Knotfest Road Show. 2021
Knotfest Road Show.
Mansfield, MA
October 8th, 2021
With this being my first review back from the beginning of 2020, right before life took us all in a direction we weren’t expecting, I can say I am thrilled that it is to bring you into the depths of the Knotfest Road Show. The show was supposed to commence in the summer of 2020 but we patiently waited for the bands and the venues to take safe measures so they could continue to do what they love, play music, and for what we love to do, support that music. I’d like to personally thank all the hard workers from venues to band camps to finally make that happen!
On October 8th, the Knotfest Road Show rolled into Mansfield, Ma at the well known 19,900 capacity Xfinity Center. The lineup for this tour has been stacked with amazing high energy bands; Code Orange, Fever 333, Killswitch Engage, and of course, the one and only Slipknot. I can truly say going to this show to not only rock out so my neck hurt the next day, but review it was an amazing time and opportunity! Let me take you back to that night starting with Code Orange.
A band from Pittsburgh PA, Code Orange started off as a punk band in 2008, just high school kids playing in VFWs. I can say they have definitely worked hard to find themselves opening for this show. The 6 members of this band individually brought you something to listen too and watch with so much conviction pouring out into the Xfinity Center, as it started to fill up. I could tell a lot of hardcore ‘Slipknot’ fans were curious about them, and some were clearly OG fans of Code O rocking out to every single song. The lead singer, Jami, had the crowd dancing (to a more “upbeat song” if you would) and even chanting back to the band. I’ve honestly seen dozens of shows here and never have really seen a crowd react to the opening band getting them as hyped as they did. Good job dudes! As they close out their set with a new song, Jami gives a huge shout out to Slipknot and gets the pit rowdy in the GA section to kick off the night. “We gonna give you, we gonna give them, everything we fucking have, gimme something!”
Set List: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole. In Fear. Cold.Metal.Place. Bleeding into the Blur. Last Ones Left. My World. Forever. Underneath.
As more people fill into their seats, ‘Fever 333’ just smacks the crowd coming onto the stage. A three piece from Inglewood CA, brings nothing but high intense energy. Just starting back in 2017, these cats came out with a purpose. I honestly think they are this generations ‘Rage Against the Machine’ and we need that style of music in our lives with the wild world we have been in. From touring with some rad bands in the past, this crowd knows exactly who ‘Fever 333’ is. “I said this one other time on this tour, and I’m not playing, this is already the best show on this tour! Thank you for your energy. Thank you very much!” The singer, Jason, says. He also refers to Slipknot as the “godfathers of this shit” and he thanks them. Give any member of this band something to jump off and it is happening. As they play their bangers such as ‘Made in America’ and ‘Burn It’ to the vibing crowd, they are climbing off amps, stacking monitors to jump off, and doing black flips, it is incredible to watch! I highly recommend seeing them live.
Set List: BITE BACK. Only One. Trigger. Made in America. One of Us. Burn It. Hunting Season.
Now as I look to the GA section all the way to the lawn, this place is full of eager fans awaiting Killswitch Engage. As the first drum hit takes place the entire place vibrated through my body. “Hello fuckers. We are KsE and we are from Mass. And you must be from Mass. It’s been a little bit but we are happy to be here!” Jessie screams and the packed place goes insane for ‘Unleashed.” Seeing KsE a dozen times, with both front men, has always been cool, but Jessie definitely took the crowd on this one opening for Slipknot. With their dueling guitars, deep bass, and killer drum hits, you just know who is on that stage commanding their fans. Not one head in that place was still and coming here I knew that having them on this bill would be no joke. KsE is absolutely seasoned in the metal world. From 1999 to 2021, they have definitely put their stamp on us metal kids and on this show in particular they brought the heat. Jessie had a wild pit going after mentioning he was disappointed in the lack of one happening, which low key made me jealous I couldn’t join, but I will say my section, and well, the whole place, was absolutely jamming out. The amount of singing back to the band that echoed the air was electric. “That’s better.” he says. As the guys go through exactly what part of MA they are from, the drummer gets booed from us being a Yankees fan and being from CT. It was honestly like a family reunion with KsE being there. “I could keep talking to you guys all night. This is fun!” Jessie says as him and Adam just keep going back and forth with us. Back to the music, the setlist was just right for this show. It’s always a good time watching KsE enjoy what they clearly love to do, play music to their fans. As they close out with ‘Holy Diver’, dedicating it to Dio, I will say flawless set by these metal gurus.
Set List: Unleashed. Hate By Design. The Crownless King. My Last Serenade. I Am Broken Too. Rose of Sharyn. Strength of the Mind. Us Against the World. The Signal Fire. My Curse. This Fire. The End of Heartache. In Due Time. Holy Diver.
The banner rises up as the packed house starts to buzz awaiting the one and only Slipknot. ACDCs’ “For Those About to Rock” starts to play loud over the speakers and we just knew it was about that time. Then there was a huge pop and the banner falls. As Jay Weinberg kicks us off with “Unsainted” Corey Taylor takes the stage with the rest of the members and it is on. The stage set up is just a massive jungle gym for the guys to run around on and bring the performance you anticipate to see. The screens are bright with great graphics to go along with each song. The band is just on point. What else can I say. It’s Slipknot. I have never been disappointed seeing them and I know as long as they keep playing shows, I never will be. Corey Taylor welcomes the fans to the Knotfest Roadshow as well as thanking everyone who came and who has been on the road with them. The setlist consisted of a solid mix from 1999s ‘Slipknot’(self titled album), ‘Iowa', ‘All Hope is Gone’, to 2019s ‘We Are Not Your Kind’. By the third song in my goosebumps are heightened. “We been coming here a long time dam it. All 22 years. And you have treated us like family.” Corey tells the enthused crowd. Listening to the unique sound of the kettle drums, and the turntables, with the ripping guitars, deep bass, and that gritty voice, two notes in you just know what is coming next! ‘Spit It Out’ is always a crowd pleaser especially if you have been to a Slipknot show before. Let me tell you, watching a packed arena crouch down to jump up as told, is just such an experience. Wait and Bleed, Duality, and The Devil in I were also some key crowd pleasers that night as the air filled with an echoing of voices. As the set comes to an end the loyal fans don’t budge because we know we at least get one more encore from the guys, and we certainly did. ‘People=Shit, (sic), and Surfacing, to finish off the night, I can say I will never miss Slipknot live. Or the Knotfest Road Show.
Set List: Unsainted. Disasterpiece. Nero Forte. Before I Forget. The Heretic Anthem. Psychosocial. The Devil In I. Solway Firth. Wait and Bleed. Vermilion. All Out Life. Duality. Spit It Out.
Encore: People=Shit. (sic). Surfacing.
By: Ashley Grace Monroe
aGrace Photography
Coverage for: ‘The Pit Magazine’