I have been covering music in Houston for over a decade and try, try as I might to define your listening habits there are a few bands who continually get a more-boisterous-than-expected reaction in this market for reasons that I can not explain.

Nickelback is one of these bands. Houstonians eat this rockin' north-of-the-border import up like starving rottweilers invading a bacon factory.

I don't mean this as a slight to Nickelback. After working the road for six albums over the last 14 years, Canada's equivalent of Papa Roach/Sevendust/ Soulfly/Creed (take your pick) has more than earned its bones. The band has sold over 20 million albums since breakout single "How You Remind Me" took over rock radio in 2001 and has been as popular as iPhone apps through the release of their most recent studio album, 2008's Dark Horse.

In fact, in an age of album dissolution and digital one-song-at-a-time marketing, Nickelback has released eight singles from Dark Horse since its release — highlighted by "Something In Your Mouth" and "Burn It To The Ground" — and sold five million copies internationally in the process. Few have been this successful with this type of singles assault since a mid-1980s Bruce Springsteen with Born In The U.S.A or Prince with Purple Rain.

To paraphrase Minnesota's most prolific musician, Nickelback is partying like it's 1984. They are anthem-producing arena rockers for a new millennium. Journey 2.0 if you will.

And, regardless of whether Dark Horse has been left to wilt on the vine for two years, I have no doubt that Houstonians will turn up at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Friday night as if it were brand new and cheer Nickelback as if they were the Rolling Stones.

Nothing wrong with that. It's just a bit of a head scratcher.

Nickelback (with Three Days Grace & Buckcherry)

6:15 p.m. Friday at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Tickets: $35-$99.50