The verdict is in: Houston really likes Nickelback.
Love them or hate them, Canada’s biggest rock export's RodeoHouston debut proved why they sell out arenas and amphitheaters around the world, playing to a huge audience of 75,036 on Wednesday, March 13. That's the second-largest crowd of the season, only behind Tejano act Los Tigres Del Norte, and edging out fellow Canuck rapper, Drake, who made an appearance at Bun B’s All-American Takeover last night.
The pride of Hanna, Alberta, Nickelback – Chad Kroeger (lead vocalist and guitarist), Ryan Peake (rhythm guitar, vocals, keyboards), Mike Kroeger (bass), and Daniel Adair (drums) – has sold over 50 million albums since forming in 1995. For those who claim to have never met a soul that bought a copy of one of their records, well, the appreciative crowd tonight served as proof that these people really do exist.
In fact, Nickelback can claim seven Top 10 albums, numerous charting singles, including an impressive No. 1 Billboard Top 100 song with the inescapable “How You Remind Me.” It’s a run that has made them the most successful Canadian rock band ever.
Still, the quartet has been one of the most critically maligned bands over the last 25 years, accused of being fiercely uncool. But they’ve found a massive audience in the U.S. and beyond, where they've dominated mainstream radio.
That said, their high-energy live show has forced even the toughest critics to relent a bit, which made Nickelback the perfect RodeoHouston headliner. While Tuesday night was for hip-hop fans, thousands of rock fans — and a lot of country fans — found their way to NRG Stadium.
Not coincidentally, Nickelback's brand of guitar-driven music played between rodeo events before the concert. There’s lyrical overlap with country music too, the band leaning heavily towards songs about partying with the bros, picking up babes, fast cars, and rocking out. What else do you need?
Starting the 60-minute, 11-song set with “San Quentin,” the lead single from 2023’s Get Rollin’ was the perfect opener – hard-hitting with a strong guitar solo, thumping bass, and pounding kick drum. Metallica’s later material came to mind (albeit in a slightly watered-down form).
“It’s our first time here, and I can promise you this,” Chad Kroeger told the crowd, mustering up his best dad joke energy. “This is not our first rodeo.”
“Savin’ Me” was next up, one of the huge singles from All the Right Reasons, the monster 2005 album that sold 18 million copies. It was the first of many crowd singalongs of the night. No one seemed to notice or care about a flubbed guitar solo before ending with a piano riff. But Chad did.
“That’s how you can tell we’re playing,” Kroeger said. “Did you hear that sticky note at the end of the solo? We’re live, baby!”
In fact, Kroeger had lots of jokes between songs, keeping things light with banter between his bandmates and himself. They touched on mutton bustin’, bullriding, the closed caption system, betting on the Houston Rockets, and more.
“I want to get close to you and walk down the points of the star,” Kroeger said, alluding to the design of the Rodeo's unique rotating platform. “But if I get too far, I turn around and the stage is gone!”
A slower number from All the Right Reasons, “Far Away,” brought out the cellphone flashlights and the second singalong in a row. It was also the first moment that felt like a traditional rodeo show, the song sounding like a close cousin to any other country ballad performed over the course of the concert season.
“Animals,” the third straight song from All the Right Reasons, took the energy up a notch with extra spotlights and a pyro display. It was one of the strongest performances of the night.
An impressive drum solo from Daniel Adair set up No. 2 hit “Someday,” from 2003’s The Long Road. The song lent itself to the rodeo setting, hints of acoustic guitar veering towards the sounds of Nickelback’s rural beginnings.
Kroeger set up the next song by mentioning the largely uncensored 50 Cent show earlier in the RodeoHouston season and comments made by Jelly Roll’s wife during the Nashville performer’s show last week, noting that he had to take certain precautions with some of the lyrical content of his songs. No surprise that the somewhat misogynistic “Figured You Out" followed.The Long Road single’s subject matter centered on a pliable girlfriend with a recreational drug habit.
“I like your pants around your feet/I like the dirt that’s on your knees," it went. Thankfully, the cringey lyrics were balanced by a layered guitar freak-out.
A change of pace, “This Afternoon” from 2008’s Dark Horse featured an upbeat pop melody and harmonized chorus straight from the Bon Jovi playbook.
“Photograph,” yet another huge hit from All the Right Reasons, brought out the acoustic guitars. The memed-to-oblivion tune had thousands of fans swaying together in the stands, holding cellphone lights aloft. It was one of the best performances of the evening, Kroeger and rhythm guitarist Ryan Peake’s voices intertwining nicely.
“Man, it really sounds great when you sing along,” Kroeger said, before pointing out a group of shirtless dudes in the crowd losing their minds.
All the Right Reasons hit “Rockstar,” was another country-adjacent song only missing a slide guitar to making it a strong contender for a CMT Award. Inescapable breakthrough No. 1 hit “How You Remind Me” from 2001’s Silver Side Up, continued the mass singalong, Kroeger’s voice hitting a sweet spot.
“Burn It to the Ground” from 2008’s Dark Horse ended the show much like it started. The guitar-fueled banger had pyro ripping through the dusty air, much to the audience’s enthusiastic delight.
Chad Kroeger may have never made it as a wise man, but he and his band did a killer job getting the sold-out RodeoHouston crowd rocking on a Wednesday night, earning hard-won respect from even the most closed-minded music fans in the stands.
Setlist
San Quentin
Savin’ Me
Far Away
Animals
Someday
Figured You Out
This Afternoon
Photograph
Rockstar
How You Remind Me
Burn It to the Ground
Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Nickelback drew this year's second-largest crowd.
