Thousands Attend Nickelback Concert at the PREMIER Center

Tuesday night, March 3, I experienced my very first concert at the new Denny Sanford PREMIER Center and I'm so happy that I was able to spend the evening with one of my favorite bands, Nickelback on their No Fixed Address Tour. The day tickets went on sale, I went to the KELOLAND box office and stood in line. I scored 4th row seats! They were perfect.

Opening the show was Taylor Momsen's band, The Pretty Reckless. I have always loved her voice, but will admit, I had never heard an entire song. I will be downloading several songs today to add to my iPod. That girl can sing. She sure looks a lot different from when she played Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Movieclips via YouTube / Karla Brown, Mix 97-3

One of the perks of my job is getting to escort our Mix 97-3 winners backstage to meet the band. I've been to several meet and greets and this was one of the coolest. First of all, most bands look like they just rolled out of bed, some are stoned or drunk and they look like they're being forced to meet their fans. All four members of Nickelback looked like they were getting their pictures taken for the church directory. They were dressed nice, smelled good and couldn't have been nicer. We shook their hands and they were laughing with us and talking to us. It was freakin' awesome! Unfortunately, I don't have those pictures yet because they had their own photographer take them and we have to get the pics off their website.

The boys hit the stage with "Million Miles an Hour" and got the crowd on their feet. Their 19+ setlist was full of their biggest hits including songs from their new album No Fixed Address. The PREMIER Center had to be near capacity. Seats were full from the upper level to the floor.

During their set, they played snippets of a few of everyone's favorite songs to engage the crowd in a sing-along. They teased us with the Eagles, "Take it Easy" and "Hotel California," Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," and Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." The reason they played those snippets is to show the audience that there are songs that get stuck in your mind and everyone knows the words - like their song "Rockstar." They transitioned into that huge hit and the audience took their cue and sang at the top of their lungs!

Some of my favorites didn't make the setlist like "Never Again" and "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good," but I was completely content. They played all the radio favorites like "Photograph," "Hero," the song from the Spiderman soundtrack, "Gotta Be Somebody," "Far Away," "Too Bad," and "Someday," just to name a few.

The show concentrated more on personality and musicality rather than special effects, although there were bursts of pyro, which could only make me wonder if that's what a hot flash is going to feel like.

I've seen Nickelback three times and would love to see them again in Sioux Falls, but I'm afraid I'll have to travel to see their next show. I highly doubt the band will ever come back to our city and for this one stupid reason. It's absolutely embarrassing that something like this had to happen in Sioux Falls, SD. This is NOT how we welcome someone to our city and especially to our awesome new venue.

During the show, they bring out cups of beer that they throw out into the crowd. I'm not a fan of that. I don't see the point. All you're doing is spraying everyone in the crowd with beer. That's not my cup of tea. But, it's just another aspect of their concert experience. One idiotic woman in the crowd takes, what appears to be a nearly full cup of her own beer, and whips it at lead singer, Chad Kroeger and drenches him. NOT COOL! Being a total professional, Chad laughs it off, although you could sense frustration, and changes his shirt. Many of you may remember a Hootie & the Blowfish concert at Huset's Speedway many years ago when this same thing happened. Some drunk moron whipped a beer at Darius Rucker and he was pissed! He threatened to stop the concert. Luckily, Chad and the band continued on like nothing happened - except for their sporadic third guitarist, Tim coming out in a raincoat.

If you have the chance to see this band, ignore the haters and go to a concert. You'll sing along, you'll dance and it will be one of the best rock concerts you've seen.

Several people have asked me if Chad's wife, Avril Lavigne was at the concert. There have been reports that their marriage is on the rocks. I didn't see any sign of Avril, but Chad is still wearing his wedding ring.

Kudos to the staff at the PREMIER Center for booking some of the biggest bands on tour today and for providing this great city with a venue that compares to bigger cities. Now, it's our turn to support it.