by Bradi Breckman
On October 19, I had the pleasure of attending the Pop Punk Party at the Park Theatre. The show was held as a fundraiser for mental health awareness and suicide prevention in memory of Zach Huchall, who was tragically lost in 2016. The fundraiser was put on three years in a row before it was halted due to Covid-19. Thankfully, it returned this fall with a passion! The proceeds from this year’s show went to Klinic Community Health and the Robb Nash Project, totalling over $35,000 through ticket sales, silent auction tickets and donations.
Although the night started slow, the crowd filled in as Single Player Campaign took to the stage. Playing mostly Blink-182 covers, the audience was swept back to the late ’90s, and old and young sang every word to “All the Small Things.” The band chatted up the crowd between covers, making us feel like friends sitting in on their jam session. It was a nostalgic performance and a great kickoff to the night.
Single Player Campaign was followed by the 12/21, who had a standout set. Covering songs by Green Day, We the Kings, and many more fan favourites, they did the early 2000s justice. Their original songs were just as good as their covers, and they felt at home in the pop-punk scene. Between the band’s electrifying rhythms and the venue’s flowing alcohol, there wasn’t a head in the crowd that wasn’t banging. The 12/21’s excellent stage presence made their performance even more special, and it was clear that they were having just as much fun as the audience was.
The final band to perform was Bad Friend, and everything from their fashion to their vocals encompassed the pop-punk genre. They had excellent chemistry on stage, and it was clear that this was not their first show together. The lead singer never stopped moving, which may have affected his vocals, but was a worthy sacrifice for the enthusiasm the performance exuded. The band closed the night on a high note, singing Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” and I’m certain that every voice in the crowd sang the chorus with them.
Between the funds raised, the excellent local talent, and the good times had by all, the night was undoubtedly a success. I hope to hear more from all three of these fantastic bands soon and will do my best to attend all their shows in the future. The only thing better than good music is good music for a cause, and if you agree, well, I’ll see you at Pop Punk Party 5!