Live

Korn

Pima County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Nov. 20

Suffering from agonizing boredom thanks to opening acts Yellowcard, Chevelle and My Chemical Romance was bad. Freezing all night while at an outdoor venue in late November was worse. Waiting nearly an hour for Korn after countless soundchecks didn't help, either.

By the time they took the stage around 11 p.m., Korn had to win over a frustrated crowd--and they pulled it off. As part of the weekend-long Velocity Tour, Korn made a special stop in Tucson in support of the recently released Greatest Hits Vol. 1 disc.

Opening with "Here to Stay" from 2002's Untouchables, Korn paused to let the crowd belt out the angst-filled line, "(Anticipating all these) fucked-up feelings again." For the next 75 minutes, fucked-up feelings and raw energy were all over the Pima County Fairgrounds.

Despite its horrific sound system, the Pima County Fairgrounds ironically benefited Korn's performance. Normally over-bearing and annoying, the slap-bass chords of Fieldy were kept to a minimum. The mumbling "Twist," the disco-crunch "Got the Life" and the pornographic "A.D.I.D.A.S." followed in what appeared to be a typical, never-changing performance from the band.

Various guitar effects and electronic drumbeats lead into "Make Believe," a track never released as a single and rarely performed live, from Untouchables. Another song rarely performed until the Tucson performance was "Dirty," from 1999's Issues. Iconic vocalist Jonathan Davis poured his soul out for the crowd in delivering the chorus, "I hurt so bad inside, I wish you could see the world through my eyes ... I just want to live again."

Prior to "Shoots and Ladders," Davis performed his trademark bagpipe solo while marching around the stage. At the song's end, Korn teased the crowd by covering the last half of Metallica's "One."

Speaking of covers, the night was highlighted by Korn's rendition of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Parts 1, 2, 3)." Davis held a burning torch over his head while singing the first part and sent shivers through the spines of the crowd while crying, "Goodbye, cruel world ... " at the song's conclusion. Parents even let loose and rocked-out with their children in reminiscence--a true bonding moment worth seeing.