Live Review: Papa Roach/Nothing More – Exeter

Like a shotgun in a fist fight”), and “Go to War”, the grammy nominated song that accompanied the Planet Of The Apes trailer. With over 20 million plays on Spotify, this song is utterly stupendous. There is no let up whatsoever as that is followed by “Do You Really Want It?”. Hawkins asks the crowd how many have seen Nothing More before, and not many hands are raised. Judging by the reaction to the set so far, I suspect next time a whole lot more hands will be raised. One of the things I adore about Nothing More is the intelligence of the song writing, and the next two songs epitomise that. Firstly, “Fadein/Fadeout”, which genuinely has me in tears every time I hear it. Written about the bond between a father and son the lyrics are haunting. Following that with “Jenny” a song about the battle with mental illness and addiction faced by Jenna, Hawkins’ sister, is setlist design of the highest order. “This Is The Time (Ballast)” ramps the power and speed back up before we are treated to another of the unique stage treats a Nothing More set delivers. Hawkins leaps onto the second drum kit that he has occasionally battered hell out of. Grabbing a metal contraption to the side, he leans back then flings himself forward and the entire thing flips revealing “The Scorpion Tail”, an effects unit made out of scrap that he pulls, pushes and wrestles to create a soundscape unlike anything else I’ve heard or seen. To close the show, the band rip into “We Will Rock You” in glorious style, then take a well deserved ovation from the many new converts in the crowd. In the interval, I was wondering how Papa Roach could match what we had just witnessed, but I needn’t have worried. The lights went down, and the now utterly rammed crowd let out an almighty roar and they took the stage to “Last Resort”. Not many bands have the balls to open a show with their biggest hit by far, but it is a stroke of genius as the place goes nuts! Jacoby Shaddix appears a man reborn as he stands astride the riser at the front of the stage conducting the crowd. Jerry Horton, a quieter presence to his right, rips out riff after riff effortlessly whilst bass player Tobin Esperance to his left prowls and paces as he drives out the rhythm. Behind them, drummer Tony Palermo is joined by Anthony Esperance on dual drum kits and occasional keys to round the sound out. “Help” and “Who do you Trust?”, the title track off the current album, and back to the more rap based style that works so well, comprise the initial assault. Back in time to “Getting Away With Murder” shows that the set is going to mix up the very new and the very old beautifully, as we immediately go back to the new with “Renegade Music”, which sends the mosh pit into overdrive. This is quiet, sleepy Devon, but the crowd are one of the most energetic I can remember seeing anywhere. There is a constant pit filling the middle of the auditorium (great to watch from the safety of the balcony!). “Elevate” off the new album has an infectious intro and chorus interspersed with powerful rap, and again shows the strength of the new release. We bounce around the catalogue. New and old mixing seamlessly and showing clearly the renaissance that “Who Do You Trust” has brought to the band. “Falling Apart” makes sure that nobody gets a rest. “Scars” gets the whole crowd singing and “Forever” followed by “Feel Like Home” continue to showcase the variety and quality that Shaddix and team have bought to the genre. The set closes out with “…To Be Loved”, “Crooked Teeth”, and “I Suffer Well” with an immense Wall Of Death pit that looked like something out of Game Of Thrones’ “Battle of the Bastards”. The crowd probably needed a minute or two to get their breath back as the band left the stage, but chants soon broke out and drew the band back for an encore. “Infest” as the first song up gave no indication of what was coming. Announcing “This one’s for you Keith”, Shaddix launched the band into an incendiary version of “Firestarter”. If the crowd had been animated before, this made the building shake! He ended the song saying “Instead of a moment of silence for Keith, I want you to scream as loud as you fucking can!” Exeter obliged, and then some! I have never heard a noise like it at a gig. I swear the walls were shaking, and the entire campus must have wondered what was happening. It went on, and on and then a chant of “Keith! Keith! Keith!” broke out. Shaddix looked visibly moved as he talked about the loss of another great, and how much they were inspired by Keith Flint and The Prodigy then took a moment of reflection. I make no apologies for taking up so much of the review describing the moment, as it was truly memorable. “Broken Home” set us up for the bands last hurrah, which came in the form of “Born For Greatness”, and the crowd found a few last atoms of energy to join in and send Papa Roach on their way, grateful they had made the trip beyond Bristol. Review and pics: Rob Wilkins [gallery type='flickr' user_id='132278830@N06' view='photosets' photoset_id='72157707985961815' media='photos' columns='3' tag_mode='any' sort='date-posted-desc' per_page='80' layout='square' caption='title' thumb_size='s' main_size='z' ]]]>

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