After Almost 30 Years– Korn Still Has It

It was a bit weird to drive to a show on Saturday night and need my sunglasses for the drive in. It’s a welcome surprise and, although the sunshine was a bit deceiving since the temperatures didn’t hit much higher than thirty today, it had me super optimistic and excited as I made my way from my car to the Target Center in the heart of Minneapolis.

Even though the show kicked off a little later than advertised (thirteen minutes to be exact), there was an undeniable sense of anticipation in my soul as the opening act Code Orange took the stage. If I’m being completely honest, this band was the main reason for my excitement when making my way downtown. Although their sound has definitely taken a bit of a turn to more of a hard rock-styled sound, Code Orange started as a more hardcore influenced band and I have been a fan for years. Their new style and sound definitely made them a good fit for this monumental tour they find themselves on and their background kept them being a bit of the oddball on the tour which made them a perfect opener. Although the crowd seemed a bit reluctant to get into the music, there were definitely some fans in the mess of people scattered across the floor that were not going to miss headbanging to a single beat. Complete with fist pumps and an enormous sense of power, Code Orange got the night started off right.

Following the powerful set from Code Orange was Chevelle. I’ve seen this band multiple times and although their overall sound is just not quite for me, their stage presence has always left me blown away and Saturday night was no different. Their thirteen-song set really highlighted this veteran band’s long history of producing just solid music that is unapologetically theirs. Although most easily you could fit them into the hard rock scene, there are elements in their music that span across many more genres and keep every song of theirs feeling fresh. Personally, I could only sing along to “Send the Pain Below” from their set but it seemed like everyone else was singing along to every single word of every single song.

Although the floor felt a bit sparse as Code Orange got the night started, it was packed by the time Chevelle had hit their second song. As I found myself watching the audience, I recognized the undeniable connection that Chevelle has with their fans. Whether it was someone sitting in a seat behind me or standing in the general admission floor, there was a sense of aggression and passion that was coming out of them just like was radiating out of the stage. Although Chevelle will never be that band that I crave to hear, they will always be that band that I respect both musically and for their commitment to not only their music, but also their fans. Although their set was a full hour which is a bit lengthy for an opening act, it didn’t feel so long because I was so captivated by both the band and audience.

Headlining the powerful Saturday night show was Korn. Love them or hate them, they are kings of the nu-metal scene and are clearly not going anywhere any time soon. I said it the last time I saw Korn back in September of 2017 but it’s been a while so I feel like it doesn’t hurt to repeat it– I like Korn. They have a very special spot in my heart because of when I discovered the band. I was young and just getting into heavy music and although I came to find out their brand of heavy really wasn’t heavy at all compared to what I was going to get into later in life, my appreciation for this band is still there. Now, I’ll admit, I don’t listen to these guys daily, weekly, or even monthly but I will admit that every time one of their songs creeps into my life, a smile stretches across my face and I will have to stop everything and go down the rabbit hole that is Korn and their fourteen album career spanning all the way back to 1993.

As soon as the white sheet concealing the stage dropped to the ground, the audience went wild. Bodies were going every which way in the general admission crowd as Korn kicked their set off with “Forgotten”. Along with their distinct nu-metal sound came an absolutely epic light show complete with some of the brightest and most blinding lights I have experienced in some time. Even though they were bright and distracting at first, it didn’t take long for my eyes to adjust and become glued on vocalist Jonathan Davis. There’s just something so threatening about his presence but also something so comforting at the same time. He’s a tall guy and the power that comes out when he opens his mouth just adds to this commanding presence about him but I think the nostalgia that comes with his distinct voice for me helps him from getting too aggressive or threatening.

Although the audience had definitely been moving during Chevelle’s lengthy opening set, they really got the magic started as Korn played through their set. A mixture of a few pits opening up on the floor along with the constant pushing and shoving closer to the front of the audience, I’m pretty sure there was not a single person on that floor that was standing still as Korn played through their eighteen song set.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed that we only got eighteen songs from this monumental band but I get it. Every song was so full of energy and these guys are spring chickens anymore (Jonathan Davis is 51 which feels so weird to say and type!) that eighteen songs was more than enough to get your money’s worth from this bad but there were just so many amazing songs missing from their set. Thankfully, we were treated to a drum solo from the amazing Ray Luzier which is something I feel like I haven’t gotten in previous Korn shows or just haven’t remembered and we got some hits like “Freak on a Leash” and “Ya’ll Want A Single” but I just wanted to so much more. But was more even going to be enough?

Korn is one of those bands that has a reputation in the scenes that I typically find myself in so I try to hide my love for this band but the truth is they are an absolutely solid band. From the legacy that their sound has made on the music industry to the power that comes with their live shows– Korn is alive and well and definitely still at the top of their game even after decades of doing their thing.