(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- A flawless summer night on the Jersey Shore set the stage for pop-punk nostalgia as Simple Plan brought their Bigger Than You Think! Tour to the legendary Stone Pony Summer Stage on August 27, 2025. With support from Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and rising artist LØLØ, the sold-out show felt like a high-energy reunion of Warped Tour favorites mixed with fresh energy for a new generation of fans. From the opening notes to the final chorus, it was clear: for thousands packed into the Stone Pony, it was never just a phase.

Colorado duo 3OH!3 (Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte) had the crowd on their feet from the first note. Known for their playful, over-the-top energy, they delivered fan favorites like “Don’t Trust Me,” “Starstrukk,” and “My First Kiss.”

What made their set stand out wasn’t just the songs, but the way the crowd responded. From the very first chorus, fans across the sold-out venue threw their arms up to flash the iconic 3OH!3 hand symbol, turning the Stone Pony into a sea of triangles hands bouncing in unison. Every hook came with a roar of voices, proof that their late-2000s party anthems still hit just as hard on a summer night in 2025.

Their set blurred the line between live show and party. The energy was chaotic in the best way, especially when the band paused for a surprise birthday shout-out complete with cake, joined by Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, and LØLØ. It was the kind of unpredictable, anything-goes moment that reminded everyone why 3OH!3 shows are legendary: they’re loud, unfiltered fun, and never take themselves too seriously.

Bowling for Soup followed with a set that doubled as a comedy routine. Between punchlines, frontman Jaret Reddick led singalongs to staples like “Girl All the Bad Guys Want,” “High School Never Ends,” “1985,” and “Punk Rock 101.” 

Their tongue-in-cheek covers of Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom” and Nickelback’s “Photograph” turned into massive crowd karaoke sessions, showcasing the band’s trademark humor and undeniable connection with fans. They loved keeping the crowd a focal point of their show and everyone was all for it.

The night belonged to Simple Plan, who powered through a career-spanning setlist that balanced playful fun with emotional weight. From the punch of “I’d Do Anything” and “Shut Up!” to the catharsis of “Welcome to My Life”, Pierre Bouvier’s vocals rang clear and strong, carrying over a sea of voices that never missed a lyric.

Adding to the atmosphere, several fans dressed as Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang bounced in the pit and were even welcomed onto the stage — a surreal but fitting nod to one of the band’s most iconic contributions to pop culture.

They wrapped the night with “I’m Just a Kid” (featuring Bowling for Soup’s Jaret Reddick) and the timeless closer “Perfect,” sending the crowd home sweaty, hoarse, and grinning from ear to ear.

With a sold-out crowd singing every word and a lineup stacked with pop-punk heroes, the Stone Pony Summer Stage once again lived up to its legacy. In Asbury Park, pop-punk felt alive, loud, and eternal — because it was never a phase.

Julie Hoffman is a concert and live event photographer with a background in broadcasting. She started out in the newsroom at ABC News in NYC, and ended up as a Technical Director at Disney/ ABC TV studios in Los Angeles. She has since left broadcasting and moved back to the east coast, where she started up her photography business.

When she is not at a concert, she is shooting print/theatrical headshots out of her studio in Livingston, NJ. For more on her visit her website at www.juliehoffmanphotography.com or her Instagram accounts for Concerts/Live Events and Headshots.