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Nickelback gave the crowd at Citadel Hill 'All The Right Reasons' to fall in love with the band from Hanna, Alta. on Sunday night.
Fireworks, friendly banter, free stuff fired from cannons and No. 1 hit after No. 1 hit from their million-selling albums delivered with precise sound and a spectacular light show rewarded an eager crowd of over 25,000 concertgoers on a Canada Day show that featured mostly picture perfect blue skies, sun and a friendly, holiday vibe.
After a warm-up of almost 8 hours featuring Canadian bands State of Shock, Default, Hedley, Finger Eleven and American rockers Daughtry and Staind, the crowd rose to their feet in eager anticipation as the first of three concussion bombs lit up the sky at 9:45 p.m.
A spray of fireworks ushered in Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair as they launched into their hit Animals off 2005's All The Right Reasons, and quickly followed up with Woke Up This Morning.
Frontman Chad Kroeger set the freewheelin' tone with his cracks about "Good Canadian bud" wafting his way noting "weed smokers are weird" and they should keep smoking all show.
Photograph, a number one single in both Canada and the U.S. about growing up in a small town and missing friends from high school, drew some of the loudest cheers of the night with the catchy tune accompanied by high school snapshots sure to bring back memories for the crowd that ranged in age from families with small children to groups of teens and twentysomethings and a sprinkling of fans well into their fifties.
Kroeger, outlining plans to go to the Liquordome following the show, accompanied by the other bands on the ticket, noted to roars of approval that "you leave your heart in Vancouver, your liver in Halifax" because locals know how to drink.
He dedicated Far Away, a ballad that tugged on the heartstrings with its lyrics of "I loved you all along and I miss you, been far away for far too long," to all those with loved ones fighting overseas and the crowd slowly swayed as it sang along.
Peake led a rousing version of Elton John's Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, rocking out with zingy guitar licks to loud cheers from the crowd. The cover, which they recorded with Kid Rock, is frequently heard during the intro of Hockey Night in Canada.
But the biggest applause was reserved for the group's current hit If Everyone Cared, which since its February release has raised $500,000 for Amnesty International and International Children's Awareness Canada (the band along with its record companies is donating 100 per cent of the proceeds from the digital sales of the single and video to charity).
Savin' Me, on of six No. 1 hits off the five-times platinum album, Someday off 2003's The Long Road were also in the playlist as was Side Of A Bullet, which featured outtakes by "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the Pantera guitarist who was killed in an onstage shooting by a crazed fan. Rock Star and Figured You Out gave fans a thrill for the encore.
But while Nickelback were the headliners, they weren't the only attraction for fans like Laurie Wheeler, her kids Liam and Lauren, and their step-dad Anthony Watton. The Aylesford family who bought their tickets as soon as the multi-band rock bill was announced were split in their assessment of who they wanted to see.
Liam is a Hedley fan who "likes all their songs," Lauren wanted to see Finger Eleven and Nickelback (she saw the band in its last Halifax show), while Watton was there to see Default.
"I like all their music, their vocals, their bass player --- I'm a bass player myself --- and I've never seen Nickelback live."
Laurie, a fan of Staind, the alternative metal group from Springfield, Mass., for eight years said she liked their originality and their lyrics.
Many echoed the sentiments of the transplanted Caper Darryl Pottie. The 32-year-old who now lives in Halifax and works for Nova Scotia Power said "it's on of the rare tickets who no lulls, every band is going to be good."
Pottie, like many fans, was dressed in Canada Day gear from his tall felt Maple Leaf hat, his flag cape, hockey jersey and Canada Day socks. Maple Leaf and Canadian flag tattoos were a frequent sight as were red ball caps and a giant maple-decorated red and white beach ball.
Among the crowd favorites were Hedley, led by Canadian Idol contestant Jacob Hoggard. The consummate showman gave teens like Lisa Landry a thrill when he took off his shirt to reveal extra low-riding stove-pipe jeans sliding off his well defined torso and later when he quickly dropped his pants to reveal the well-known Hedley tattoo across his buttocks.
Landry, and a group of seven friends arrived at the site at 6 a.m. to secure their place as fourth in line. Hedley, Finger Eleven and Nickelback were the main draws at the concert, she said. Her cousin agreed, noting she was a Hedley fan since Hoggard was on Canadian Idol when she really wanted him to win. "I love him, he's so crazy."
Hoggard didn't disappoint those expecting a show, with his wild spins, jumps into the crowd and floppy-haired charisma.
And Daughtry, fronted by American Idol season 5 contestant Chris Daughtry, whose sound recalled '70's rockers like Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, earned new fans with renditions of his hits What I Want, It's Not Over, There and Back Again. And, in his North Carolina drawl, he said "Tonight I call Halifax our Home" before launching into the hit.

Piczo