Korn - London Docklands Arena, London UK (9.07.02)
Posted by Phil McCann on 09.12.2002
Everything that could be asked for in a live performance: a good cover, old favourites, and a few rousing new songs, a great night out for all the Korn fans out there
Fear, that pretty much describes the emotions of most fans in attendance at
the Docklands in the build-up to Korn’s first UK performance following the
release of ‘Untouchables’: their fifth album. However, not fear of being
crushed by a crowd of ever adoring eight year old ‘mini-moshers’, not fear
of being berated by Wes from ‘Puddle of Mudd’ for not liking their Nirvana
tribute, but fear that Korn simply would not deliver the goods.
Most in attendance feared that Korn would simply blast through
‘Untouchables’ and then maybe throw in ‘Blind’ to cheer up the old, faithful
fans. A fear cemented by the uneasy atmosphere in the queue, and the rather
negative reaction to Korn’s first single from ‘Untouchables’: ‘Here To
Stay’, which lacked the catchy guitar riffs of previous albums, and went for
a much more generic beat that seemed destined not to be catchy.
However first was the business of the opening acts, and first were the
Linkin Park-esque (in the least offensive way) TRUSTCompany.
Striding onto stage and blasting straight into tracks from their album ‘The
Lonely Position of Neutral’, TRUSTCompany showed the type of energy that
makes rock what it is. The crowd was mostly behind them, and willing to go
along with their hard-hitting, yet strangely easy-listening style, along
with the made for single ‘Downfall’ to finish off the set.
Next up were the Fred Durst boys: Puddle of Mudd…oh boy. They were well
supported by their faithful fans, but their repetitive set combined with a
huge lack of energy or stage presence failed to win over any neutrals. Also
their rather insulting version of ‘War Pigs’ riled up the old school rockers
in attendance, especially as they were told that Korn were the new-age
Sabbath, not the Cobain-worshipping rockers that got there first.
So 1 for 2 then, with a rather high on the scale first act, and a
disappointing second act, seeing as Puddle of Mudd boast the catchy songs
‘Blurry’ and ‘Drift And Die’ in their repertoire.
And so the wait began, a rather paltry half an hour, compared to the hour
and fifteen minutes that Red Hot Chili Pepper’s fans had to endure back in
June, but nevertheless a rather uncomfortable wait. The crowd began to
simmer once the technicians disappeared and all the movement behind the
curtains ceased, and once the curtains withdrew the crowd exploded…almost
literally.
David Silveria’s drum stand stood six feet high, and behind it came the real
eye-opener. A panoramic screen, the full width of the huge Dockland’s stage,
and straight away it burst into a video of a boy running from an unseen
threat leading up to the eventual black-out and as the screen started
buzzing, the 20,000+ fans ignited in a way only a highly charged crowd of
nu-metal fans can, showing their delight at the arrival of Davis and co.
And so their set began with an uplifting rendition of the less than favoured
‘Here To Stay’, and even being one of my least favourite Korn songs, I have
to admit it sent me straight to the front of the crowd, a completely awesome
opening song and it’s reception was only matched when Davis broke
unexpectedly into ‘Twist’ to really get the older fans going.
From there Korn began to tear up the arena. An emotional playing of
‘Fagget’, the strikingly powerful live version of ‘Dead Bodies Everywhere’
and the first UK live viewing of the new single ‘Thoughtless’ brought the
crowd to (pardon the cliché) fever-pitch and more was to come.
‘Blind’ rallied the fans to sing along, and ‘Freak On A Leash’ hit all the
right notes with just about everyone in attendance. ‘A.D.I.D.A.S’ provided
another worthy sing-along, and ‘Falling Away From Me’ proved to be the
biggest winner from ‘Issues’.
Munky and Head seemed perfectly at ease with drifting through all the old,
now classics, whilst Fieldy looked back in place after the awkward album
‘Fieldy’s Dreams’.
Korn impressed with a rendition of Metallica’s ‘One’, which whilst not
living up to it’s original owners, still reminded the world that Korn are up
there with the best. Korn finished off the hour and a half set with the
rousing, dance-like track ‘Got The Life’ with a shower of ribbons and white
and silver confetti bursting out onto the crowd, who by now had been
suitably amazed by the performance of a band who apparently hates England.
Overall, the critics silenced, the doubters pleased and the rest were just
delighted: Korn delivered and they delivered back on every bit of the near
£30 paid for their appearance. Never ones to be an ageing band who fail to
deliver with Rose, Axl-like tendencies, Korn once again made more than the
effort and for that have my utmost respect.
The 411: Everything that could be asked for in a live performance: a good cover, old favourites, and a few rousing new songs, a great night out for all the Korn fans out there…and I hear they did the same the next night too.
