Avril Lavigne @ M.E.N. Arena

[catatoniaone]

Avril Lavigne @ M.E.N. Arena
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Adam Moss
30/ 5/2008

****

I NEVER realised that diminutive pop punk princess Avril Lavigne had enjoyed so many hits until the first half hour of her M.E.N. Arena gig had passed and it became clear I knew every song she had played.

'Complicated', 'Sk8er Boi', 'Don't Tell Me', 'My Happy Ending' and 'Girlfriend' - all the hits were on display in full-on perky pink poppiness tonight.

And the crowd gushed, wowed and screamed the house down.

She's certainly come a long way since being spotted singing country and western covers in Ontario and appearing as a pre-pubescent teen special guest on stage with fellow Canadian songstress Shania Twain back in 1998 when she was just 13.

Now 23, married and with a defeated potential plagiarism lawsuit under her belt, she's clearly more worldly wise but still revels in being that cool rock chick ploughing a furrow somewhere between the worlds of pop, punk and grunge.

For most of the young teen fans - most wearing flashing bunny ears and skinny jeans - in the audience tonight, Avril Lavigne is about as close to real rock n roll as they will ever get.

If Avril had revealed her real self - the spiky young rock goddess who gets her kicks listening to Marilyn Manson, System of a Down and, somewhat strangely, Oasis - 90 per cent of her audience would have run screaming back to the pop safety of their Sugababes CDs.

If only she had.

Glitterati

Despite wearing more glitter than the rest of the Noughties pop glitterati put together and taking the stage shininess to ridiculous new levels by insisting that her guitar, drumkit and pretty much every other piece of music hardware was also daubed in the stuff - I still reckon Avril would feel more at home letting go of the obsessive Barbie-ness and embracing her inner Emo.

She'd certainly give Evanescence's Amy Lee a run for her money if she disposed of the disposable pop veneer and was true to her primary rock influences.

While her audience got exactly what they expected, nay, demanded from their heroine on the live stage tonight - I was left with the feeling that Avril Lavigne was, well, a bit bored.

Yes, she skipped across the stage like an animated Impala at the appropriate moment. Yes, she yelped out 'Hey Manchester - you're awesome," when we expected.

But it was almost as if she was having to reign herself in - hold back for fear of upsetting the huge corporate money machine that is behind her rise to worldwide pop stardom.

I suspect she'd be far more at home singing to a field full of drunken punks, bikers and rockers at something like this summer's Download Festival than glamming it up in pink glitter and prancing around a stage like an edgy Kylie Minogue for the pleasure of an arena-full of 14-year-olds.

She certainly has the voice and the song-writing ability to be rock's next big female thing. And her career would enjoy an extended longevity as a result.

Dare I suggest it - but isn't it time that Avril Lavigne grew up a bit - she'd not 17 any more, after all.

Did you go to the show? Why not tell us what you thought by entering our Reviewer of the Month competition.

Avril Lavigne @ M.E.N. Arena - Live Reviews - Music - Entertainment - Manchester Evening News

[[!vicky!]]

That review is bullshit.
End of.
How the fuck was Avril bored?
No way! I was on the second row, seen it all for myself.

[Sterock85]

"She certainly has the voice and the song-writing ability to be rock's next big female thing. And her career would enjoy an extended longevity as a result."

Good review

[Lewymocha Original]

Aye.. I agree with the quote you quoted ^^

[xx Leila xx]

LMAO. Stupid media and their labels. Yes, Avril is an inner emo.

[avrilrocks07]

i agree she wasnt bored but she should unlesh her inner emo. GO ON AVRIL!!!! XXX

[sinead1989]

i think this is the first time ive ever read a review where they're saying avril is fake for being so poppy, its usually saying shes faking it for being ''punk''

[TR252]

LMAO @ Not enjoying herself. Bullshit.

I was on the 2nd row and it was plain to see she was having a great time! She seemed a bit overwhelmed tbh.

Is it just me or was the audience *wild* ?! XD

[[!vicky!]]

^ ahah i was on the second row!
and yeah we were pretty mental.
when it all went silent when avril was raising her hands telling us when to scream and to shut up
i screamed
"AVRIL YOU SEXY BITCH"
ahahahahaa everyone turned round and started laughing their heads off
fun times _