Papa Roach Ten Year Anniversary Show Live at Blender Theater NYC 03.10.09

Posted by Leo Rivera on 03.17.2009

Ten years is a long time to be successful and relevant in the music business. Especially if you consider the tumultuous past ten years the music industry has gone through.

It is safe to say that since the inception of free on-line music downloading, the music industry as we had known it has been on an uncontrollable and often unpredictable downward spiral. One that has led to the death of not just countless bands, but many of the once mighty record labels as well. With fans having the ability to download music for free with the push of a button, bands have suffered and have fallen by the wayside, in this landscape only the strong survive. Indeed, to be able to stay relevant in this ever-changing industry where you are loved today and forgotten tomorrow is something to be proud of, something worth celebrating.



It is with that in mind that Papa Roach proudly took the stage on March 10Th, 2009 at the Blender Theater in New York City. To celebrate the fact that they have been able to not only strive, but thrive under this ever-changing musical landscape that exists in the 21st century. They can proudly claim that after ten years in the big leagues (being signed to a major record label), they are still going stronger than ever with four albums that have gone platinum and gold (and a new bad ass one on the way). They have stood tall long after the Nu-Metal dust had settled and have come out of that experience as seasoned modern rock veterans seeing once mighty bands like Limp Bizkit, Adema, P.O.D. all fall by the wayside with the changing of the times.

The (not so) secret to Papa Roach's withstanding success is their ability to constantly re-invent their sound and their style into something that has stood the test of time. It is astonishing to see how Papa Roach have seamlessly morphed with every new album. case in point: this band that bought us the unforgettable rap/rock hit "Last Resort" in 2000 is also the same band that bought us the monstrous power ballad "Scars." The Papa Roach that bought us the hopeful sing along anthem "Time is Running Out" in 2006 is also the same band that gave us the brooding "Black Clouds" in 2002....ahhh well you get my point!

By the time opening band The Sleeping were done playing their 30 minute set, the near sell out crowd at the Blender theater were figuratively foaming at the mouth, in anticipation of rocking out with one of the baddest bands in the land: Papa Roach.
The set started ominously with a surging primal drum beat compliments of new drummer, Tony Palmero (formerly of Unwritten Law). The rest of the band soon joined in on the mayhem known as "Change or Die." A new song that serves as a battle cry for a band all too familiar with the reality of changing before becoming a victim of complacency. Despite not being released yet, the crowd sang a long word for word as if this song was on Papa Roach's first record Infest. Perhaps a sign that "Change or Die" will be an anthem at P-Roach shows for years to come.

Speaking of Anthems, the 2006 hit "To Be Loved" followed, which led to a raucous mosh pit. The band kept the high energy going with "Getting Away With Murder" and "Time is Running Out." and "She Loves Me Not" Afterward, front man Jacoby Shaddix proudly announced "You all know why we're here tonight New York City!!" Ten Fucking Years Baby!" That comment segued perfectly into "Dead Cell" off of Infest, with Jacoby saying "You wanna go back to the old school" as a nod to their past, Jacoby bought out their old Papa Roach track jacket that they used to wear along with their Adidas back in their long-gone Nu-Metal days.

The bad boys from California proved that they were now men with a reflective side as they plowed through the latest single "Lifeline." Jacoby seemingly admits that he's been "hanging by a lifeline for it seems like a lifetime." During the song, Jacoby disappeared from the stage, re-emerging in the back of the theater with the fans sitting way out back, all while keeping perfect pace with the song. Indeed this was Papa Roach's night and their fans. While their front man was out back hanging with the fans, guitarist Jerry Horton and bassist Tobin Esperanza took center stage to show off their chops. It is easy to see that these are not the same nu-metal band of the late 1990's whi tuned their guitars to a drop d chord, no, these are veterans who have been through hell and have emerged as highly polished musicians.



When Jacoby returned to the stage, he announced that we were not only celebrating 10 years of Papa Roach, but we were celebrating Jerry Horton's birthday. To which Jacoby egged on the crowd to wish him a "Happy birthday fucker."


Other highlights of the show included Jacoby's spat on "mindless hollywood twats like Paris Hilton" before delving into the raunchy yet bluntly honest "Hollywood Whore." Before finally capping off the night with the hit that bought them to the dance "Last Resort."

The 411:  If their was one compaint about the show, I'd have to say that for a 10th anniversary celebration and over 5 albums worth of material to choose from, we got a mere one hour and fifteen minute show. maybe I'm just being nit-picky but you cant blame me for wanting a little more Papa Roach, this band rocks!

Final Score:  8.5   [ Very Good ]