When it comes to live music performances, the length of a concert can vary greatly depending on the artist, venue, and other factors. For rock band Simple Plan, their shows tend to run around 1.5-2 hours on average based on their recent tour schedules and setlists.
Typical Simple Plan Setlist Length
Looking at Simple Plan’s recent setlists from their 2022 “No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls” anniversary tour, their sets contained around 20-25 songs. With the average song length being 3-4 minutes, this puts their set time in the range of 60-100 minutes or 1-1.5 hours of actual music playback. Here is a sample 25 song setlist from a show in Toronto in July 2022:
Welcome to My Life | 3:20 |
I’m Just a Kid | 3:13 |
Jump | 3:00 |
Addicted | 3:39 |
Perfect | 3:36 |
Shut Up! | 3:17 |
Your Love Is a Lie | 3:45 |
One By One | 3:27 |
Me Against the World | 2:59 |
Summer Paradise | 3:40 |
Take My Hand | 3:24 |
Jet Lag | 3:14 |
I’d Do Anything | 3:21 |
Generation | 3:16 |
I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed | 2:56 |
Crazy | 3:17 |
When I’m Gone | 3:27 |
Where I Belong | 4:01 |
This Song Saved My Life | 3:09 |
Perfect World | 3:37 |
I’m Just a Kid | 5:28 |
Untitled | 3:44 |
Welcome to My Life | 5:40 |
Based on these song lengths, this setlist would take around 90 minutes just for the music. Factoring in brief pauses between songs and taking the stage, this concert set would likely last about 1.5 hours from start to finish.
Account for Encores
In addition to the main setlist, most bands will take a quick break before doing 1-3 encore songs at the end of the show. Looking at some other Simple Plan shows from 2022, they typically did 2-3 song encores, adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the show length. So with encores included, a full Simple Plan concert experience tends to run approximately 105-120 minutes or 1.75-2 hours.
Venue Size and Show Details
The venue size and type of show can also impact the duration of a Simple Plan concert. Smaller club shows may be a bit shorter, while big outdoor festivals or headline arena shows could involve a longer setlist. Intimate acoustic performances or radio shows would also be on the shorter side. Here are some examples of typical Simple Plan show lengths in different settings:
- Small Club Show: 14 song set, ~75 min with encores
- Theater Show: 18 song set, ~90 min with encores
- Festival Show: 12 song set, ~60 min
- Arena Headline Show: 25 song set, ~120 min with encores
- Radio Show/Acoustic: 5 song set, ~15-20 min
On their own headlining tour playing mid-size venues, Simple Plan will likely aim for a 90 minute main set plus encores, resulting in a total show length of around 2 hours.
How Set Times Are Determined
There are a few key factors that determine how long Simple Plan and other bands will play on a given night:
- Venue curfews – Most venues have noise regulations or curfews for concert endings. The band must finish by a certain time, limiting how long they can play.
- Number of opening acts – If there are multiple opening bands, Simple Plan’s set may be shortened to accommodate them.
- Travel schedule – If Simple Plan has a long drive to their next show location, they may opt for a shorter set to leave earlier.
- Production elements – Extended solos, jam sessions, complex lighting/effects can lengthen sets.
The band’s management and tour producers map out ideal set times during the planning stages. But they build in some flexibility to adjust the song selections and jams on any given night as needed.
How Late Do Simple Plan Concerts Go?
With the average show length being around 2 hours including encores, Simple Plan concerts typically wrap up between 10:30pm and 11:30pm local venue time. For indoor arenas or amphitheaters with noise curfews, shows are more likely to end by 11pm. At outdoor festivals or venues with later limits, the band may play until midnight or later especially if they take the stage later in the evening.
If Simple Plan is opening for another band, their sets are even shorter, often just 50-60 minutes without encores. This allows the headliner to start earlier and play a longer duration set well past midnight at some larger events.
Factors That Could Shorten or Lengthen the Show
While most Simple Plan concerts fall in the 1.5-2 hour range, there are some cases where the show could be substantially shorter or longer due to other factors:
- Equipment issues – Technical difficulties always pose a risk of interrupting or cutting short a performance.
- Weather issues – For outdoor shows, severe weather could delay start times or end shows early.
- Health issues – Illness within the band could lead to an altered or canceled show.
- Crowd issues – Security concerns with the crowd might require an early end.
- Special shows – One-off events like New Year’s concerts often have longer sets.
- Tour finales – The last show of a tour may feature an expanded song selection and jams.
Fortunately, Simple Plan has a reputation for delivering consistently solid shows right around the 2 hour mark for the vast majority of their concerts. Fans can rely on getting their fill of hits and favorites in a high energy live setting when they come out to a Simple Plan show.
Setlist Factors and Song Selection
When crafting Simple Plan setlists, there are a few key factors that go into choosing songs:
- New album promotion – Tours often highlight tracks from newest album.
- Fan favorites – Hit singles and beloved deep cuts are staples.
- Show spacing – Upbeat songs mixed with slower ones, alternating tones/moods.
- What’s been played – Rotation to avoid repeating songs at same venue.
- Band requests – Members suggest songs they want to play live.
- Show themes – Some tours are album anniversary shows with certain songs.
The band tries to balance playing new material along with career-spanning hits and album cuts. Fans at multiple shows are less likely to hear the same exact setlist each night. The band also changes up arrangements to keep things fresh. Overall, the setlist has a big impact on shaping the concert experience and flow.
Conclusion
In summary, a typical Simple Plan concert runs between 1.5-2 hours including any encores and accounting for venue curfews and opening acts. Their high-octane shows feature a tight setlist of hits, new songs, and fan favorites that keep the crowd energetic from start to finish. While each show has some variability, Simple Plan delivers a reliably powerful live performance built upon their 20+ years of experience as a band. Knowing what to expect time-wise makes it easy for fans to plan their concert experience when Simple Plan comes to town.