[ Music Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

Come To Papa With its CD sailing up the charts and a hot summer touring schedule, it's all good for Papa Roach By Sarah Quelland SINCE THE RELEASE of its CD INFEST on DreamWorks seven weeks ago, it's been a fast and furious ride for local band Papa Roach. For reasons industry wags are still trying to figure out, Infest debuted at No. 48 on Billboard's chart and sold 29,500 albums the first week it hit stores. The number has since reached more than 280,000, almost a certified gold record in less than three months. The record's currently No. 28 and will be No. 19 next week. Meanwhile, the first single from the album, LAST RESORT, debuted at No. 7 on MTV's Total Request Live, and just this week rose to No. 5. Papa Roach--or P-Roach as it is known to fans--has put in seven years of vigorous self-promotion and relentless touring, mostly at small clubs. In the coming weeks this foursome from Vacaville that calls San Jose its adopted home prepares to infest mass audiences with what its devoted fans have known since the beginning: P-Roach's combination of aggressive rock and catchy melodies persist like the insect it's named for. Only days after they perform at LIVE 105's BFD show on Friday, June 16 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, the band joins the Warped Tour, stopping at San Francisco's Pier 30/32 on July 1. When that tour wraps on July 20 in Boston, the band will immediately hit the road with Korn and Powerman 5000, starting July 21 in Illinois. My, what a difference a few weeks make. Vocalist Coby Dick, bassist Tobin Esperance, guitarist Jerry Horton and drummer Dave Buckner have gone from touring in a cramped van to hitting the road in the comfort of a tour bus--from struggling to finance their own endeavors to having a major label like DreamWorks foot 100 percent of the bill. From being one of the region's most commercially viable unsigned bands to one of the most visible buzz bands of the year. Last Saturday, June 10, P-Roach helped break in the new Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre with Stone Temple Pilots and Full Devil Jacket in front of a crowd of 17,000. Metro photographer George Sakkestad was there to capture with his lens a day in the life of Papa Roach. Photograph by George Sakkestad Backstage before the show, vocalist Coby Dick gets a hug from wife Kelly Shaddix (Dick's family name). Photograph by George Sakkestad Even with a drum tech waiting in the wings, Dave Buckner prefers to set up his drum kit himself. Photograph by George Sakkestad Vocalist Coby Dick and bassist Tobin Esperance check out the view from the stage of the brand-new Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre during sound check. Photograph by George Sakkestad Front Row Center: A rabid Papa Roach fan screams from his vantage point in the frontlines at this show that promoters say brought out 17,000 people. Photograph by George Sakkestad Radio Friendly: Fans gather around bassist Tobin Esperance and guitarist Jerry Horton at a meet-and-greet sponsored by KRXQ 98 Rock. Photograph by George Sakkestad Huddle Up: Papa Roach does its ritual hug seconds before hitting the stage. Photograph by George Sakkestad Instant Replay: Guitarist Jerry Horton, vocalist Coby Dick and drummer Dave Buckner crowd around their manager from San Jose, Gary Avila, to watch footage of a video of themselves that they're sending to a friend. Photograph by George Sakkestad T-Off: Shortly after arriving at the venue for their recent Sacramento show, bassist Tobin Esperance checks out the freshly minted P-Roach merchandise while guitarist Jerry Horton and manager Bret Bair stand by. Photograph by George Sakkestad In the Neck of Time: Adding to his two tattooed 'rock' stars behind each ear, Coby Dick shows off his newest, a large collar piece that reads 'Born to Rock.' Photograph by George Sakkestad Set to Go: Papa Roach's set list for the inaugural performance at the brand-new Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre features songs off Infest, released April 25 on DreamWorks Records. Some of the tunes came off the band's two earlier self-released CDs, '5 Tracks Deep' and 'Let 'Em Know.' Photograph by George Sakkestad Roach On Approach: Known for diving into the pit every chance he gets, vocalist Coby Dick gets pushed back toward the stage by a sweaty sea of hands. Photograph by George Sakkestad Pit Fire: After backflipping offstage into the pit and almost losing his microphone to the crowd, vocalist Coby Dick stirs up the audience from behind the barrier. Photograph by George Sakkestad Winding Down: After the final encore, guitarist Jerry Horton and vocalist Coby Dick are spent, catching a breather backstage before heading home for the night. Photograph by George Sakkestad Double Ace: P-Roach drummer Dave Buckner shakes hands with drummer and former Willow Glenite Eric Kretz of Stone Temple Pilots, which headlined the show. Both bands are scheduled to perform at BFD on Friday (June 16) at Shoreline Amphitheatre. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]