June 3, 2010 - GM Place, Vancouver
Unfortunately Breaking Benjamin did not make the concert. Small signs announced their absence at the entrance doors and a refund was available if you just turned in your tickets without entering the venue. A disappointment to be sure, but I don’t know how many people bought tickets just to see the band.
Nickleback: An iconic Vancouver band with a ‘bad boy’ reputation and bar-band rock roots. I like the band, I’m more of a fan of the older material. The classic 3 guitar/1 drummer configuration places them strongly in the ‘power-guitar’ league and they certainly can live up to that genre. I’m a big fan of their tight harmony, crisp guitar work and straight forward urban flavour.
Much to my disappointment, all of this tight structure and great tuneful guitar work was lost last night in the deafening roar of a sound system which I’m sure you could have heard equally well if it had been placed on the moon. Fighter jets would have been lost in the wall; no, avalanche of sound emanating from the stage. You could have used this sound system to test for seismic faults.
The band was certainly in fine form and happy to be on the last gig for the ’round the world tour. Lead singer, Chad Kroeger seemed to feel the simple word “Van-cou-ver” would somehow turn the crowd into screaming throngs of buxom ladies to welcome them home. And the crowd ‘cam’ operators certainly had their pick of lovely ladies to post onto the giant screens attached to the stage. I suppose I’m getting older, but there seemed to be a lot of fine Vancouver women at the concerts … along with their various significant others. Too bad Chad, but I’m sure there were plenty of single young gals there too willing to welcome the band home.
As for the on-stage bouts of doing shots after every song, I’m not impressed. I can see a drinking contest any day of the week. Guys.. time to mellow out a bit. Even the mocked Stephen Tyler has realized that performance and stage presence trump the ability to play while wasted on stage. Good to hear Chad humorously noted that he “was going to get drunk” and “no, I won’t be driving” but hey, I just came for the music.
Speaking of listen to the music, besides the overwhelming sound system which beat your ears to submission until you couldn’t hear even the most gross chords, the audience themselves seemed focused on smoking up in order to get the “full effect” of the concert. I’ve not been surrounded by so many pot smoking fans in my life. Despite the hundreds of eager young faces dressed in security outfits, I don’t think they managed to notice the blatant use of ‘prohibited substances’ all night long. Unfortunately, they were all too willing to let you know you couldn’t smoke a cigarette anywhere on the premises.
To wrap-up… I may buy some more albums, listen to the band and enjoy, but I won’t be back for a concert unless they play a much smaller venue where the band might be tempted to rely upon their unique sound and musical ability rather than the sheer weight of noise to impress the audience.
