Music / Reviews
Review: Papa Roach, O2 Academy
Nu-metal heads old and young gathered on Tuesday night for the welcome return of Papa Roach, who had no trouble selling out the Academy after 20 years.
Frontman Jacoby Shaddix arrives on stage to a heroes welcome and – hair static as ever – opens the night with a song from their new album F.E.A.R.
But it takes Getting Away with Murder, up next, to get everyone thrashing and raising the horn.
Generally, the new tracks are all well-received by the crowd. Though this makes sense for a band that isn’t trying to grow up, with much of their new material sounding like classic Roach anyway.
“This is our new song and you guys are singing along. That means the f***ing world to us,” yells Shaddix.
Old skoolers are treated to a rare performance of Snakes from their 1999 EP, Let ‘Em Know (re-recorded for their best-selling album, Infest); the first time they’ve played it live in 12 years, we’re promised.
The band continues to play up to the audience, who lap it up gladly, cheering as Shaddix tells us we’re much better than “those guys in Nore-witch”.
At a gig like this it’s hard not to talk about the crowd, who range from corset-wearing old ladies to girls with quiffs and clutch bags.
Barely three songs in, I witness a man dive from the top of the steps onto the heads of an unsuspecting crowd below. Before the sixth song has finished, I’m headbutted in the face by an old rocker who appears to have fainted out of the crowd.
Almost all the classics are played: Angels and Insects, Hollywood Whore and Kick in the Teeth; as well as a few of the lesser-appreciated singles, like Tightrope, which Shaddox introduces with, “Let’s slow it down; get some booty-shaking in here.”
Last Resort, Scars and …To be Loved are all reserved for the encore; and a happy, sweaty crowd disperse.
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