LIMP BIZKIT BREATHTAKINGLY FRENETIC AT THE PIECE HALL, HALIFAX UK, 12TH AUGUST 2023

August 15, 2023
UK Concert Reviews
by Billy Seagrave Photographer/Writer

WORDS WILL MAXWELL / IMAGES BILLY SEAGRAVE

If you said to me 20 years ago that I would hear Fred Durst scream “Halifax!” I would think that the band must have fallen on hard times. But that is anything but the case. Limp Bizkit’s popularity has come full circle. The Piece Hall plays host to some of the biggest names in music these days, and tickets for tonight were sold out in minutes. Five and a half thousand amped up fans are packed into the beautiful courtyard of this historic, Grade I listed building ready to go wild for their Nu Metal heroes.

Joey Valence & Brae are tonight’s opening act, and their Beastie Boys influenced style goes down well with the early arrivals. Like lots of new bands these days, they gained popularity by going viral on TikTok. Their East Coast Hip Hop style is a great start to the evening and they end on the huge hit “Punk Tactics”

KennyHoopla is up next. His set is mainly comprised of material from his Survivors Guilt: The Mixtape that he released with Blink 182‘s Travis Barker and his influence is stamped all over it. He puts in a vigorous performance as he barely pauses for breath and runs around the stage throughout. “How Will I Rest In Peace If I’m Buried In a Highway” and set closer Estella show that pop-punk is in good hands as the torch is passed down to the next generation.

Huge cheers greet Limp Bizkit’s arrival on stage. “Significant Other” classics “Show Me What You’ve Got” and “9 Teen 90 Nine” have the crowd bouncing from the very start, with the ever energetic and infectious personality that is Fred Durst whipping the crowd into a frenzy. He may look older but he certainly doesn’t act it, decked out in an American Football jersey, ridiculously oversized gold chain and of course the trademark red cap, which many fans in the crowd are also wearing. Seeing him join in with chants of “Yorkshire!” feels like a bit of a fever dream!

“Chocolate Starfish” and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water” trio “My Generation”, the expletive-laden “Hot Dog” and of course the iconic “Rollin'” are such a nostalgia trip for many in attendance, with that album thrusting them into the mainstream in this country. It is virtually impossible to listen to “Rollin” and not copy the music videos dance and the crowd becomes a sea of waving arms.

It’s a mainly old skool set but “Dad Vibes” and “Pill Popper” from their most recent album Still Sucks are well received and shows that the fan base still has a thirst for new material.

“My Way” is followed by a medley of Nirvana‘s “Heart Shaped Box” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and shows off the band’s musical talents perfectly. Wes Borland is widely considered to be one of the best guitarist’s around, earning the respect of many even though at times the band have been much maligned and it’s a real treat to see him perform. It’s great to see the full original line up together, with John Otto (drums), Sam Rivers (bass) and DJ Lethal all on top form.

“Play something Tom Cruise would like” says Fred before they launch into Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack anthem “Take a Look Around” The classics just keep on, erm, rolling (sorry!) with “Nookie, Boiler” and “Full Nelson” A fan is invited on stage to sing “Full Nelson” in a moment that I’m sure will last with her forever.

Their cover of The Who‘s “Behind Blue Eyes” is the only real calm moment of the evening and offers the crowd a bit of a rest before they have one last opportunity to bounce to “Break Stuff” and whilst its thankfully not quite Woodstock ’99, I doubt The Piece Hall has ever seen scenes like the gloriously chaotic ones that surround me now as the circle pits are in full flow and bodies are flying everywhere!

A breathtakingly frenetic performance from a band that are apparently cool to love again. If you ask me, they always were.