New York City pulsed with an electric nostalgia when Avril Lavigne stormed Madison Square Garden on May 30. The arena brimmed with fans clutching “Let Go” era tees, pop-punk attitudes intact, ready for a trip down memory lane with a few new detours thrown in. By the time Simple Plan and We the Kings wrapped their sets, the crowd was primed for their queen—and she did not disappoint.
Full Setlist
Here’s how the night’s journey went down:
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Girlfriend
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What the Hell
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Complicated
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Here’s to Never Growing Up
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Rock n Roll (shortened)
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My Happy Ending
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He Wasn’t
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Pink Pony Club / Warrior (mash-up)
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Keep Holding On (shortened)
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Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson cover; shortened)
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Don’t Tell Me
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Young & Dumb (live debut; Simple Plan featured)
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Bite Me
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Love It When You Hate Me
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Sk8er Boi
Encore:
16. Head Above Water
17. When You’re Gone (shortened)
18. I’m With You
The Energy
From the very first chord of Girlfriend, Avril had the stage lit and the crowd singing back every line. The energy was pure, unfiltered pop-punk euphoria. And even as she pivoted through her catalog—from the bratty anthems to heartfelt ballads—her presence stayed unwavering. MSG felt intimate and massive all at once.
The mash-up of Pink Pony Club and Warrior brought a fiercer, darker edge that turned up the drama mid-set. And when Young & Dumb dropped—her brand-new track with Simple Plan—it felt like a moment of full-circle reckoning, a reunion that still beats with youthful energy.
Her voice? Strong on the classics and gutsy on the newer cuts. Whether she was belting My Happy Ending, snarling He Wasn’t, or reflecting in I’m With You, she sounded like a supremely confident performer at the top of her game.
Highlights & Crowd Moments
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Opening anthem overload — Girlfriend, What the Hell, and Complicated back to back landed like nostalgia bombs. Fans sang along through sweaty, smiling chaos.
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Rock n Roll’s brief burst — A quick-shot adrenaline jolt that played more like a cameo—but still sparked mosh-friendly reactions.
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Emotional pivot — Keep Holding On and the cover of Breakaway slowed the pace just right. The arena went quiet, focused, and reverent.
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Full-throttle chorus — Sk8er Boi still gets the arms pumping, the voices roaring, and that signature nostalgia high.
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The appearance of Simple Plan during Young & Dumb felt like the era-defining flashback we didn’t know we needed.
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Encore tearjerkers — Head Above Water brought goosebumps; I’m With You closed the night in bathed-in teal-light beauty.
The Vibe
This show bridged a generation—a punk-pop pulse that still thunders but now carries lived-in edges. It wasn’t just a greatest hits spectacle—it had emotional arcs built in. Avril’s storytelling moments—like introducing Head Above Water with a little preamble, or dedicating Complicated to younger versions of herself creeping into the crowd—were highlight-worthy.
Madison Square Garden felt less like a massive venue and more like a familiar favorite spot in her world. And that collective hush when she slowed the pace? That said everything about her ability to still connect deeply with fans.
Tiny Quibbles
If I’m nitpicking: Rock n Roll felt abrupt—a sped-up burst that barely started before it ended. Also, When You’re Gone in the encore felt slightly clipped; a full version might’ve landed even harder. But neither of those moments dimmed the overall experience.
Final Thoughts
Avril Lavigne’s Madison Square Garden night was nothing short of triumphant. It wasn’t just a nostalgia trip—it was a reminder that her early-2000s punk-pop still resonates, and her new musical chapters are worth tuning into. She owned that legendary stage with charisma, grit, and heart.
If you were there, you know that feeling—the shared roar in Complicated, the quiet unity in Head Above Water, the collective grin on Sk8er Boi. If you missed it, rest assured: she’s still the pop-punk princess, but one who’s grown, evolved, and kept that spark bright.
MSG lit up not just with city lights, but with every word, riff, and memory Avril laid down on that stage. Night closed with smiles, sweaty arms, and an echo of “I’m With You” ringing long into the gutters of the city. Pure, unapologetic rock-infused pop magic.