Photo Credit: Alex Brown
NICKELBACK are one of those bands everybody knows and whether they deny it
or not, when their music comes on they sing along. They may be the band who
are loved to be hated. They may be a band who get meme’d. But they are in
every sense, one of the most fascinating to watch live rock and roll bands still
touring.
The LOTTERY WINNERS opened the night up in typical Lottery Winners fashion,
Thom joking about being super famous and one of my favourite opening songs
for any band ‘Worry’ off their number 1 album ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’
As someone who has seen the band many times before, I was nervous for how
Nickelback fans would take to them, but there was definitely no need to as they
went down an absolute storm.
It was a great reception for the local band from Leigh. I can’t even begin to
imagine how incredible it must have felt for them to perform on the AO stage
for the second time in just a few months.
Before NICKELBACK hit the stage a small trailer played on the screen for their
documentary ‘Hate to Love’ which got fans excited as the arena echoed with
cheers and sing-a-longs.
It wasn’t long after that the band appeared on stage to start things off with ‘San
Quentin’. The room was packed with energy and the band were ready to put on one hell
of a show. As the night went on, we had the likes of ‘Animals’, ‘When We Stand Together’
and ‘Where Do I Hide’ (Which I was not expecting to hear looking at a previous
setlist. All this was nothing in comparison to what was still to come.
Through the set, we got to see Chad just being Chad, laughing and joking with
his band mates. Joking and talking with the crowd and just being his charming
self. Being very self aware that he has spent many years being a meme. Despite
the hate they receive online NICKELBACK are such a great live band who know
how to keep a crowd in the palm of their hands.
It wouldn’t be a Manchester show without a sing-a-long of an Oasis song. Chad
brought out Thom, Katie and Rob from LOTTERY WINNERS, to perform ‘Don’t
Look Back in Anger’ which Thom dedicated to the 22 bees and the crowd just
erupted into song. Everyone on the stage had huge smiles on their faces and it
was just a touch of class and beauty from all.
From this point on it was high energy and hit after hit. ‘Photograph’, ‘Rockstar’ (Which Chad brought a fan on stage who was his absolute double from back in the early 2000s) and ‘How You Remind Me’ were sat at the back end of the packed setlist. Each sounding even better live than
they do on recording. The band still bursting with energy and fans, standing
and seated all matching the same energy.
The band finished the night off with heavy hitter ‘Burn it to the Ground’ which
for someone who has been a big wrestling fan the majority of his life, got me
very excited.
I will be the first to admit, I did not know what to expect from a NICKELBACK
show. But I already know, the next time they hit the UK I will definitely be buying
myself a ticket to enjoy it again. They are so seasoned in the art of having a
fanbase in the palm of their hands.
Taped Magazine 