Limp Bizkit @ Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane 6/12/2023
Fred Durst looks over the Fortitude Music Hall crowd as the anthem – well they are all anthems – My Generation rips. Brisbane is loud and they sing back the famous chorus about not caring what you think of them.
For Limp Bizkit, it must be something that twenty six years on from their debut, they are arguably still rocks number one band in regard to anthems, hooks and every show being an intense cardio workout.
Opening with Dirty Rotten Bizkit, it’s clear what mood the sold out crowd are in. Wes Borland is dressed in the same outfit as Good Things – a cross between a stormtrooper and an albino Chewbacca in a matching suit – while Durst is rather more understated in orange hoodie and hat.
Part of that understatement is Durst tells us he is feeling poorly, possibly the flu, but that the show must got on. He mocks the VIP area as well as everyone with their phone out. Everyone laughs but stay in the VIP area and have their phones out.
Show Me What You Got and 9 Teen 90 Nine are as punchy as ever and Borland’s guitar style, while precision accurate has a swing to it like a jazz musician that makes the bands unique sound just much more fun.
A quick insert of Metallica before Hot Dog and another chance for everyone to ‘jump the fuck up’ and explain what they would like to do to that special someone in their life.
A short version of oldie Pollution is cut short as Durst claims most people don’t know it but it’s all a ruse so we can break out into Rollin’ instead as every person in the venue- balcony and all – does that hand sign.
With the exception of opening number (and some noteable covers) every track is spawned from Significant Other or Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavoured Water which most people here would be happy about as the aforementioned My Generation is let loose.
Borland brings out a four string guitar and that rift for Nookie is another powder keg to the crowd before Durst brings up a kid from the crowd for Full Nelson. I don’t think anyone would disagree – including Durst – that the kid stole the show. He matched word, rhythm and intensity with Durst and wasn’t afraid to make the most of his time up there as Durst took a back seat. That kid had skills and it was actually a special rock n roll moment.
The fun party vibes continue as roses are given out to the crowd before Re-Arranged is played before a Bizkited version of Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name is played. Durst commenting cheekily that they play that because RATM bassist dislikes Limp Bizkit.
Faith is dedicated to ‘you’ and then we all realise it truly is one of those days as Break Stuff starts the whirl of a giant circle pit and chaos ensues all round as bodies and drinks are thrown all about the venue.
Limp Bizkit may well sell no merch at shows, they may well be a crowd favourite of a particular demographic, but that demographic is their generation and Limp Bizkit don’t give a fuck about you until you give a fuck about them.. and their generation.
Live Review By Iain McCallum