Five Finger Death Punch · Papa Roach · Sixx:A.M. - A review

Five Finger Death Punch · Papa Roach · Sixx:A.M. · From Ashes To New
September 17 2016
Northlands Colosseum – Edmonton AB

Ignoring how bleak the former Rexall Place is, it can still put on a good rock show. Roughly 8000 people (a total guess) packed into the former home of the Edmonton Oilers to catch some good hard rock. Based on the merch lines that wrapped around the building, and the crowds trying to get drinks, people brought their wallets, and they came to party.

We arrived, and From Ashes To New had already taken the stage. We caught 3 or 4 songs, and they were done. I’m familiar with the first single, Through It All, and the other songs were along the same lines. My friend said to me, “They’d be very original if Linkin Park wasn’t a thing.” Very true. 2 singers, 1 who raps, with hard rock behind them. Nothing super original, but for their first album and probably first arena tour, they held their own quite well. They’ll be back through on the HellYeah tour in December.

Two beers later, and Sixx:A.M. took the stage. The current, and most popular side project (I’m looking at you, Brides Of Destruction) of Motley Crue bassman Nikki Sixx. They’ve got a companion album to their Part 1: Prayers For The Damned album coming out in November, and took the opportunity in Edmonton to film the video for the new single. If you’ve ever been to a music video shoot, you’ll already know this next part. You don’t get it in 1 take. You do it a couple times, for alternate angles, and extra shots. So they played the new song twice, back to back. If you’d had too many drinks, or you weren’t paying attention, you’d have missed that explanation. Despite being a support band, they had several backdrop changes, something the other 3 bands did not. Their whole show was high energy, the sound was good, and clearly they were out there because they love it, not for the money. That said, you could buy VIP packages, meet and greets, and a whole bunch of different merch, including a $75 copy of their latest album, on vinyl, signed. This was my second time seeing Sixx:A.M., the last being Cruefest years ago, and I’d go back. Modern Vintage and Prayers For The Damned are solid albums too.

A failed attempt at more beer, and Papa Roach took the stage with the high energy people have come to expect if they’ve ever seen Papa Roach. Singer Jacoby Shaddix does not stop moving. Running, bobbing, it’s like a nervous twitch through his whole body to keep time. He’s clearly just as excited to be there as anyone in the crowd, but from someone who enjoys taking concert photos, it’s a pain in the ass. Despite their debut Infest coming out over 16 years ago, those songs still flow through a set smoothly, with nothing seeming awkward or forced. On several occasions in their one hour set, Jacoby ended up in the crowd, including up in the stands. They even did a mini acoustic session of Scars at the soundboard, just him and guitarist Jerry Horton. A quick bass and drum jam provided them time to head down to the other end of the area. You continue to impress me Papa Roach, and I will return to see you whenever you’re in town. I wore my new shirt today with pride.

Finally got that beer, and stood in 3 lines to get that Papa Roach shirt, but made it back about 3 songs late for Five Finger Death Punch. Full disclosure, I’ve seen them live before, as well as heard their singles on the radio. I’m not a fan. I don’t get it. It’s too generic and unimagined. That said, I also met Ivan and Chris at Boonstock the year they played, and they couldn’t have been nicer guys. But clearly they have an audience, the guy in front of me at the merch table bought 4 FFDP motocross jerseys, at $125 each. They do things differently on stage. Things that made us go “huh?” After every song, the room went black, and everyone left the stage. Singer Ivan Moody would go behind the curtain, and change into another FFDP shirt. Every song. 30 seconds of nothing would usually end with the backing track starting up, and some of the members returning. During “Burn Motherfucker” Ivan brought about 10 kids and their parents on stage, and had them stand in a line in front of the drum kit. Then continued with the song like they weren’t there. Once the song was done, they were ushered off stage. I expected some kind of speech about following your dreams or working really hard. Nope. Just a bunch of 12 year old kids on stage. Why? With the amount of time that was lost between songs, and with stuff like that, they could have fit a couple more songs into their hour and 20 minute show. In fact, Papa Roach played just as many songs, in only an hour. They don’t seem to have a sense of who or what image they want to be. The backdrop resembled a nazi speech, with long red drapes, with a giant iron bird near their name. 3 of the 5 members were wearing motocross jerseys. Bassist Chris Kael was in all black. And the drummer was wearing a skeleton body suit, with his face fully painted. What’s the theme here? Years ago I called them the “Nickelback of metal.” I take that back. Nickelback at least have their shit down, they don’t waste time, and things are tied together. I give them a two finger mild bruise punch.