nickelBack

Nickelback
The State
EMI Music

Nickelback, the hard rocking, energetic and lively band from Vancouver have emerged from virtual obscurity to stardom in Western Canada. Not only are they outselling Canadian pop star Alanis Morrissette, but their new release, The State, is the top selling indie album in Vancouver.

Their unique style derives from an array of alternative influences which include Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden. Their musical cohesiveness, boldness and smooth timing are all assets which contribute to this band's exceptional sound.

The State's first single, "Leader Of Men," is a musical gem wrapped in edgy hard rock with a fine hint of clever bluesy flavour.

Lead singer Chad Kroeger possesses a voice similar to that of deceased rock legend Kurt Cobain. His raspy vocal entourage creates the backbone for Nickelback, which is most evident on the first track, "Breathe."

Kroeger's vocals, along with the simplistic, yet creative riffs of lead guitarist Ryan Peake, account for the character and appeal of the album. It seems the bass and drums are just there for background, not exceptional in any way, but providing an essential platform for Kroeger and Peake to build upon.

Most of the songs offer imaginative, distorted riffs and impressive vocals. "Cowboy Hat" exemplifies the band's ability to compose variations of tempo and genres of music. It opens with clean rhythm and blues, then follows up with crunching guitar and eccentric effects.

"Worthy To Say" is a nice change of pace, beginning as a mellower tune which quickly transforms into an upbeat melody with cool riffs. Nickelback ends The State on the right note, leaving the listener begging for more with a dramatic acoustic version of "Leader Of Men."

Despite their relatively hard style, Nickelback has produced a clear sound for their genre, introducing a new standard of music that should force other grunge stylists to redefine their sound.

With its energetic and original sound, it is clear The State will establish a new state of affairs in the alternative arena.

–KUFO put on its annual Paranormal Party without a hitch. To put it in simple terms, the concert rocked! Since the concert was on Halloween, a lot of people were dressed up in costume that made things interesting. I saw a girl naked with only green paint covering her body! Needless to say, this girl also won the costume contest. The crowd got to vote on who had the best consume, so who do you think would win? -- the clown or the naked girl? Enough said about that, on to the show. 

The two big bands were Nickelback and Everclear. From what I understand, when this concert was first scheduled, Nickelback was the headliner. Then Everclear signed on and bumped down Nickelback. Everclear is a native Portland band with a huge draw, so I understand the move.

Tyler Norby, YOUBORED.COM music editor was able to score an interview with Chad Kroeger, lead singer/guitarist from Nickelback.

TYLER: Our first standard question that we ask any performer is: why you? What do you offer that music fans cannot find anywhere else?

CHAD: It is difficult to answer this question and NOT sound like an egotistical person, so I will say that my prayers were answered, because there are many great musicians in the world today who are far more gifted than me.

TYLER: In your opinion, what niche in today's mainstream rock market does your music fill?

CHAD: We fill the "no gimmick rock band" niche.

TYLER: For those that don't know, briefly describe the history of Nickelback and how it all came together.

CHAD: 1996 we came together and recorded our Demo, and from there have worked to where you see us now, winning one fan at a time.

TYLER: What drew each of you toward the world of music?

CHAD: I do not remember what brought me to it, but it is all I have worked at since I got out of high school.

TYLER: Who are your musical influences, both the ones that got you into music and your current ones?

CHAD: The first albums I owned are Pink Floyd's "The Wall," and also Led Zepplin's "In through the out door"

TYLER: How would you compare and contrast your 4 albums?

CHAD: The albums show the growth of the group since the very beginning to the present, each step is clearly detectable as the progress continues.

TYLER: How has your song writing process and song subject matter changed since obtaining radio success and national exposure?

CHAD: I am not really aware of any changes that have occurred.

TYLER: Since signing with a major label, what has happened for you guys that you guys never expected?

CHAD: Firstly, Roadrunner is not a major label, but the big difference has been the number of people on the team working toward a common goal.

TYLER: With the success of your last two albums and being the top rock outfit in the country right now, what do you all do to ensure that you remain grounded and focused on your music?

CHAD: We have each other to keep us grounded, and the fans keep us focused on the music.

TYLER: Another standard question that we ask all musicians is what do you see in music that you feel is positive? What do you see that is negative?

CHAD: I think that all I see in music is positive, as it is the most emotional mode of communication that there is.

TYLER: Since we are doing this before one of your concerts, what is similar/different between the Nickelback vibe on the albums and the Nickelback vibe during a concert?

CHAD: The feeling of a live concert can not be fully communicated in a recorded format, I feel, because all the other elements of the live show, such as the visual, the feeling of the low bass frequencies, and the vibe of the room cannot be communicated through the medium available, i.e. CD.

TYLER: Any last thoughts that you would like to share with the world?

CHAD: We'll see you soon, so look out for us and come out for the live show.

Now for the review of the live show! When Nickelback hit the stage, the crowd began to go nuts. I was down in the pit and it was great. I believe that the best place to review a concert is in the middle of it! You can't tell what's going on sitting in the balcony! Plus of course, it just isn't any fun. I have heard the new Nickelback CD, Silver Side Up many times and the band played all of the songs that are sure to be hits. They also threw in the classics from the album The State that was obviously crowd favorites.

Everclear came on stage to finish things up. They came all dressed up in costumes! The crowd was going crazy by this time. A lot of the people there were over 21 and had been to the beer garden during intermission. Translation? -- a bunch of drunk people pushing each other out of the way to get to the front. Everclear played ALL of their hits and a few obscure songs.

Let me finish off by saying that I will be at the show next year. The combination of Nickelback and Everclear at a small venue for only $20 works for me. I will be interested in seeing who KUFO gets to play their Paranormal Party next year!

By Jeffrey Tennant, YOUBORED.COM