August 17, 2019

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Headbangers were out in full force at Blossom Music Center last night for two heavy metal heavyweights, Korn and Alice In Chains.

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The two bands are on a co-headlining tour this summer.  Although Alice In Chains appears on stage first, both bands sets were about 70 minutes each.

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Opening the show with "Angry Chair" AIC was off and running.  Featuring founding members Jerry Cantrell (guitars) and drummer Sean Kinney, the band also included long-time bassist Mike Inez and singer William DuVall.  DuVall has had the unenviable job of taking over for original vocalist Layne Staley.  

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However, his thirteen plus years fronting the band has proven that he has been a more than worthy replacement.  The crowds reaction to his take on classic AIC songs such as "Man In The Box," "Them Bones" and "No Excuses" was fantastic.

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Newer songs like "Rainier Fog" and "Check My Brain" were also well received. 

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Before playing "Nutshell,"  Cantrell asked the audience to take out their phones and "light this place up!"  We've come a long way from the old Bic lighters we used to use for the same effect from back in the day.

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Their set ended with "Would?" and "Rooster."

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After a set change, Korn hit the stage to play their brand of Nu-Metal.

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Opening the show with "Here To Stay" from their 2002 Untouchables album, the band would proceed to hit on songs from eight different albums during their sixteen song set.

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It's hard to believe that Jonathan Davis and the rest of the band have been around for 25 years!  Their energy and overall performance shows that they have no signs of slowing down.  

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Davis even broke out the bagpipes for the intro to "Shoots and Ladders" and the band ended the song with a snippet of Metallica's "One."

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More headbanging and horns in the air ensued with "Make Me Bad," "Got The Life" and "Freak On A Leash."

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The band returned to encore with "4 U," "Twist" and the show closing "Falling Away From Me."

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Up and coming "rap metal" band HO99O9 opened the show while veteran metal band Under Oath was second on the bill.

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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