Family Values Tour
...ies that we, the non-conformist, concert-going youth, are a sort of societal ‘freaks’ that belong in a cage displayed before the public eye to impose some sort of shame on us in hopes of teaching us a lesson. Limp Bizkit arranged for a stage-sized crashed spaceship set from which the bands members emerged. This to symbolize the fact that we are alienated in our culture because of our differences. Ice Cube also had a stage-sized prop, but it was of a huge statue of his bust clad in a suit and top hat, and arms on either side raised skyward, one of which sported a cane. This represents the trend of politicians and big business men being accepted as the saviors and leaders of our culture and society. And the most extreme set, though almost entertaining when taken for face value, is much more grotesque than all of that. Although Rammstein's pyrotechnics were amazing, they were not what caught the audience’s eye. No, that would definitely have to be their sexual perversions. At one point in their performance the male singer extricated a rubber penis from his pants and proceeded to beat it while bent over the male keyboardist until it began to spew a white colored liquid all over the stage and as far as twenty-five feet into the pit. An interpretation of this is that our current society figuratively gets off on fucking us up the ass. We, the concert-goers, the so-called freaks, are an oppressed people and aren’t given a fair chance to be individuals. Employers shun those who aren't, in their words, presentable. Our culture does not allow us to be free thinkers as our very school systems will show, which teach for the most part to enhance the left-brainedness of it’s students. And, not to state that we are an omniscient mass, but our culture does not allow us to oppose their values no matter how wrong they may be. The audience seen at this show, and most others in the same genre, consist typically, but not limited to, middle-class, white males between the ages of thirteen to the late twenties, with females of the same class close behind. Many of these people are simply searching for an identity and/or following the violent rebellion towards the life forced upon them by our society. Most, if not all, of these people have experienced first-hand intentional violence or abuse by their peers, people in a position of control, or their own parents. During performances, these people are encouraged to sing along with the lyrics, respond to the band’s comments, and most of all, by moshing or dancing in the pit. The traditional idea of moshing is a misconception to most people. Although it can be violent and is not meant for the frail or faint, it is a form of dance expression in which you move in a way that is potentially harmful to others, but you do not purposefully lash out at them. While in the pit it is a sort of unwritten rule that you extend some level of courtesy and respect to the other dancers. If someone falls to the floor, you lend a hand; if you hit someone directly, apologies are in order; if you see someone who seems vulnerable or out of place, then you help to keep that person safe from injury. However, there is always the occasional drunk who refuses to abide, and picks fights at will. While moshing you produce moves similar to fighting. Punches, kicks, spins, and jumps are all commonplace, as is the windmill. Again, this form of expression is not meant to harm others, but injuries are, of course, prevalent. Contrary to popular belief that this is all a way to cause trouble, pick fights, make a scene, grab attention, or what have you, it is actually a representation and expulsion of the anger harbored by these individuals toward their society and the people who have caused them harm in the past. Back to the topic at hand... One of today’s most controversial bands, Bakersfield, California’s KoRn, heads up the Family Values Tour, a tour just right for angering everyone from conservative parents and church-goers to local PTA’s. The irreverently named tour, to support the groups third national effort, Follow the Leader, is designed to upset the older generation, but the irony of it is that KoRn’s own values are something parents everywhere should be proud of. From a simply economic standpoint, the group, who consists of Jonathan Davis on vocals and bagpipes, guitarists Brian Head Welch and James Munky Schaffer, bassist Fieldy Arvizu, and drummer David Silveria, are sparing no expense to satisfy the fans. Countless spotlights in an array of colors, heavy pyrotechnics, a rotating stage to cut down on set change time, and gigantic video screens to show events transpiring on stage and in the audience make everyone feel like a part of the show. Of course, this isn’t entirely new to the concert arena, but it is just one example of how KoRn goes to bat for their fans. On the entertainment front, the band’s famed KoRn-TV programs on the internet gave fans instant access to the group and the latest updates on the tour and album. In the live arena, KoRn virtually always waits until the last fan leaves before departing themselves, no matter how many thousands of fans want autographs. And as difficult as it may seem, they try to personally address as much fan mail as they possibly can. On a more socially conscious front, they take time to protect their fans as much as possible. For example, they recently took adults to task for infringing on their fans rights. They challenged Michigan’s Zeeland High School on First Amendment grounds for suspending a single student for wearing a KoRn shirt printed with only the band’s name on it. KoRn routinely address child abuse and ways to prevent it in both music and politics, providing hope for abused kids the whole world over. Their message comes from the personal experiences of some of the bands members as well as those around them. On their latest release, Singer Jon Davis croons about a one-year old girl charged to the morgue where he worked as part of a work-study program during his high school years. She was found naked and raped with both legs broken and hanging over her shoulders. Davis hopes his brash honesty will create stimulus for change. Until then, he advises, Get through it. Don’t do anything stupid that will end you up in jail. Just get through this...16...two years, man, and then 18, move the fuck out. Get away, It’s easy. It’s just getting through all that. He admits his wisdom may not apply to every situation, however, and that every choice has it’s consequences when dealing with a broken family life. He states, I don’t know what to tell kids, because I had to deal with it. I don’t know a way to make it go away. Be strong and just know that you can get out of it. If parents are really abusive, you can call child protective services, because parents usually freak out. They can go to jail. Every place has got one. They’ll investigate if you keep on them. He continues, You have to accept the consequences of not having a family after that, too. It’s hard. You either go to foster care or whatever... They put you in those homes. But everything’s better than being molested or beaten. People are out there taking their innocence away from them, Davis adds, they suck it right out of them. I can tell you that if a little kid’s been molested that their innocence is totally gone. Whe...