Words and Pictures : Adrian Hextall – MindHex Media
Nickelback’s recent performance at the O2 Arena in London was a night to remember, showcasing the band’s enduring appeal and musical prowess. It also proved the band’s detractors wrong (again) by performing to a sold-out crowd at the twenty-thousand-capacity venue. The band, fronted by Chad Kroeger, the man with the never-ending smile who clearly still loves every minute of what he’s doing, delivered a high-energy show, supported by an interesting choice of pop rock favourites, The Lottery Winners, opening for them. The show was filled with Nickelback fan favourites as well as material from a band that’s just seen their album hit the top of the UK album charts. As such, it was a clever choice of support as it proves that rock music is alive and well, and its longevity is assured.
The Lottery Winners, fronted by what can best be described as a musical Peter Kay, delivered comedic moments, infectious melodies, and the sort of upbeat performance that made it impossible to dislike what they had to offer. Their performance got under the skin, forced you to have a good time whether you wanted to or not, and left you feeling warm, fuzzy, and happy to confirm to Thom Rylance’s mum that Thom does indeed have “a proper job,” something, according to Thom, she’s still not quite convinced about. Well, I guess a set at The O2 will certainly go some way to setting the record straight.
Nickelback kicked off their set with San Quentin, immediately electrifying the crowd. The band’s performance was never going to be in question. Nickelback is known for high-energy, note-perfect songs and flawless execution backed by a stunning light show. The show they brought to the O2 gave us exactly that and more. Chad Kroeger’s engagement with the audience was a highlight; he shared jokes, encouraged interaction, and expressed genuine appreciation for their fans’ support. Sing-alongs were a given, but they weren’t on the tracks that we would normally expect.
Songs like Photograph, personal favourite How You Remind Me, and Someday were all met with huge roars from the packed O2 crowd and garnered enthusiastic sing-alongs. However, it was the band’s homage to British rock culture and a cover of Oasis’s Don’t Look Back In Anger which surprised the most and interestingly triggered a huge response from the crowd. Another marmite band which the popular press likes to malign, Oasis, along with Nickelback, have for years been used as examples of oddly, everything that is right with music as well as everything that is wrong. The music snobs, those who think they’re better than everyone else, are more than happy to dismiss both bands for minimal reasons, and yet the fans, the ones who continue to buy the music and the concert tickets, still pack out the venues with ease, which tends to suggest the buying public have got it right.
An O2 Arena show is never a small-scale affair, and Nickelback do it for the rock community better than others. The band’s connection with the audience made the event feel very personal to each and every person present. Classic hits, energised new material, supercharged rock music – what more could be asked for?
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