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Live Reviews : Limp Bizkit @ Festival Hall, Melbourne 27/10/2013

By on October 28, 2013

Images: Scott Boelson
Words: Amber Rose

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It takes a lot to get this girl excited to see a band these days, but even in my flu ridden state there was just the hint of a flutter in this old jaded heart on this breezy Sunday afternoon. Now, Festival Hall is not my favourite venue, so I was a little crabby to say the least on my way to the gig, but within five minutes of arriving I had a great seat, a beer in hand and was very graciously soaking up the surprisingly pleasant atmosphere. Total mood fixer, I was happier than a pig in mud. The crowd was a veritable mixed bag, with a dash heavier on the bearded tattooed metal guy side. There was a really fun, chill vibe and it was apparent that the fans were set for a night saturated by Limp Bizkit.

limp bizkit

Limp Bizkit

The support wasn’t a support act in the strict definition of the term. DJ Skeletor; world traveller and self-proclaimed beer drinker, took the stage to rev up the masses for some pre Bizkit tunes. He spun a solid set, opening with Daft Punk and following on with the likes of AC/DC, Prodigy, Deftones and Rage Against the Machine. His song selection was picked wisely and nearly every track had the crowd amped whether they were cutting a rug or shouting along. The party was alive and kicking. My only complaint is that DJ Skeletor’s set was relatively short in comparison to what felt like an eternity of sound checks and lighting tests. Even though I was beginning to huff a little, the wait was well worth it in the end.

Oh my god! That’s so clichéd and a little Valley Girl, but what else can I say? I was utterly blown away by Limp Bizkit’s performance. I’ve seen them a few times at Festivals throughout the years but I’d never seen one of their side shows, and I’m so glad that I did. Even though people talk shit about Limp Bizkit and I’ve heard them be the butt of many a joke due to their standing in the Nu Metal genre which is a contentious area for some, they are one of the most professional, entertaining, tight bands I have ever seen live (and I’ve seen hundreds of bands). They know what their fans want and they know exactly how to appease them without losing their own vision and integrity.

Wes Borland, notorious for his on stage costumes, graced the stage wearing a white full body leather suit with a full face helmet speckled in tiny flashing coloured lights that changed sequence and hue. My description really doesn’t do it justice; it looked like something fresh out of a Daft Punk video. I realised why the lighting tests had taken so long and was suddenly struck with a shot of jealousy that I wouldn’t get to photograph it in all its splendour. But my jealousy was short lived as Fred Durst bounded on stage, surging with energy, kicking off the night with ‘Show Me What You Got’. No one cared that they’d been kept waiting anymore, the gig was in full swing and Limp Bizkit were kicking some serious Nu Metal arse.

Limp Bizkit

Fred Durst has a magnificent stage presence. He connects with his fans in a way that so many front men try and fail. His ability to interact with a packed venue of people but also one individual fan is a truly notable skill and showcases perfectly the appreciation and admiration he has for the people who have supported his career. Limp Bizkit busted out some of my all-time favourites including ‘My Way’, ‘Rollin’, ‘Re-Arranged’ and ‘Faith’, with each song as tight as the last and equally as jam packed with vigour and vivacity. They played ‘Counterfeit’ as a Melbourne exclusive; I confirmed this with friends who had been present at the Sydney and Brisbane shows. One of the highlights for sure was Durst inviting a fan who he’d seen at every Australian show on the tour on stage to “rock out” during ‘Nookie’. And that’s exactly what he did. He was so happy in his moment that it was contagious and even my little black heart squeezed out a beat of joy for this guy. Limp Bizkit also paid tribute to Rage Against the Machine by covering ‘Killing In the Name’ which drove the fans absolutely bat shit crazy. Speaking of Bats, my second personal highlight of the night was the stoically silent Wes Borland busting out a Bane impersonation the only time he spoke.

I think this went over more than a few heads, but I enjoyed the joke. Finally they went out hard on ‘Break Stuff’ with no coming back for an encore. I’m not really a fan of the encore as such and I praise them for going over their time limit to push out a full and amazing show. The crowd went nuts for absolutely every song and even I got up and shook my money maker to ‘Break Stuff’. I’m always a little cut when I don’t hear ‘No Sex’ because it’s one of my absolute favourite songs and I’ve never heard them play it live, but they stuck to their roots by playing predominately older tracks, so I really can’t sweat the small stuff. I was so impressed with this gig, it left me with feeling of true satisfaction and passion for music that I thought was long dead.

About

Amber has been a writer and photographer for 2020 BMX Mag, Reverb Street Press and 3DWorld. She has booked and managed hardcore bands and takes an interest in anything from hardcore to hair metal, particularly if it screams dirty Hollywood. Amber is also the author of a sex blog. You can follow her on Twitter Twitter or check out her blog.