Love em or hate em, Nickelback are undoubtedly one of the most popular bands in the world today and yes, also one of the most despised.
Last Thursday night however, they proved they had plenty of fans in Brisbane as they packed out the Entertainment Centre for what was a damn good display of rock. With local Aussie rockers Jackson Firebird supporting, the crowd were in for a big, loud night of music.
As the Mildura duo of Jackson Firebird took to the stage, the masses were hit with a wall of heavy riffs and thumping drum beats. For just two guys they sure did create a big sound that just filled up the entire room and shook the very seats people were sitting in.
Armed with nothing more than a heavily distorted guitar and one energetic, hard hitting drummer, the band offered up a set somewhat reminiscent of the likes of DZ Deathrays.
Singing songs dedicated to the prime minister and getting the crowd to yell ‘go motherfucker’, the support band ripped through their set filled with guitar solos to deliver a rocking set that saw the drummer leave his kit for the last song to bang away on what looked like some aluminium lids.
As the fans poured in during the break between bands they were treated to the likes of AC/DC, Metallica, Guns And Roses and Van Halen being played over the loud speakers.
Time goes by and eventually Pantera’s ‘Walk’ gets cranked, the lights fade, and Nickelback finally take to the stage 25 minutes late. The opening number of “This Means War” gives the crowd a heavy start and gets them moving quickly.
The trend continues through the next few songs including “Something In Your Mouth” and “Bottoms Up”, the latter of which sees Chad Kroeger give his first of many speeches about their love of drinking. The Canadian quartet move into some of their ballads the likes of “Photograph” and “Far Away”, both of which keeps the audience grinning.
“Too Bad” and “Animals” keep the set flowing before Kroeger succumbs to desires of an ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’ chant. Claiming that you can never get tired of that, the frontman then leads the band into “Trying Not To Love You”, “Rockstar”and, the band all agreeing they were “pretty stoned” when they wrote it; “Someday”.
Keeping the Nickelback touring traditions coming, the band gets their t-shirt canons firing into the crowd whilst they throw beer out to some lucky attendees. Some soft keys start “Lullaby” before Kroeger has to stop the show due to a strange sound coming from the drums… but the issue is soon resolved and one shot later, the quartet launch into “This Afternoon”.
“When We Stand Together” finishes on a thumping drum solo as “Figured You Out” and “How You Remind Me” close out the set.
Returning to the stage for a two song encore, the band consume a few more shots before leaving the punters with “Gotta Be Somebody” and their heaviest song in the set “Burn It To The Ground” which leaves the fans on a sweaty high from what has been a straight up rock n roll show.
