Dark Horse rides into H-Town
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion became a jamming powerhouse Saturday when . Nickelback and Papa Roach took the stage.
Saturday’s performance concluded the U.S. Dark Horse Tour, which included Hinder and Saving Abel. This also manifested the long anticipated return of high-energy band Papa Roach to Houston.
Papa Roach stole the show, and the concert wouldn’t have been worth attending without their presence. The band showed the crowd no mercy as vocalist Jacoby Shaddix climbed off the stage to rock out with the audience.
Collaboration was a theme of the night. Saving Abel and Hinder fused their opening acts into a dual-jam session. Austin Winkler from Hinder, Chad Kroeger from Nickelback and Shaddix united on stage to rock out to AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”
The musicians’ hardcore image was softened as they casted their egos aside and patted each other on the back.
Pyrotechnics and explosive fireworks provided a noisy entrance and exit for Nickelback’s performance. A set full of pipes along the stage heated and elevated for the drummer, Daniel Adair.
Nickelback’s setlist was emotional for audience members, from their nostalgic performance of “Photograph” to their first single “How you Remind Me.” Pictures of some of Houston’s memorable trademarks, such as the Houston Texans and Astros, appealed to Houstonians in the crowd. “Everything is big in Texas,” Nickelback’s Chad Kroger said.
However, Chad’s relaxed style and comedy made it seem as if the show would never end. Chad ordered drinks for the VIP guests and the crew played target practice with canon shooters, giving trinket items to audience members.
Houston enjoyed the big, live party on the lawn that wrapped up Nickelback’s tour. It’s now all a part of the history of the multi-platinum album-selling powerhouse.
