Page 53 - Black Velvet Issue 95

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PAPA ROACH / HO99O9 – BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 05.10.17
With latest album, ‘Crooked Teeth’, Papa Roach have gone back to “I feel the devil trying to creep back in,” raps Jacoby Shaddix of Papa
their roots, incorporating more of their nu-metal rap lyrics into hard rock Roach during opening song, ‘Crooked Teeth’. We would not be surprised
anthems. The album shows Papa Roach at their most creative – which, if the devil wanted to creep into this show – as Papa Roach always put on
in turn, bleeds out into everything they do and love, including their tours the best performances. Tonight is no different. The band have added an
and support bands. With Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes having had to additional musician along the backline – bassist Tobin Esperance’s
pull out of the tour, rather than bringing in just an average rock band to brother, Anthony, is now playing additional guitars, keyboards and more.
replace them, Ho99o9 instead open the proceedings. They’ve been de- He has his own riser on the opposite side to drummer Tony Palermo, while
scribed as an American hip hop group, but that does not do the band jus- Tobin, guitarist Jerry Horton (who also sings killer backing vocals) and
tice. The unit are incredibly creative and artistic and their set is quite a frontman Jacoby occupy the front of the stage. Pulling no punches, famil-
show. Musically, TheOGM and Eaddy ritually rap over a car crash of iar hits such as ‘Getting Away With Murder’ and ‘Between Angels And In-
recorded experimental hardcore horror punk sounds with the help of a live sects’ get the blood flowing, while ‘Born For Greatness’ is being filmed for
drummer. Lights are low, but this aids the dark and pulverising set. a live video so Jacoby tells the crowd he’s going to come and crowd surf.
TheOGM shines a torch out at the audience while wearing a balaclava “Don’t steal my mic or I’ll gouge your eyes out,” he jokingly threatens. “I’ve
and Eaddy climbs up onto an amp. Despite their beastly sound, they are got long fingernails!”
refreshingly interesting to watch.

There’s quite a long slower part of the set. ‘She Loves Me Not’ starts from the audience.
to wind things down before everyone’s favourite ballad, ‘Scars’, is followed ‘American Dreams’, ‘Lifeline’ and ‘Help’ bring the anthemic pace back
by new album track, ‘Periscope’, and ‘Gravity’. Both ‘Periscope’ and ‘Grav- up, while the encore sees a stream of crowd surfers during ‘Last Resort’.
ity’ featured female vocals on disc. It’s particularly interesting to hear Jacoby jumps off the stage and walks along he front row slapping hands
‘Periscope’ without Skylar Grey. It’s still atmospheric, but no female vocals with fans. With Jacoby having recently had surgery, his voice sounds no
kick in, which makes it a little stripped down compared to the album ver- sign of any problems and ending with ‘To Be Loved’, this Papa Roach
sion. The band perform a great cover of Blur’s ‘Song 2’, while the ending show is definitely loved by all tonight.
of ‘Forever’ includes a segment of ‘In The End’ by Linkin Park, giving a YYYY
tribute to Chester Bennington. “We miss you, Chester Bennington. We Shari Black Velvet
love you. We scream for you,” says Jacoby. There’s a chant for ‘Chester’ Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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