Nu metal and Alternative music giants form to take one of the biggest package tours across North america this summer. Korn and Alice in Chains respectively have each made an indelible mark on music and teaming up for a tour like this is a win win for music fans alike. The tour recently stopped by Darien Lake Amphitheater with each band playing an hour and 15 minute set.
Alice in Chains went on first. The first part of their set was nothing but hit after hit. They opened with “Angry Chair” and glided into “Man in the Box.” One of my favorite songs the band does live is “Check my Brain.” This was off of the 2009 album “Black Gives Way to Blue” with current vocalist William DuVall. The band still consists of original members Sean Kinney on drums and Jerry Cantrell on guitar & vocals along with longtime bassist Mike Inez. The band was locked and loaded from the start. DuVall has carved his own niche within the band adding tantalizing vocals while remaining true to the Alice in Chains sound. DuVall bounced back and forth between singing acapella and playing electric and acoustic guitar during the set. Make no mistake, when you hear an Alice in Chains song you hear that unmistakable harmony of Cantrell. His guitar playing continues to remain as solid as ever. They actually dusted off “Sludge Factory” off of their self titled album and brought that into the setlist. Overall a fantastic setlist by A.I.C!
Next up was Korn. The band are preparing to release their 13th studio album called “The Nothing” on September 13th. The set was mostly geared towards old materiel except the first single “You’ll Never Find Me.” The song sounds like true Korn. In your face guitars and the masterful vocal stylings of vocalist Jonathan Davis. Having Brain “Head” Welch back permanently within the band really adds that dual guitar that was lacking previously for a few years during his absence. With James “Munky” Shaffer and Welch both playing leads and rhythms together, it makes for a fuller Korn sound. You will be pressed to find a more sound rhythm section than drummer Ray Luzier and bassist Fieldy. They give Korn that true low end that makes the band who they are. Their set also included their hits as well. Fans loved “Twisted Transistor” and “Shoots & Ladders” to name a few. Adding snippets of Metallica’s “One” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” also kept the momentum going through the set.
It was a twin billing that lived up to everyone’s expectations and then some.
Korn setlist:
Here to Stay
Blind
Divine
Rotting in Vain
You’ll Never Find Me
Twisted Transistor
Shoots & Ladders (Snippet of One -Metallica cover)
Got the Life
Make Me Bad
Somebody Someone
Freak on a Leash
Encore:
4 U
Twist
Coming Undone (Snippet of We will Rock You -Queen cover)
Falling Away From Me
Alice in Chains setlist:
Angry Chair
Main in the Box
Check my Brain
Again
Them Bones
Dam That River
Hollow
Rainier Fog
No Excuses
Nutshel
Sludge Factory
We Die Young
The One You Know
Would?
Rooster
We would like to thank Tim Kohnan from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.