Genius: The Nickelback Story

There are people out there who love Nickelback. And if they pay enough and get close enough to the stage at a concert, Chad Kroeger, the band’s lead singer, rewards them by throwing beers at them, which is what’s happening on a Saturday night at the Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, Ind. Kroeger is yelling, “Who’s thirsty?” The crowd is roaring in appreciation. Behind him, roadies are chucking dozens of cups into the audience of 16,000. For several women in the front rows, at least, there is no risk of wardrobe damage; they have removed their shirts.

The band is touring for its Here and Now album, which, like their other records, celebrates rowdiness and lust and a general uncorking of appetites. Halfway through the set things appear to be reaching maximum Nickelbackness. Kroeger has been taking theatrical shots of Jägermeister all night. After one song, aptly called Rockstar, he takes a bra that’s been thrown onstage and hangs it from the head of his guitar like a large Christmas ornament. Then he breaks into the power chords to start Someday, his ode to bad boyfriends begging for forgiveness. Their mode onstage is regulation rock: Kroeger, bassist Mike Kroeger (his half-brother), lead guitarist Ryan Peake, and drummer Daniel Adair are all wearing black shirts, dark pants, and heavy work boots or Chuck Taylors. They play their guitars with their feet wide apart, looking like they’re going to eat the microphones.