Korn w/ Evanescence, P.O.D.& Dana Dentata• September 9, 2022• USANA Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson
Nu Metal band Korn has joined forces with alt-rock band Evanescence to create an unforgettable show on their 2022 summer tour. Salt Lake City was lucky enough to be one of their destinations on their 18-stop tour. On September 9th, fans gathered at USANA Amphitheatre to enjoy their highly anticipated show. With doors opening at 4:30 and the first act beginning at 5:30 (much earlier than most concerts I attend,) I knew I was in for a long night packed with live music. Joined by supporting band P.O.D. and Dana Dentata, the evening was full of excitement. Filling the seats and covering the lawn, fans of all ages were ready to be entertained.
At many metal concerts, I would expect to see men outnumbering women by a decent amount, but that wasn’t the case for the crowd that showed up for Korn and Evanescence. I saw many groups of ladies out for a girl’s night, couples on a date, and parents with their teenage or grown children. Many of these fans dressed for the occasion, and I saw quite a few “Still A Freak” t-shirts worn around the venue. The long line at the merch table led me to believe that many of those who did not show up wearing some band attire would be going home with something to wear next time.
Dana Dentata
I arrived at USANA just in time to watch Dana Dentata. With Harley Quinn face paint, wearing leather and fishnets. It’s safe to say her appearance made a statement. Her edgy look fit along with her music style and how she interacted with the crowd. From throwing Barbie’s legs out to the audience and referring to herself as “daddy,” everything about her performance was unique. Standing out the most during her set was her use of props. Between the clown head on a stand and the two-headed baby doll on a chain swinging between her legs, she entertained the crowd in a way I had not expected. Her energy was excellent, and she seemed to get a good reaction from the fans.
P.O.D.
San Diego-based nu metal band P.O.D. was next to take the stage. They started their eight-song set off with their popular song “Boom”. Even if you have never listened to P.O.D., there is a good chance you know this catchy song. Or have even seen the Kevin James movie “Here Come’s The Boom” named after it. The crowd, especially those in the pit, went crazy as they played it. Their set included a few more of their favorites, “Sleeping Awake”, “Youth of the Nation”, and “Southtown”. They did a great job getting the crowd pumped up and ready for the headliners. P.O.D. finished their portion of the concert with another hit that most people would recognize, “Alive”. They received the applause that would typically result in an encore if they had not been a supporting act. It was clear the crowd loved them.
Evanescence
I was unprepared for the level of excitement that would fill USANA when Evanescence took to the stage. The crowd went wild when they laid eyes on the iconic Amy Lee. Often called the Queen Of Goth, she is known for her powerful vocals that are easily recognized. I grew up thinking Amy Less was pretty awesome, and not just because of her talent. We happen to share the same birthday, and she was born just 30 minutes from my hometown. Having grown up hearing her strong voice playing on the radio, I was looking forward to hearing her live.
Visually and vocally, Evanescence put on a show that was incredible and entertaining. They kept the crowd captivated for every second of their 14-song set. Their performance drew significant reactions. Especially during some of their stand-out songs like “Going Under”, “Call Me When You’re Sober”, and “Use My Voice”. Dramatic displays of lightning or fire were displayed on large screens behind the band as they proved just how talented they were. A couple of times during their set, Amy Lee found her way to a Piano. With a single spotlight on her, she played solo on stage. At other times she played the piano, accompanied by the rest of the band.
When she wasn’t on the piano, she made her way around the stage. At one point, created a stunning silhouette display while she sang. They ended with “Bring Me to Life”, “My Immortal”, and “Blind Belief”. A few of the songs the crowd had been most excited to hear.
Korn
The sun had already set, and the temperature had dropped. It had been five and a half hours since the doors opened, and many people had waited in line for hours before that. All the waiting had created an intense level of anticipation that was easily felt among the crowd. The wait was over, and the time had finally arrived for Korn to take the stage.
Behind a cage-like metal screen, the band members appeared and found their places in front of almost twenty thousand cheering fans. With the stage lights flashing and still behind the metal screen, Korn started their set with “Rotting in Vain”. Visually, the performance was proving to be just as exciting as their music was. Abstract videos displayed across the screen, giving the crowd occasional glimpses of the band behind it.
During their third song, “Here to Stay,” the metal screen was lifted, giving the audience their first unobstructed view of the group. With this, Korn received applause just as energetic as the one they were given when they had first stepped on stage. Knowing exactly what their fans were hoping for, they worked their way through a set of 15 songs, including many old favorites like “Falling Away From Me”, “Got The Life”, and “Twist”. Neither the band nor the fans showed any signs of slowing down as the night went on. Even those with seats remained on their feet, jumping around and enjoying the music.
After playing “Y’all Want a Single”, the crowd waved good night and walked off stage. I am used to bands spending only a minute off stage before returning for an encore, and I anticipated they would be back after just a moment. After five minutes, I wondered if maybe there wouldn’t be an encore after all. Most of the crowd continued to cheer in hopes that the band would return, but I noticed quite a few fans start to leave. Just as the groups on both sides of me started walking out, we heard the sound of bagpipes playing.
Korn returned to the stage for a three-song encore, with lead singer Jonathan David now playing the bagpipes. While the evening was full of exciting music and incredible energy, the fans who stayed until the very end were treated to the ultimate surprise at the end of the night. Amy Lee joined the band back on stage, and together, they finished the concert with “Freak on a Leash”, while confetti streamers covered their fans in the front. After already putting everything they had into their performance, It was a fantastic way to end their show.
