Work night? So what. First work night after Canadian Thanksgiving weekend? yeah big deal… when Papa Roach takes the stage, it’s the weekend even if it isn’t! From the moment the band came out on stage at the South Okanagan Events Centre, the smiles never left their faces, and the energy never quit. And the crowd was right into it! With frontman Jacoby Shaddix jumping off stage in the second song, things got crazy quickly.. up to the rail to sing and and touch hands (and be touched) then suddenly over the rail and into the floor pit before disappearing completely! With the spotlight trying to follow him, suddenly Shaddix rematerialized way up in the bleachers! Crowd on its feet, people cheering and craning necks to see, Shaddix made a short tour around before heading back to the stage where the other band members were hamming it up to keep those up front entertained.
Guitarist Jerry Horton got into his famous back bends early on in the set (a sign of sheer enjoyment of the audiences reaction according to long time Roach fans!) That’s gotta hurt the next day! Between flirting with the audience, Horton loaned his voice for backing vocals, and was so into it that even when stepping away from the mic he was still singing!
Bassist Tobin Esperance kept his side of the stage active too, playing up to the audience rather than standing in the back chatting to the drummer, which seems to be the norm for so many ‘rock’ bands these days 🙂 And Tony Palermo on drums is no slouch either! (sorry no pics – too dark – get that man some light!)
Shaddix flitted back and forth between Horton, Esperance, and us, and it was intense and magical! The band played quite a few songs off their new albums, ‘Who Do You Trust’, and ‘Crooked Teeth’ as well as, as Shaddix put it, “some old skool Papa Roach!” The crowd went crazy for Born for Greatness, jumping up and down, singing at the top of our lungs, and the band ate it up.. stopping near the end, leaning on guitar and bass, bending down and grinning while we carried the chorus.
And yes there was a mosh pit! Short lived, but it was there for a few songs – the mix of audience ages ranged from parents with 10yr olds in headphones at their first show (and up on the rail to boot) all the way to the grey hairs, and it was glorious to see such a wide range of fans.
The band closed it out with a few softer ballads before kicking it up a notch with one final push – Palermo came out from the kit and tossed his drum sticks, Horton littered the audience with well placed guitar picks flung far and wide, and the band took a bow and waved as they walked off into the black … and even when the lights came on, it really wasn’t over.. a show like this is never over; you carry it with you when you go!
Our third only Papa Roach show and definitely not our last!
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