We got off
to a hilariously rocky start. We were standing on the lower deck, just above
the pit, where all the other self-aware Limp Bizkit fans seemed to have
gathered. It was a relaxed location. In between sets, I couldn’t help but
overhear the guy next to me talking about his “$100 Perry Ellis shirt and $100
jeans” and the rest of his “$1,000 outfit,” and I resisted the urge to ask him
why any of these tidbits were relevant at a Limp Bizkit concert. He was telling
all of this to a complete stranger, and the complete stranger happened to be a
dude who absolutely did not give a shit. Further, the gentleman couldn’t seem to describe his
designer shirt without repeatedly falling back and bumping into me. Note: this
was before they went on stage and before everyone was inside; there was plenty of room to not continuously bump
into me. I looked at the people in front of me and told them that “something’s
gonna happen with this guy.”
It took all
of 5 seconds for that something to happen. I am not exaggerating when I tell
you the following: the drummer sat down, Wes Borland started to play a few
chords, and this gentleman decided to go batshit fucking crazy right
next to us. Picture a Kentucky Derby horse trying to get out of the post and
you’ll start to have an idea of what was going on. He was pushing girls,
shoving guys, and every single person
in the immediate vicinity had to try to calm this guy down. A man with a mohawk
and a Limp Bizkit hoodie ended up being the voice of reason; I don’t know what
he said to him, but he verbally sedated him and saved him from being punched in
the face.
But back to
the music. They (basically) opened with “Show Me What You’ve Got,” and I’m not going to
lie; I was grinning during the entire song. It brought back middle school
memories of sharing a cigarette and a can of Budweiser between four people.
Fred Durst was of course dressed in a hoodie and a flat-brimmed fitted hat, and
Wes Borland was of course dressed in some kind of black latex suit and
highly-reflective Mardi Gras mask. Check and check. It was great to be there.
The
greatness, naturally, subsided. The next batch of songs were unfamiliar, and
they were played so sloppily that it seemed Durst’s mic wasn’t on. Now, I know
that’s generally a good problem to have: not being able to hear Fred Durst. But
I paid good money to hear his faux-ghetto blend of rap-rock, and dammit I was
being denied.
Then they
played “Faith.” In an “unplanned” move, they asked an audience member to pick a
song, and Durst locked his eyes on a hot blonde standing on the railing right
next to me and declared, “I think she’s saying ‘Faith.’” That’s when two things
happened: the crowd totally lost it, and my buddy and I headed down into the
pit.
Now, let me
try to describe this pit. Can anyone manage to look harmless and angry at the same
time? Yes, of course. That’s exactly what this pit was like. I was down there for
“Faith” and later “Take a Look Around” and “Break Stuff,” and this sweaty mass
of people were just flying around and shoving people in every direction.
Normally I don’t attend concerts where there is a potential for injury – call me
boring – but there is just something “risk-free” about seeing a crazy-looking fucker
standing right next to you wearing a sweat-soaked cartoon Limp Bizkit t-shirt.
They didn’t
play “Nookie,” and I honestly think it was because they were worried that
something would happen to someone. Yes, I know they played “Break Stuff,” but
even that was preceded by Durst’s plea to “not let any harm come to anyone.” Had
they played “Nookie” right after “Break Stuff,” that would have seriously
tested the foundations of the building and maybe even the limits of human
decency.
Am I an even
bigger Limp Bizkit fan after this show? Haha, no. It was exactly what I expected
it to be; a fun, loud blast from the past. They obviously have a lot of haters
out there, but they played a sold-out show and the crowd was absolutely jacked
up throughout; I’d be an asshole to call the night anything other than successful.
~Photo Credit: Town Ballroom
Glad your review wasn't horrible....they definitely took the roof off the place. They didn't play Nookie because they played other awesome songs hardcore fans would know. That's what this tour was about. Songs from 3$ Bill Y'all and The unquestionable Truth