Knotfest Roadshow Review
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The Knotfest Roadshow made its stop in New York’s capital at MVP Arena on May 24. The second leg of the 2022 North American tour included performances from Ho99o9, Cypress Hill, and of course Slipknot.
Ho99o9 shocked the crowd with a hip-hop driven thrash/punk sound. Joined on stage by hell hounds and skeletons with assault rifles, the frantic lighting showered front man Eaddy as he sang into various colored telephones. The groups DJ and lyricist, the OGM sported face paint with a scarecrow like hat and black denim overalls with more straps and chains than a safe. Former Black Flag drummer, Brandon Pertzborn kept the tempo high with his hard-hitting snare and bone crushing bass. This was my first time seeing Ho99o9 live, and they did not disappoint, if they didn’t win the crowd over with their energy and stage presence than they definitely did when they played “Mega City Nine (unknown virus 4)” which samples Slipknot’s “Tattered and Torn”. I look forward to seeing what Ho99o9 brings to their live shows in the near future.
Next up to the stage was Cypress Hill. Unfortunately, Sen Dog had to step away from the tour due to surgery but B Real took full control of the mic to effortlessly deliver flows during a set filled with classics. The stage flooded with smoke when B Real lit up a foot long joint during “Roll It Up, Light it Up, Smoke It Up” followed with “I Wanna Get High”. He then goes on to bless the stage with the earth's essence by waving the joint around like sage during “Dr. Greenthumb'' and prescribed the left side of the audience to pick it up after his analysis proved that the right side was more turnt up. The lights faded to black as drummer Eric Bobos' sticks illuminated during a drum solo accompanied by DJ Lord putting on an absolute clinic with his rapid-fire technique on the 1s and 2s. I found myself mesmerized by the reflection of DJ Lord’s turntables spinning on the backdrop, being able to see his scratch patterns allowed me to feel even more connected to the jaw clenching cuts he was providing to the set.
The production crew working Knotfest is absolutely amazing because this is my second time seeing a show on this leg of the tour and both shows were pinpoint accurate on set times. Two minutes before Slipknot was set to take the stage, “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC played over the PA followed by “Get Behind Me Satan and Push” by Billie Jo Spears until a canon sounded and the black curtain covering the stage that displayed the band’s name shot up into the rafters, unveiling The Nine. Slipknot’s live show is the most consistently entertaining and captivating performance I have ever had the privilege to experience. I remember the chokehold the “Disasterpieces” DVD of their 2002 London Arena performance had on my mind as a child. I could not believe what I was seeing, nine dudes in red jumpsuits wearing masks you would only see in your nightmares. Slipknot has been professionally performing for 23 years and their live show still encapsulates the aggressive, in-your face energy they had when they were back in Iowa. Former guitar tech turned Bassist, Alessandro “VMan” Venturella brought the heat during “The Devil In I” as he climbed to the top of a platform to light up the arena with his fire breathing four string. The setlist for this tour differs from the last because this one focused more on their older established tracks rather than the newer ones. However, they did perform “The Chapeltown Rag” which is their most recent work released in November 2021. The opening A minor chord of “Snuff” sent the arena into a mesmerized trance as it has been performed less than 20 times since its release. The ballad was released as the final single on the “All Hope is Gone” album in 2008. This song represents unrequited love and trying to obtain the light when you have been trapped in darkness for so long. The dual reality of the chorus belts “My heart is just too dark to care, I can’t destroy what isn’t there” which refers to the numbness that consumes Corey’s heart. The damage has already been done but it can’t destroy his heart if it’s already been taken from him. It also shows that he can’t cause his counterpart anymore pain if she is not present.
I was able to experience the show from the general admission section and in the midst of the mosh pit I witnessed a little boy on his father’s shoulders. This young maggot was having the time of his life, singing along to every song that was thrown his way. I looked up at him and gave him a fist bump before his dad said “hold on, it’s time” as he then proceeded to take off into the belly of the beast. Drummer Jay Weinberg made sure to give the kid one of his sticks immediately after the show. I also witnessed 3 security guards equipped with armored vests in that same mosh pit, but they were not there to manage the crowd, they were there to join
it! It’s almost impossible to identify Slipknot’s demographic because everyone loves Slipknot no matter who or what you are. If you have ever been to a Slipknot show, then you already know the storm of adrenaline you are about to experience towards the end of the setlist. “Spit It Out” has been the closing song to every set since its release on their self-titled debut studio album in 1999. It was also the first song the band wrote with Corey Taylor as a member of the group. At the end of the show, guitarist Mick Thomson holds an engine like riff during the closing bridge to prepare the crowd for the ultimate burst of rage. Corey then instructs the entire arena to get down on the ground and wait for his cue to unleash hell. After giving very specific instructions, the bridge comes back in, and the crowd is demanded to “jump the fuck up”. This scene of controlled chaos is a beautiful display of Corey Taylor’s crowd control. As the stage cleared and lights cut out, the ruthless maggots demanded more and refused to abandon the stage. After moments of anticipation, the menacing growls of “(515)” haunted the arena as the Nine appeared in the warm red fog to perform “People = Shit
Slipknot
Slipknot
Slipknot