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Korn
A Concert Review |
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This is a tough review to write because of all of the times I
have seen Korn, this show had to have the least amount of energy
that I can recall. Not that it’s a bad thing, and maybe there are
underlying reasons for it, but Jonathan and the boys just weren’t
as explosive as I remember. Now, before you start sending me your
hate e-mail, how I suck as a reviewer, how Korn is the greatest band
in the world, and how I should die, well, please finish reading this
review, and then you can send all of the hate e-mail you like if you
still want to.
So, it was Korn on their "Sick and Twisted" tour, with
replacement drummer Mike Bordin filling in for David Silveria who’s
out sportin’ a busted flipper. The curtains opened to reveal one
of the bitchinest sets I have seen in a long time, a cathedral/great
room motif complete with giant chandelier, video screens integrated
into the glass domes, choir pits filled with fans, and flaming
foot-lights. Jonathan led the boys through a set of songs picked via
the internet, the crowd began their sing-a-longs, and it was, at
least for me, a weird experience instead of exhilarating.
Song-wise, you had the radio standards, as you might expect, but
with the internet voting this seemed to be a show for the fans to
enjoy, and that’s what Korn has been great at doing all along. But
the weird thing for me was seeing the energy kind of ride this
twisted wave up and down, both from the band as well as the crowd.
There were times that Munky, Head, and Fieldy just stood their
ground, still sounding great but without the energy action, and
Jonathan not his bombastic self. And the crowd responded with a
lulled mosh-pit, few body-surfers, and just kind of watching the
show. But just when I thought things were getting, well, kind of
lame, at least by past Korn standards, they blast into a song like
"Faget", the band goes crazy, the pit kicks in, and it’s
the Korn I remember.
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Another weird thing which turned kind of cool but took too long
– the intermission time. The band leaves the stage, leaving the
crowd in a kind of "Huh?" mode, and a little time later
the video cameras make it to the backstage area where David
apologizes for not being able to play. It was cool to do, and maybe
it was a little spur of the moment so it took too long to set up,
but it brought a definite stop to the action. But the stop didn’t
last long as Jonathan brought out the bagpipes, rising on a 10-ish
foot platform (I wonder if he’s afraid of heights?), for the
"Shoots and Ladders" sing-a-long. It brought the crowd
back, but the break just seemed surreal.
So you’re probably thinking I didn’t like the show, but that’s
not really the case although I’ve seen Korn do better. I’m
giving the band a break because it was the first show with Mike
filling in. He did a great job, but, and this is just my theory, I
think the boys of the band were just a little tentative without the
familiarity of having David blasting out the rhythm behind them.
Just my theory, but in any case, as the shows progress, I see the
band being able to feed off the drummer and him off of them and
usual.
Sound-wise Jonathan never sounded better. His vocals were crisp
and clear. Music-wise, Munky, Fieldy, and Head still put out some of
the best blasting sound I’ve heard, but energy-wise some things
just lacked. At least I thought so. But, I’m leaving the show and
I hear comments like "That show kicked-ass," "Fuckin’
awesome," and much screaming and yelling ensued in the parking
lot as fans made their way back to their cars. What do I know?
It’s TWO "THAT’S A BIG-ASS OVERSTUFFED DOLL" THUMBS
UP! I might have thought the show a little lower-key than normal,
but the crowd still seemed to love it. They’re who matters, and
Korn still cares.
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!! |
