A tour with name like Family Values should bring up images of kids playing in a park, a big picnic with plenty of food, and someone breaking out a guitar and crooning some folk songs. Nowadays, it means something completely different. Think more along the lines of a massive pit of rowdy music fans, plenty of bad food from the concession stand, and enough heavy music to make any fan happy.
Nu-Metal godfathers Korn embarked on their infamous tour yet again, bringing along an assortment of bands from every corner of the heavy. Joining the trek this year on the main stage was Evanescence, Atreyu, Flyleaf, Hellyeah, Trivium, Neurosonic, and The Vanished.
While the tour did have a second stage for up and coming bands, I concentrated on the main stage to see what the trek had to offer. Opening the stage were Dallas locals The Vanished, the radio-friendly rock band that played as the fans began to trickle in. I’m not sure what to make of them but I do know they would be much better suited for a show with Nickelback than any metal band.
Canadian exports Neurosonic were brave to say the least. Wearing dark suits in the blistering Texas heat, they came and delivered a System of A Down-meets-311 combo that would have been great if it was still 2001. Having heard them online a few days before, I was looking forward to their set but what we got was a lackluster show instead. It was apparent they needed to do more touring down south of the Yukon before they can get the crowd going.
Metallica er, I mean Trivium was up next. Having seen them previously in the year, I knew what to expect and will say I wasn’t disappointed. The same show, different day. I am never going to downplay their musicianship as it is tighter than the majority of bands out there but I just don’t get anything out their live show. Some of their faithful few were very vocal in supporting but nothing to make their set anymore special.
Article comments
1 - Anastasia Beaverhausen
Great review! I went to both the Darien Lake show and the Saratoga Springs show in NY. I have to say the Darien Lake show was the best, Atreyu being the only exception for both shows. They seemed bored both sets. Oh well! The blonde guy you mentioned is Kalen Chase. He's lead singer for The Changing and Illium. I think that with Head leaving and most of KoRn's newer music, he is a welcome addition, vocally, to their live set. I'm sorry you felt he took away from their set, but for me he adds to it. Thanks again for the great review!
2 - Big Homie
they will never play Clown, Good God or Mr. Rogers again and yeah the new album sucks