Randy J. Klodz - Papa Roach “Infest” Chicago with New Album

March 29, 2003

Papa Roach “Infest” Chicago with New Album

By Randy J. Klodz

It’s been a while since Papa Roach played for a Chicago crowd, and although the June 2002 release “lovehatetragedy” wasn’t commercially received as well as the major-label debut “Infest” was, Papa Roach still tore the roof off of the Vic Theatre on Mar. 29.

Die Trying and Reach 454 were the first bands to take the stage, paving the way for Florida natives Nonpoint to get fans rocking. And did they ever. The lights dropped and with Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” blaring over the loudspeaker, the stage was set for madness to commence. Behind the pounding of the bald-headed stage-lurking drummer Robb Rivera, Nonpoint--which also includes Elias Soriano (vocals), Andrew Goldman (guitar/vocals) and KB (bass)--got the Vic crowd into a frenzy with 40 minutes of melodic metal which included “Endure,” “Circles,” “Your Signs,” “Development” and several others.

The crowd, already worked up by Nonpoint, became rabid waiting for Papa Roach to crash the stage. After the standard 20 minute break between bands, Papa Roach--vocalist Jacoby Shaddix, guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance, drummer David Buckner and touring guitarist Mike Doherty--blasted through 60 minutes if chaos that took hits from both of Papa Roach’s two major-label albums, that left the hard-charging Shaddix breathless during “Dead Cell,” the second song.

During “Black Clouds,” a fan threw a black-and-white sneaker on stage and the energetic Shaddix pumped himself up by hitting his forehead several times with the shoe, then tossing it back into the crowd. Other highlights include Nonpoint vocalist Soriano taking the stage to add his vocals to “Broken Home,” which also led to an impromptu verse of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” from the “8 Mile” soundtrack. Another guest vocal spot on “Last Resort” appeared when Reach 454 vocalist Rene Mata ran onstage, grabbed a mic from Shaddix and screamed the lyrics to end the song. Other stand-out songs included “Life is a Bullet,” “She Loves Me Not” and “Angels and Insects.”

Shaddix hinted to the crowd that this Chicago appearance may be the last for a while, in that he plans for his band to be in the studio this summer working on an album, which he said may be in stores by this November. For more information on Papa Roach, check out www.paparoach.com.