's opening song in last night's Araneta concert in Cubao would be "Blind", the first track off their impressive self-titled debut. We walked in presumably several minutes after the opener's (local group Slapshock
) performance. There was a DJ/programmer onstage who was probably a tour member of the band entertaining the crowd and no doubt, doing a little intermission before the main show.He was playing tracks like Ramms+ein
's "Du Hast" and The Prodigy
's "Smack My Bitch Up", doing his best to alleviate the crowd's growing impatience for the band.True enough, a few minutes later someone growled a guttural "ARE...YOU...READYYYYY?!!" from the darkness of the stage and the band erupted into a frenzy of throbbing intensity that sent audiences jumping around like living pogo sticks. I collected my winnings and joined the communal jumping and repetitive head-bobbing.
Jonathan Davis
, wearing a kilt, black tank top and badass boots and the rest of the band---guitarist Munky, bassist Fieldy and drummer Ray Luzier--- looked pumped and ready to prove once again that they are the real deal when it came to dealing out hard-driving music that is equal part introspective musing and antagonistic missiles delivered via Davis's trademark scat and unique singing and snarling.
The venue may not have been that packed (some areas within the upper boxes had entire sections devoid of people), but the band went at it like the true professionals they are and gave their all as if playing to an audience of thousands. Just a little surprised at the noise-mongers situated near the general admissions area earlier before the show started to have quieted down the moment the band took stage. You'd think the rowdy bunch shouting catcalls and demands to already start the show would live out to their promise earlier.
Pansies.
You'd think a crowd showing such passionate cries for attention would have enough left to take them through the rest of the show. Never did trees look so alive compared to most of them when the show was already on full swing.
I admit my familiarity with the band is limited, having heard only the first three albums they released from 1994-1998. There were songs last night I was not familiar with or heard only in passing in some rock radio, but seeing the band performing live is a sight to behold. Specially Davis, whose gyrations and overall appearance was sure to leave a lasting impression to both hardcore fans and casual listeners alike. Someone at the back even asked why the hell the guy wore a 'skirt'.
But the highlight of the evening was when "Shoots and Ladders" was played. I always wanted to see them play that on a live setting. The bagpipes adds a touch of majestic grandeur to an otherwise heavy and sludgy music. And it doesn't hurt that it was also the first time I actually saw someone playing a bagpipe on a concert.
Singles like "Ball Tongue", "Freak On A Leash
", "Falling Away From Me
', and other songs were interconnected by a little playful medley that featured parts of Metallica
's "One" and Queen
's "We Will Rock You". They played masterfully, as expected from a band well-versed in hip-hop throb and hard rock crunch. But more than that, it was the band's good-natured humor that sold everyone.I was afraid Fieldy's drop-tuned bass would blow the speakers from the inside-out, or flatten everyone's chest all the way to their backs with its incessant pounding. It was that heavy and no doubt the driving rhythm responsible to everyone's communal headbanging and jumping. Along with him and Davis, Munky (guitars) is the other original member left from the old line-up. Out of all the members I expected the guy to be the most aloof and quiet member but turned out to be a very warm and accommodating person to his fans, acknowledging the audience every now and then.
They ended the set with a promise to return.
This time don't miss it.
