A truly surreal experience was to be had at the Mohegan Sun Arena, as the casino lay siege to thousands of young Avril Lavigne fans. We waded through the sea of fans congregated not far from smoke filled rooms of Black Jack and Craps tables, and clusters of One-Armed Bandits with their siren-esque noises and flashing lights. There was a buzz in the air, but not the typical buzz that might be found on a casino floor. It was the energy of excited fans waiting to see "The Best Damn Tour."

The show opened with Boston's own Boys Like Girls (OK, really Andover). I've missed seeing these guys play live several time over the past year, but I couldn't think of a better first exposure than the show they put on tonight. Their polished performance was a pleasant surprise. They moved about the stage and interacted with the crowd like they've been doing this much longer than their few brief years together. The crowd loved every bit of it.

The crowd was already pumped, and the main attraction of the night hadn't even hit the stage yet. The house lights dimmed, and the video screen started flashing "Av" "Ril" to get the entire arena chanting. Several dancers weaved across the stage, some acting as the flag spinning colorguard. Avril Lavigne rose up on a platform from underneath the back of the stage and kick-off the show with her recent hit "Girlfriend."

Despite the high-energy of that hit, the vocals aren't all that challenging, and Avril didn't really seem to warm up until the next song. That's when her poise and command of the very large stage really took hold. When it was time for her to really sing, she did so with great control, and great emotion. At twenty three years of age, she's already a seasoned performer.

The crowd, comprised mostly of young females, knew all the lyrics to every song. At time times Avril's vocals were complete drowned out by the chanting masses, but that's really what made this performance so special. Her connection to her fan-base and mutual admiration was very clear.

During the set, Avril played a variety of instruments, including electric guitar and piano. Her band was neatly tucked into the corners of the stage and barely moved throughout the show. Musically the sound was tight and really allowed Avril to simply do her thing. It was crystal clear that the focus of this big production was Avril Lavigne and her music (and maybe the color pink too).

Avril closed the show with a remixed version of "Girlfriend," and then the finale "Sk8er Boi." The show closed and the fans poured out of the arena back into the casino. Everyone was completely satisfied with the spectacle they were treated to, and still left wanting more. A testament that Avril Lavigne is going to be around for quite some time.

| 04.12.2008 | Review by J. Pierson | Photos by Kristen Pierson |