any inkling of a struggling tour was put in the backburner here in the Rio Grande Valley. These kids were ready to party no matter what.

I tried so hard to nit pick-tried so hard to find any slip up. And any which way she sang it was on point, full of energy (genuine or not) and super entertaining.

There's a reason why Lavigne sits comfortably atop the charts and a reason why her albums sell millions.

Between the skulls and hearts and everything bling it seemed I had died and gone to pop punk heaven. Sigh.

Her hits came early on including the ubiquitous "Complicated" "Happy Ending" and "I'm With You" all done back-to-back.

The break dancing interludes were a perfect fit, considering most of Lavigne's songs run under the 4 minute mark.

Like the many reviews of the tour have said, Lavigne's came through with several wardrobe changes and her crack at multiple instruments. There was the hot pink grand piano; the glitterati drum kit and the sparkling pink acoustic guitar.

Watching Lavigne's tiny fingers glide across the keys for "When You're Gone" was definitely one of the highlights of the evening. Her rendition of "Don't Tell Me" came in a close second.

Lavigne was exceptionally bouncy Thursday night and interacted with the audience much more than expected. She was sweet, bubbly and a lot less angry than we seen sprawled across the tabloids and entertainment news.

OK, Ok, maybe I wanted her to be a little more rebellious or let a naughty word slip...but no such luck. I did enjoy the encore break with a video of Lavigne covering Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation." Even if I did feel a little outdated.

After an electrifying dance number (love those dancers), the energy continued through "The Best Damn Thing" and "I Don't Have to Try" until she closed the show with "Sk8er Boi."

Miriam Ramirez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4468.

SET LIST:

1. GIRLFRIEND
2. I CAN DO BETTER
3. COMPLICATED
4. HAPPY ENDING
5. I'M WITH YOU
6. WHEN YOU'RE GONE
7. INNOCENCE
8. DON'T TELL ME
9. HOT
10. LOSING GRIP
11. EVERYTHING BACK BUT YOU

ENCORE

1. BEST DAMN THING
2. I DON'T HAVE TO TRY
3. HE WASN'T
4. GIRLFRIEND REMIX (LIL MAMA VERSION)
5. SK8ER BOI