When I first heard the House of Blues in Anaheim, Calif. was closing its doors at Downtown Disney and relocating to the Anaheim Gardenwalk I was filled with sadness and excitement. Downtown Disney was a great location for this venue. While the Gardenwalk had trouble filling up the outdoor mall, I was eager for them to convert their movie theater into a concert hall that will surely draw people.
Getting the party started was a newly formed alternative metal group from New York. Calling themselves King’s Bounty, they wowed the crowd with their ultra heavy grooves. They had recently opened for metal icons P.O.D. and now are opening for Korn. They must be doing something right. Leading the cavalry was vocalist Anthony “Q” Quilles, who can sing both melodically and harshly. His voice reminds me of Serj Tankian from System of a Down because his octave range is off the chart. Bassist Mike Kaufman brought some real heavy grooves to the beat. What I really enjoyed was the trading of guitar riffs by Mike Dijan and Steve Licata. Their songs are crunchy and well crafted, especially with their hit single, “Denial.” King’s Bounty is a true, rare talent. I believe 2017 is going to be a good year for them.
The crowd started to go crazy as soon as Korn stepped on the stage. Known for playing stadiums and arenas, it was a rare treat to see a band of this caliber play at a club setting. The show is a warm-up for their bigger tour this summer. The pioneers of nu metal and alternative metal lived up to its name. Jonathan Davis was a wild man who made sure the fans had an excellent time. Not only can he sing, but also roar and beat box.
The guitar twins James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch performed some mean riffs that night. Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu was funky on the bass guitar, playing with heavy sickness. Fieldy is arguably one of the best heavy metal bass players of all time.
They played a good variety of songs, two from their newest hit release, The Serenity of Suffering. Most of the songs came from the classic albums Issues and Korn. After playing the iconic “Shoots and Ladders,” drummer Ray Luzier went into a solo that was ear-splitting and brought the house down. As soon as they played “Blind” and “Freak on a Leash,”I just lost my mind.
Every minute of both performances was extraordinary. This was a great show for the new House of Blues. After the show, the venue was covered with sweat and alcohol. Korn can still put together one hell of show and King’s Bounty put on an exceptional set that turned me into a fan. Korn will hit the road this summer with Stone Sour, Babymetal, and Skillet. That is one oncert I will hopefully attend. The House of Blues is back in tremendous fashion and the crowds will just keep coming back. To Korn and King’s Bounty, I salute you. Horns up!!!
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