Nickelback delivers rock 'n' roll extravaganza at Concert for Legends during HOF Festival

CANTON − Nickelback put on a powerhouse and high-energy rock 'n' roll show at the Concert for Legends.

Crunching guitars, growling vocals, thundering drums, pyrotechnics and animated videos made for a highly entertaining spectacle on Aug. 3 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Thousands in attendance were clearly having a blast. From near the stage to up in the bleachers, concertgoers were dancing, pumping fists, swaying, clapping and hollering in jubilation during the prime event of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

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Country pop artist Mitchell Tenpenny opened the event, playing both original songs and the ocassional cover, including "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, which turned into a cellphone raising singalong throughout the venue.

But Nickelback's performance was a rock 'n' roll extravaganza in every respect. Songs veered from muscular and fierce to mid-tempo and melodic with rich harmonies.

"San Quentin" opened the show, a piledriver of a song reminiscent of heavy metal titans Metallica. Mixing it up was a snarling cover of the Don Henley song, "Dirty Laundry," featuring Ryan Peake on lead vocals. Mellower moments featured acoustic guitar on songs like "Photograph."

Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger performs with the band while headlining the 2025 Concert for Legends at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. August 3, 2025

Here's a look at the best moments of the Nickelback concert, as well as some of the concertgoers.

What about Nickelback for a wedding song?

Hannah Young, 23, grew up listening to her dad play Nickelback music.

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"So I just kept listening to them," the Canton resident said with a smile.

The first time she saw Nickelback was at Blossom Music Center on her 21st birthday.

"It was great," Young said. "I got a drink, and I just was jamming and having a good time. I could feel their energy from the lawn − it was amazing."

She loves Nickelback so much that she plans to use "Far Away" as the wedding song when she marries Dalton Bickley, 25, of Canton, in 2026.

Hannah Young, 23, and Dalton Bickley, 25, both of Canton, attended the Aug. 3 Nickelback concert at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The couple plans to use Nickelback music for their wedding song.

Bickley used to be only casually familiar with Nickelback.

"But once I met her, it was Nickelback, and it kind of grew on me," he said.

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Of the wedding song, he said: "It was shock at first, but then I started listening to it ... and it has heartfelt (lyrics) behind it, and I think it's perfect for the wedding."

Father and daughter bond with Nickelback

John Antonelli, 55, of Columbus, said he raised his kids on Nickelback.

But his daughter Julia Nelson, 24, also of Columbus, is the only sibling who has stuck with the band.

This was Nelson's first time seeing Nickelback perform live.

Julia Nelson, 24, and her father, John Antonelli, 55, both of Columbus, were among the Nickelback fans in attendance at the Aug. 3 Concert for Legends in Canton during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

"Some people are like, 'Why don't you listen to Taylor Swift'?" she said. "And I'm like, 'No, I can't.'"

Nickelback music fits any situation, Nelson said.

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"I think no matter what I'm doing at the moment, Nickelback can always be played," she said. "Doing yard work, driving and working."

Nickelback proves the 'power of music.'

Nickelback's music is about far more than guitar chords and drum beats for Andrew Shelton, 24, of Green.

His late mother's memory lives on through the band's songs.

Shelton's mother, Janet Shelton, died of cancer in 2013 at age 44. She would listen to Nickelback's songs during chemotherapy, the son said.

Dan Pittman, Brendan Pittman and Andrew Shelton were among those attending the Aug. 3 Concert for Legends in Canton, featuring Nickelback. The band has special meaning to Shelton because his late mother would listen to Nickelback music while undergoing chemotherapy.

Dan Pittman, 52, of Green, was friends with Andrew's mom.

"She used Nickelback literally as therapy to get her away in the toughtest times of her life," he said. "That's the power of music.

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"Music makes memories and music reminds you of a lot of things," Pittman said. "There's a piece of (Janet) in Nickelback, and we feel like (the music) kind of honors her life and reminds us of her."

Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger performs on Aug. 3 during the Concert for Legends at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Pittman fondly recalled taking Janet to a Nickelback concert in 2012 at Blossom Music Center.

Pittman, his son, Brendan Pittman, 23, and Andrew Shelton got to meet Nickelback as part of a VIP experience before the Concert for Legends. Dan Pittman said he shared the story of Andrew's mother with the band.

"They were meeting people, and (after hearing the story), it's like they stopped in their tracks," Dan Pittman said.

Defending Nickelback against the critics

Nickelback has smash hit songs, multi-platinum albums, and they tour the world. But the group also has detractors.

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So much so that Netflix produced a documentary, "Hate to Love: Nickelback."

Both music critics and social media commenters have accused the band of being formulaic and lacking artistic merit.

But Rachael Lowe, 35, and Andrew Lowe, 38, came to Nickelback's defense.

"I think the numbers say it all," Rachael said of Nickelback's record sales and chart success.

"I just think people are going to hate, and you can't please everyone," she said.

Fans enjoy the music of Mitchel Tenpenny, who opened for Nickelback at the Concert for Legends on Aug. 3 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Of the documentary, Rachael said: "I think it was great. It gives you perspective. I guess I didn't realize that so many people hate them. I felt kind of sad."

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Andrew said one of his friends mocked the married couple for going to see Nickelback.

"I dabble in Nickelback," he said. "I wouldn't say I'm a hardcore fan, but I like the hits − 'Animal,' 'Photograph' and 'Rockstar.'"

Country music artist Mitchell Tenpenny, right, performs as the opener for Nickelback at the Concert for Legends during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

Andrew brushed off his friend's critique.

"He's a music snob," he said. "He only likes stuff that no one else likes."

Lowe knows quite a bit about music himself. He's a former DJ on Q92 FM in Alliance.

"People were calling for Nickelback all the time," he said of song requests. "Nickelback was a staple."

Nickelback makes HOF volunteers dance

Fans always have a great time at the Concert for Legends no matter the performer or genre.

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They dance and smile and hug and rejoice. But Nickelback had the stadium as rocking as it's been in recent memory. During their song, "Animal," which was introduced with an animated video of a Trans-Am, fans went bonkers.

The song was so utterly infectious that even some of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival volunteers were getting in on the act.

While working an aisle between seats on the floor, around 100 feet or more from the stage, Rhonda Brady, 56, of Canton, and Courtney Meadows, 35, of Canton, were dancing, twirling, grinning and rocking out.

Fans watch Nickelback perform during the Concert for Legends at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Brady said the moment exemplified what the Enshrinement Festival is truly about.

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"The energy of the crowd, the energy of the community, the energy of the entire week," she shouted over the roar of vocals, guitar, bass and drums that engulfed the audience. "I absolutely love it. We love the city."

Both volunteers had spent countless hours working multiple festival events.

"We love (the festival)," Meadows said. "It's the best weekend in Canton of the entire year every year. It's a lot of fun and a lot of energy. It's so awesome."

"That's why we love volunteering," she added. "We can have fun and do a job at the same time."

Reach Ed at [email protected]. Follow on Instagram at ed_balint and TikTok @edwardbalint

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Nickelback sizzles at Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival in Canton