When it comes to hard music concerts, it doesn’t matter if it’s Haggard performing orchestral neo-classical metal in a fancy concert hall with 100 violinists or wild pagan metal played by an unnamed band standing on soap boxes in a random cellar. You’re usually in for one hell of a ride. So let’s see if Abby’s evening of Papa Roach and 5 Finger Death Punch took us for one.
Abbotsford Centre’s concert hall isn’t too big and except for fans of various shapes and sizes, it’s filled with smoke and the scent of popcorn, providing more the atmosphere of a cinema than that of a concert. After a 30-minute wait that all changes as a bass guitar vibrates the floor. Starting band From Ashes to New came all the way from Lancaster to teach us in B.C. how rap metal is done. They weren’t bad per say, but two factors played against them: for one, it was obvious From Ashes to New were still a bit wet behind the ears; second, they were the opening act and most of the audience was saving their strength for either Papa Roach or 5 Finger Death Punch.
Another band, this time natives from L.A., Sixx:A.M. had a bigger fan base among the crowd and it was pretty clear. The mixture of Bon Jovi (I swear Sixx:A.M.’s lead singer looked like a Bon Jovi ripoff) with Skillet got me jumping, even though I’d never heard them before. (Their song “Life Is Beautiful” still runs through my head as I’m typing this.)
But, without further ado, let’s talk about two huge names leading this fun. Papa Roach, originally from sunny shores of California, delivered probably one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Jacoby was not about to stay on that stage, it was just too small. He regularly jumped into the crowd, running around the arena, hugging concert-goers and shaking hands with maddened people and singing bits of songs just for them. At one point he proceeded to climb onto the mixing table and sing “Scars” just with his hurt voice. The band didn’t lose its swing before the end either, saying goodbye as Jacoby crowd surfed while still singing without even a hitched breath.
After what Papa Roach showed, it was hard to believe 5 Finger Death Punch could trump them, and they didn’t because they didn’t have to. Bringing to the stage a totally different vibe, they took their 5 fingers and punched us right into the land of straightforward heavy metal. I still don’t understand how Ivan switches from dark, raspy growling to a gentle and broken voice that makes you want to hug him. But it worked amazingly well, especially during “Wash It All Away,” which makes you feel like crying and jumping on top of your seat at the same time. The lads from Nevada definitely stood up to the expectations that preceded them.
To wrap it up, when you come home and feel more energetic than you did before the concert it’s a sign that the roof was properly blown off the joint. I am intrigued to see whether Slayer and Anthrax next month will do the same.
