Call 'em naff or 'dad rock', there's no denying Nickelback have sold shitloads of records worldwide and they're loving it.  Usually filling out stadiums and arenas here and state-side, tonight's a rare opportunity to capture their live show in the company of a few thousand.

No corners are cut with an entrance that's both deafening and blinding by the scorching pyrotechnics - something of a Nickelback trademark.  The heat from the flames being fired by the cylinders are so intense - it can only be assumed Nik Vikedal, the drummer, who's directly behind, is kitted out in fire-proof clothes.  

Opening with the raucous 'Flat On The Floor', palpitations kick in with the rapid strobe-lighting and loud explosions.  Chad Kroeger, who made a safe bet by chopping off his long locks, proudly strides to the front and lets rip that roar.  That roar that has every critic who has it in for him to run for cover.  And the NME.  Plus Kerrang!.  Jealousy is an ugly thing, you know.

Slowing down the pace, 'Someday', which should replace 'How You Remind Me' as the encore, brings light relief to those checking the loud pyrotechnics haven't blasted their ear-drums.  It is only brief before the Canadians step up the acceleration on 'Because Of You' and ''Woke Up This Morning' - more vengeance and bitterness from the mouth of Chad Kroeger.

It's not unusual to hear so much anger grounded into their songs.  After all, it's something else Nickelback are famed for but it's also not unusual to see Kroeger foot-loose and fancy free by how frequently he talks to the audience.

Making a reference to The Darkness who played two nights at the Academy just before them, Chad briefly reminisces about meeting Justin Hawkins in L.A before giving a quick burst of 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love' in a grungey falsetto.  The man's got great taste and a sense of humour.  Pointing out he has "no ass" doesn't preclude gangs of screaming women vying for his attention.

"For some strange reason, when I sing the first line of this song, all the women go crazy," laughs Chad.  As if on command, it happens right after the first line of 'Figured You Out' - "I like your pants around your feet".  So radio stations refuse to play this song because it's "too dirty"?  How about the lyrics are "too embarrassing"?

"Take me!  Take me!", he mimicks the words of one girl who barely looks 17.  "Where were YOU when I was in high school, huh?", he grunts.  Now, that's funny, not to mention the enormous bra Chad holds out and at one point, appears to try it on.

'Hero' is introduced with a sound excerpt of Peter Parker speaking as Spiderman, before the lights come up to show Chad with Ryan Peake and Mike Kroeger sitting either side with their acoustic guitars.  Showing their sensitive side, the ballad loses none of its glory, remaining faithful to the last strum.  'Should Have Listened' follows suit before the stools are shifted and the energy is revived for favourites 'Never Again' and 'Too Bad'.

As always, they are in a generous mood - throwing out whole bottles of water into the crowd before wheeling out hundreds of cups of beer (after Chad makes them yell "Chad has a big cock!"), which they expertly hurl into the pit.  Ryan ensures he gets first prize for getting one up into the balcony. Unfortunately, Chad's plans to get him to strip off are firmly ignored by the dark-haired guitarist.

'How You Remind Me', as expected, seals the night but it should have been reserved half way down the set-list.  Not only is it over two years old, it's been played so many times it's predictable.  Judging by how much they've shown off tonight, it's not as if they are short of any choices for an encore.

For what they have achieved, Nickelback are relentlessly written off yet they keep clambering back, unscathed and the record sales prove it.  "Never made it as a poor man"?  Time Kroeger re-wrote that line.
(4/5)

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Photos: Afsheen Shaikh