Nickelback performing their 2016 European Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Wednesday 12th October 2016


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

For some inexplicable reason Canadian rockers Nickelback are not universally popular. Rumour has it that some 55,000 American football fans once signed a petition to stop them playing at half time and a dating website once voted their music number one “musical turnoff”. Yet despite this, the band have still managed to sell fifty million albums and play to packed arenas around the world, and last night it was the turn of Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.

Setting the tempo were fellow Canadian southern rock band, Monster Truck, who made a huge impact. With songs from their debut album, Furiosity and their recently released Sittin’ Heavy, their bluesy riffs, catchy melodies and upbeat tunes made for a great, albeit very noisy, start to the evening.

The crowd erupted as the lights went out, and front man Chad Kroeger launched into opener Edge Of A Revolution. Following up with the risky Something In Your Mouth much to the delight of the crowd, before Nickelback entertained with a blistering performance of Animals.

With songs from most of their eight studio albums, it was Too Bad that had the crowd on the floor jumping in time to the chorus. Guitarist Ryan Peake and bass player, Mike Kroegar made Photograph sound weirdly like fellow Canadian Bryan Adams’ Summer of ’69, whilst When We Stand Together and Lullaby kept the crowd singing.

With the sound spot on, and with the band showing just how much fun they have performing on stage with their between song banter, it was hard not to like them. Sounding at times like a cross between Pearl Jam and Bon Jovi, they delivered hit after hit. Someday was followed by What Are You Waiting For? with Nero and a cover of Don Henley’s Dirty Laundry smacked right in the middle.

There was a mass sing along to Nickelback’s anthem, Rockstar, and follow up Gotta Be Somebody, before they closed their set with their most successful hit to date, How You Remind Me.

Returning for a two set encore, Peake promoted himself to lead vocals for a surprising cover of the Foo Fighters legendary track, Everlong, before they finished with an incredible showing of Burn It To The Ground.

Nickelback have proved time and time again that they are experts at putting on a top quality rock show and last night further hammered that point home. On this showing those American football fans missed a real treat.