He's a cheery chap, is Walter Schreifels, frontman of Rival Schools and driving force behind a host of legendary unknown rock bands. The apparent emo roots of his band just don't do justice to the sheer exuberance of the boy. He's not a showman exactly, and you'd never say he was born for the stage, but he sure looks happy to be here. Halfway through 'High Acetate', this correspondent suddenly realizes that he's an indie hero who's the very image of Monkee Davy Jones.
Which isn't what you expect at a rock show, but it's a strange night. While the kids aren't obviously repelled by the presence of New York's latest prospect, there's almost a feeling they don't belong here. Rival Schools may well go through the roof in coming months and years, fuelled by the sheer melodic force of addictive hit-to-be 'Used for Glue', but might not be a band the misfit majority will come together as one to love.
They're just a bit too introspective, and not as forthright as one might hope. Despite his cartoonish good looks, you can't imagine Walter chucking bottles of water into the crowd, or standing astride a specially-installed podium, throwing rock star shapes like a modern day Brian May.
Doing all of that, and more, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger is a master of the art, and the masses will love him for it. He's thanking each and every one of us for making his first time playing in Britain "so fucking cool"! He's offering to take us drinking after the show! He's everything you want from a rock star..
..as long as you don't care about the sound. For Nickelback are a turgid throwback, a new name to be added to the ever growing list of Canadian musical crimes. Wall to wall power chords are the order of the day, played with enthusiasm but an absence of irony. The volume is there, the energy's there, but the empathy is elsewhere. Tracks focusing on domestic violence ('Never Again'), and absent fathers (single-to-be 'Too Bad'), are devoid of spirit and short on real meaning. And on the way home, that familiar ringing in the ears feels oddly hollow. As performances go, it's oddly refined and a little contrived. But if they could learn a little of Rival Schools' individuality, they might just be worthy of your love.
