It’s easy to write off Three Days Grace as just another alt-metal band from the early 2000s, but that would be the cliched thing to do and the easy way out.
The fact that they have a record 17 number-one singles is a testament to how they stand out by a long shot among their peers and the long line of copycats being snatched up by major labels after they hit it big with their self-titled debut. Even I was a bit hesitant when I heard “I Hate Everything About You.” But I was quickly sold on “Home” as I thought this was one of the best rock songs from that entire decade. Great lyrics, chunky riffs, and even a bit of passion and soul in the chorus. It sounded like this guy was singing from the actual experience of this story happening to him, right there.
I have to admit I lost track of the band after original frontman Adam Gontier left, but I was intrigued when I saw that they were coming to London. I hadn’t seen these guys since I lived in Austin, Texas, more than thirty years ago. Now fronted by former My Darkest Days singer Matt Walst, the band is still going strong, having just released their latest album, Explosions. They don’t seem to tour very often in the UK, so I was interested to see what the crowd would look like. American alt-metal bands from that era were a bit hit and miss when they hit London, but this show was sold out.
The O2 Forum in Kentish Town was jammed to the gills. The crowd was a mix of new and old fans alike. One younger guy I ran into said he’d never heard of Three Days Grace and that he was more of an Ed Sheeran fan, but his girlfriend dragged him to the gig as she was a massive fan. I saw them on the way out, and it looked like he had converted.
And how could you not? Jesus Christ, these guys have a lot of hits. They came out swinging with their latest single, “So Called Life,” but then immediately pulled out the big guns with “Animal I Have Become,” straight into “Home.” Then it was off to the races until wrapping with the triple threat of “I Hate Everything About You,” “Never Too Late,” and finishing off with “Riot.”
Was it the most groundbreaking concert I’ve ever seen? No. Was it a masterclass in all things hard rock? Yes. Was it a shit ton of fun to see London go crazy and sing along to literally every single lyric and be transported back to some of my favourite songs of the 2000s? Most definitely.
