Limp Bizkit @ The Hordern Pavillion
I was transported back 20 years
Photos & review by Rhys Bennett of High Voltage Photography
Limp Bizkit brought 90s nostalgia in its purest form to the Hordern Pavilion with a meme-laden, tongue in cheek performance that had the audience in the palm of their hands, delivering a greatest hits setlist spanning their almost 30 year career ahead of their headline set at Good Things Festival.
Kicking off the night were Good Things bill mates Hanabie, who enamoured the mixed bag of young and old with their infectious Japanese metalcore energy. Personally, this genre has never sonically grabbed me, however I would happily watch a band like Hanabie every night.
Their enthusiasm to simply be on an Australian stage was evident and it made for an incredibly entertaining opener.
9:15pm on the dot, lights go out and bellowing through the venue is the contrasting yet ever so fitting Ennio Morricone’s ‘Per Qualche Dollaro In Più’ as guitar slinger Wes Boreland struts to the stage in his unique get up that can only be described as ‘Warhammer 40K meets Mariachi.’ Lead vocalist Fred Durst was no different as he satirically showcased his ‘day release’ prison jump suit and curly wig. My only take from this; this is a band that has undeniably been through the ringer of criticism over the years, slotting neatly into the ever-ageing Nu Metal genre; that it is clear that Durst and co have no shame in taking it in their stride and enjoying it for what it is, a hilarious trip down memory lane.
Opener ‘My Generation’ was ironically met with a sea of phones lighting up the crowd as everyone attempted to capture the moment, which is an ever-increasing thorn in my side at concerts. Nevertheless, with the smiles planted on everyone’s face, it was clear that the moment was certainly enjoyed unanimously. The sea of backwards red caps could have easily had on lookers question whether this was a MAGA rally, or a nod to Fred Durst’s signature get up from their heyday.
Hearing songs like ‘Nookie,’ ‘Rollin’’ and ‘Break Stuff’ live in 2023, two things went through my head; I haven’t heard these songs in over 20 years and there’s a reason I enjoyed these songs when I was 9 years old. Some would argue that this is a harsh criticism, however my appreciation for this band has simply shifted. Lyrically I was entertained by the explicit shock value they offered in my junior years, however there is no question that Wes Boreland’s capabilities as a riff writer and player defined a decade in music which can be appreciated at any age. His pedal board resembled something that would require two keys to launch a missile and I would argue this is the secret sauce that gave Limp Bizkit their unique sound.
I was reminded why Limp Bizkit became a global phenomenon in the 90’s as their chemistry on stage is on par with any great band that can boast the title of a headlining band. The between song banter for me was as good as the show itself, notably a tin foil hat quip about being introduced to the existence of aliens by Tom Cruise which cued their intro into ‘Take a Look Around,’ the theme song to John Woo’s ‘Mission Impossible: 2’
I was transported back 20 years after this show and I’m grateful for any moment that can remind me of how great that era was. Enhancing that experience was a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’ which was the penultimate closer to an overall incredible show that left me wanting more.
