Gigraphy Review - Nickelback, AO Arena Manchester, 20/05/24

Do Nickelback really need any introduction? One of the most well-known rock acts on the planet took their latest tour to Manchester on Monday, and we were fortunate enough to be in attendance. The subject of much debate over the years, this show proved it's time we finally put the criticism to rest and accepting that Nickelback are worthy of their popularity and praise. With support from The Lottery Winners to round out the amazing event, it was certainly not one to be missed.

In case you didn't get a chance to be in the audience, then here's Nic's coverage of what went down:

The Lottery Winners

Hometown heroes The Lottery Winners, consisting of Tom on vocals, Rob on guitar, Joe on drums, and Kate on bass, delivered an energetic and humorous set. They opened with "Worry," immediately captivating the crowd. Tom made a point of walking out on stage twice. On the second attempt he asked the crowd to specifically lose their minds to make the moment special. Their performance was peppered with jokes and frequent references to the band Queen, including aping Freddie's "Ayo" routine, in the AO Arena no less.

Following up with "Letter to Myself" and "Much Better," the band showcased their musical versatility. Tom kept the audience engaged between songs with charm and chatter, sharing banter and heartfelt snippets of their makeup as a band. The band’s enthusiasm never waned. They continued with heartfelt renditions of "You're Not Alone" and "Start Again," demonstrating their emotional range. Proudly mentioning their No. 1 album, they closed with a powerful performance of "Burning House," leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Their lively presence and personable interaction made for a memorable opening act.

 

Nickelback

When it came time for the headliner to Get Rollin’ (pun intended), the lights went down. The screen at the back of the stage showed the four members of Nickelback on wanted posters declaring "Wanted: Dead or Alive." Short CGI clips followed of the Rollin’ minivan blitzing through cities and time itself, a la Back to the Future. The band knows a thing or two about making towns and making history, and they want that to be their legacy. The quartet arrived on stage, launching straight into "San Quentin.  This was a shot of energy into the crowd as Kroeger screams "how you doing? to Manchester during the climax. This is the track that had arguably revived massive interest in Nickelback. Guitar tech Rob Dawson joins the band for "Savin' Me," kept the energy high. They carry on with material from All The Right Reason with ‘Far Away’ & ‘Animals’ performed as the 4 piece we’ve loved for some 20 years.

Ryan Peake took centre stage on vocals for "Worthy to Say'. THis was a crowd pleasing track for fans of they themselves call what they themselves called “old old Nickelback”. There's a humorous moment when a fan screamed, “We love Ryan,” and Chad laughed at the enthusiasm, before also professing his love for his bandmate. Throughout the night, iconic stage runner Brad appeared to provide drinks, despite Chad’s unsuccessful request for a full bottle of booze. The band’s crowd interaction was a highlight, responding to signs and engaging fans. Though "Something in Your Mouth" was requested, they performed "Figured You Out" instead, complete with t-shirt cannons for memorable souvenirs. (Anyone wanting to part with one may send an ebay link to @gigraphyuk on Instagram)

Nickelback gave a heartfelt shoutout to the Obaki Foundation before "When We Stand Together," featuring footage of the charity’s impact, which Peake’s wife works for on location. They deviated from their usual setlist with "Where Do I Hide" from Silver Side Up. On previous setlists the band has been seen playing ‘Hangnail’ here. Instead fans have a like for like swap of tracks off the iconic album. Chad’s singalong efforts were met with enthusiasm during "This Afternoon," ending with him screaming “Drinks are on me!”

A standout moment was the cover of Oasis’s "Don’t Look Back in Anger," performed with support act The Lottery Winners, dedicated to the 22 Manchester victims. The track gets a predictable and raucous response from the Manc crowd, and the sight of Tom from Lottery Winners, arm in arm with Chad and Ryan at different points, is the type of international connection the rock world needs a little more of

Back to acoustics, Chad humorously asked the audience to imagine camping and taking mushrooms (for legal reasons, we’ll assume he’s joking). The group yo-yo between funny and heartfelt a few times in this set, but always authentic. Kroeger dons an acoustic guitar while referencing the meme culture the band got swept up in, jokingly singing “Look at this graaaaaph” before starting the real version of ‘Photograph’ with Peake also on acoustic, and then the full band for the final chorus. A memorable moment follows almost immediately after, when the band picks out a 2000’s Chad lookalike from the crowd. The fan, John, joined the band on stage. Despite his shot voice, he and Chad belted out an impressive version of "Rockstar," with John looking adorably overwhelmed.

Mike Kroeger made a topical reference to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour before the band performs 'Those Days'. This featured nostalgic production on the large screen on stage showing CRT TV’s that were themselves displaying classic media from Dirty Dancing, to He-Man, to the Breakfast Club. The almighty “whoa” from Chad and the crowd ringing out as Judd Nelson throws his arm up in the air in the screen. The main set concluded with the massive singalong "How You Remind Me. Chad screams “We are Nickelback", as all three members up front of the stage launch guitar picks into the crowd, before the band exited the stage and the lights dimmed.

For the encore, Peake & the Kroeger brothers appear on the staging behind the drum rise. The band starts with "Gotta Be Somebody" - initially this was a surprising track to see on the encore, though the crowd response soon dispelled that doubt. Final track of the night was a powerful rendition of "Burn It to the Ground," leaving the audience in high spirits and concluding an unforgettable night. The way the band wails the roof off the AO Arena is a moment that will live long in the memories of many.

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