Nickelback in Australia --- Live Review

Photo by Christian GrausHaving been front row for a Nickelback show in Houston earlier this year, I was very excited to hear they were coming to Australia, and keen for both my kids (big fans) to get to see them.  It was my son's first ever concert, so I was happy that it would be a 'big' show.

First I went with my daughter to see both Sydney shows.  We stood for the second show, and got pretty much to the front, without really queuing for long.  My son and I then saw them in Melbourne.  The shows were basically the same, so my review will be for the combined effect of all three.

The opening band was weird - two brothers, lead guitar and drums.  I've never seen a rock band with no bass guitar, let alone for such a band to be given such a big audience.  They might have been OK with a bass player, as it was, they were a weird sounding novelty act.

Nickelback started the show with "This Means War."  I immediately noticed the lack of pyro compared to the US show.  I had not expected them to bring all the effects they used in the US, but was surprised that the moving side wings of the stage did not get a look in.  The one-two punch of that and "Something in Your Mouth" (especially with the excellent light show for the second song) was a great start to the show. They alternate "Bottoms Up" and "Never Again" for the third song, the only difference in the show when they play two nights in a row in the same place.  Apart from that, the rock songs were "Animals," "Figured You Out" and "Burn It to the Ground."  That's five songs out of eighteen, the rest being ballads.  I personally think that Nickelback are very similar to Def Leppard, except the rock songs rock harder, and some of the ballads are actually really good.  However, while I note that most of the audience was middle aged women and bored looking men, I did feel that the lack of pyro and other effects really showed me why some people don't like these guys much.  They have a killer set of rock songs with a few ballads that they could easily put together, but because they play so many ballads live, without any pyro, the show lost momentum quickly and was quite boring in places.  I certainly felt bad that I'd told my son his first ever rock show would have lots of explosions and there was not one, not even at the end of the last song.  I still enjoyed it, and I really like some of the slower songs they did ("Gotta Be Somebody, "When We Stand Together," "Lullaby"), but some more rock would certainly have made it a lot better than it was, or failing that, a bit of pyro would have lifted the proceedings. 

The next day, because we had concert shirts on, we met a lot of people who told us how awesome they thought it was, so I suspect that their perspective was very different to mine (my having seen how much better it could have been), and so long as the local fans don't know any better, I guess there's no reason for them to change it, but I would love it if next time Australia got something a bit closer to the show I saw in the US.
 

Comments

[Rita]

Christian,

I hope you have a thick skin because I sense another hammering coming.

As a Canadian, I think Nickelback deserves more credit. Some of their songs are great (ie. Animals, Follow You Home, etc). A lot of them, I don't know. I don't think I would go to one of their shows because I just don't like them enough.

However,it's pretty much a fact that Nickelback is hated by a lot of Americans, who will be reading this.

So, Good Luck!

[Shawn]

My daughter is a big fan and I got to take her this year and for what its worth they put on a good show. I actually like some of their songs and the pyro and lights do rival the good shows of the 80's. They did a spot where they lowered themselves from the ceiling in a small round stage that was cool...but...

Bush opened here and I actually liked them better.. Gavin Rosdale put on a workout both musically and physically that was awesome. He ran the arena singing come together climbing up into the cheap seats to interact with fans which really showed his commitment to the fans.

Good Review I hope your kids enjoyed it as much as mine did.

[Bryon]

Nickelback is a good rock n' roll band that writes really catchy songs. Musically, they are in the same category as bands like Hinder, Pop Evil, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman, etc., and none of those bands get hated on anywhere close to the level that Nickelback does.

I think most of the hate directed towards them is a result of Kroeger's lyrics, which are usually juvenile & often misogynistic. His

I saw them a couple of years ago on their tour and it was everything you'd want out of a big rock show: big arena anthems, over-the-top stage show, and lots of crowd participation.

[GNR]

There's a reason Nickelback has worldwide tours, plays arenas, sells albums, etc... etc.. *gasp* they are actually a really good band.

They have stinker songs just like every other band you can name. I absolutely abhor most of their ballads because of how good their ROCK songs are. As for the haters ? That's ok, I don't mind almost feeling punk to like something that isn't popular.

[Christian]

Funny, I was expecting more negative comments. I don't get it, I do think that they have too many ballads, but there's nothing you could say about them that's negative, from a rock context, that you could not say about Poison or Def Leppard. Shawn, that's the show I saw in Houston, and hoped they would bring to Australia. It was still a good show, though.

[Jeff]

Oh dear....MB still hasn't weighed in. Not going to be good I feel, lol. (UNROCK...GENROCK....etc.)

[fletch]

christian, jeff et. el.: If I can give you one piece of advice, it would be this...Don't let MB "get" to you. I respect MB immensely, but she pisses me off royally sometimes, too. Stay true, stay positive and stay focussed to what you believe in, because, most likely, it's what MB believes in, too. trust me

[Velonese]

This is only band that if they come on the radio at work or in my car I change the station immediately. I tried but can find nothing I like about Nickelback. To me it's bottom of the barrel, generic music. Every song sounds the same to my ears. But as I always say they are doing something right with all the fans they have. They just don't connect with me at all.

[Metalboy!]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

How many BORING Reviews about the same BORING bands by Christian do I have to keep reading?

But, as I said before, they've got one good song AND it is an absolute killer!

"ANIMALS"

p.s. Fletch, I do not appreciate the intentional typo regarding gender. "Instant Karma's gonna get you. Gonna knock you off your feet..."

[Metalboy!]

Also, Christian... Anytime you want to comment on other's Posts besides your own, it sure would be nice to hear what you have to say. When is the last time we read a comment from you on another's post, anyway? 2 years ago?

[Christian]

I always feel a duty to comment on my own posts, because replies will be addressed to me. Otherwise, I often don't have much to say. But, no-one is forcing you to read any thing :-)

Animals is indeed a great song. I don't see how it's fundamentally different from say 'something in your mouth', in terms of the style of music or quality of execution though.

[Metalboy!]

I will check out "Something In Your Mouth". Honestly, I hope it's not similar. I like variety.

Who said anything about being "forced" to read anything? I enjoy all posts and comments, bad or good, wrong or right. Too bad you don't feel compelled to comment on any posts other than your own. Maybe you just view it as beneath you, but I appeal to your better angels, PLEASE grace us with your opinions.

This site needs your participation in The Great Metal Debate.

Thanks for reading AND commenting!

[Christian]

It's definitely not 'beneath' me. It's more that my life is super busy, and I feel an extra 'push' to make the time when I've posted.

[Metalboy!]

Hmmmm...

[fletch]

Dude...seriously?