Nickelback at the O2 – Here and Now tour

Nickelback have finally returned to the UK as part of their world tour, including dates at Wembley and the O2 arena North Greenwich. The Here and Now tour moves on to other venues throughout the UK, and on to Russia and eventually Australia later in the year. The O2 arena was packed to the rafters with excited and clearly devoted fans, a far cry from some of the abrasive crowds the band has faced in the past (most notably a Portugal concert where objects were thrown from the crowd).

Daughtry opened the show – the perfect support band choice. Their musical and performance style was a perfect fit with the crowd, and the songs punched out one after another with precision and power. With many of the crowd huge fans of both bands, the energy in the room was electric! Opening with Renegade, lead singer Chris Daughtry got the crowd going, with perfectly pitched vocals and an infectious energy. Even up in the back rows of the highest tiers, people were singing along. This was partly made possible, it should be mentioned, by the O2’s superior sound and screening system, which allows for an amazing concert experience wherever your seat is. Playing a variety of songs from their albums, Daughtry really set the crowd up for what promised to be an incredible night of rock.

Nickelback opened with This Means War, a stomping tune that got the crowd jumping down in the standing area, and out of their seats. Something In Your Mouth was also a clear crowd-pleaser. The set comprised of a range of songs from the Here and Now album, along with old hit singles (such as How You Remind Me) and odd fan favourites. The gaps between songs were filled with an array of crowd-pleasing chants and talk of rock’n’ roll and alcohol. Chris Daughtry joined the band on stage for the second verse of the band’s famous Rockstar, much to the audience’s surprise and enjoyment.

It must be said that the sound quality at this venue was truly outstanding, with the drums expertly mixed, the bass thumping out just the right amount, and the guitar solos clear but not too overpowering. The performance standard was truly amazing, with Chad Kroeger producing flawless vocals and all other members of the band producing an impeccable performance. Drummer Daniel Adair’s drum solo during When We Stand Together was as stunning as ever, getting the crowd worked up for another round of songs.

The encore truly brought out the energy of the crowd, with a spectacular laser show accompanying Gotta Be Somebody, followed by Burn It To The Ground (the video for which was filmed in the O2). All in all, the perfect rock and roll evening. Two bands that complemented each other perfectly and good old-fashioned musicianship made this gig a roaring success. It just shows that there is still a place for American hard rock in today’s music scene, and that Nickelback still have a huge loyal following.

Helen Whitcher

For further information and future gigs visit the band’s website here.

Watch the video for Lullaby here: