Nickelback play explosive show in Grand Rapids

5-21-10 Originally published on Examiner.com by Tracy Heck

Nickelback started their Wednesday night show in Grand Rapids at the Van Andel Arena with a bang...literally!  Their set began with a loud explosion that had everyone running to their seats and sitting up to take notice.

c: Tracy Heck

The show began with solid performances by Sick Puppies and Shinedown.
Their sets were followed by alternative rock band Breaking Benjamin, who are known for their strong songs and lyrics.
The band performed some new songs off of their current album Dear Agony including their latest single, "Give Me A Sign" as well as older material like "Breath" and "Diary of Jane".
All of the bands went over well with the crowd, but it was Nickelback that had a crowd of over 11,000 packing into the arena for the sold out show and they did not disappoint.
The band brought along the latest in lights and pyrotechnics and included a moving and turning drum riser as well as stage risers.
For part of the show, the band moved down to the front of the stage to perform out in the crowd.
The sit down performance included the band passing out free drinks and urging the crowd to sing along to covers of Garth Brook's "I've Got Friends (In Low Places)" and Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".
Nickelback opened their set with the loud/hard rocking "Burn It To the Ground" and they never let up pulling out one hit after another from "Photograph" to "Hollywood" to "Gotta Be Somebody" to "Savin' Me".
Front man Chad Kroeger spent the entire night joking with the rest of the band and the crowd.  It was great to see a front man truly enjoying himself up on stage.
Set highlights included a sped up version of "Animal" and classic "How You Remind Me" and their final song "Figured Me Out", which featured a final blowout pyro show complete with fire, smoke and fireworks.
However, it was the heavy alternative strains of "Hollywood" that really stood out and proved that Nickelback have a much wider range than they are given credit for.
Nickelback's set was comprised of everything that one could want in a rock show.