Nickelback impressive on Here and Now Tour

Love’em or hate’em — Nickelback is the biggest band in North America. The boys from Canada had the Toyota Center sold out, and them some, for the “Here and Now Tour” on June 2 in Houston.

With seven successful albums from Roadrunner Records on their resume (latest coming in 2011 with Here and Now), their 15-song set list failed to disappoint and their stage show was second to none. From plenty of pyro, LED screens, and a freaking rotating stage on the opposite end of the Toyota Center that hovered above the crowd — it was nothing short of spectacular.

Lead singer Chad Kroeger had fun with the crowd all night long and even invited a handful of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders on stage to help toss beers into the crowd. I’ve seen Nickelback several times, but this by far was their best showing.

If Nickelback didn’t wet your appetite, a little band called BUSH provided direct support. Frontman Gavin Rossdale played a show to remember and took to the crowd during “Come Together,” which of course was made famous by The Beatles. Rossdale even went to the upper tier of the arena. He’s still a rockstar in my book.

Seether was the second band to take the stage and Houston knows this this threesome very well. I think they may have adopted the city as their second home, which is fine by me. Despite having no gimmicks, Seether could have easily headlined a tour this size but instead joined up on the biggest rock show of the summer.

They may be lacking in massive stage show, but they make up for it with their music. Singer Shaun Morgan is a master vocalist and John Humphrey has been one of my favorite drummers since seeing him back in the day with The Nixons.

Opening was My Darkest Days, who are also from Canada and are signed to Kroeger’s 604 Records. They only played four songs and didn’t have much of the stage to work with, but they still managed to throw out tons of condoms. Yep. Condoms.

One hell of a rock show.

Click here to view photo gallery from David Block.

Set List – Nickelback

This Means War

Something in Your Mouth

Never Again

Photograph

Far Away

Bottoms Up

Animal

Rockstar

Someday

Lullaby

When We Stand Together

How You Remind Me

Burn It to the Ground

Gotta Be Somebody

Figured You Out

Set list – BUSH

Machinehead

All My Life

The Sound of Winter

Everything Zen

Come Together

Afterlife

Glycerine

Comedown

Set List – Seether

Gasoline

Fine Again

Broken

Tonight

Country Song

Rise Above This

Fake It

Remedy