Photos by: Dan Boshart This past Friday, September 27, Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston was packed with metalheads eager to celebrate 30 years of sonic devastation with one of Nu metal’s most influential bands, KoЯn. The energy in the air was palpable as the legendary California group took to the stage, showing that despite three decades of rocking stages worldwide, they haven’t lost their raw intensity. Joined by French metal giants Gojira and British Columbia’s heavy rockers Spiritbox, the night was a thrilling showcase of metal’s diverse sounds and continued evolution.
Opening the show was Spiritbox, a band that has been rapidly gaining momentum in the metal scene. Led by vocalist Courtney LaPlante, their mix of crushing breakdowns, ethereal clean vocals, and haunting melodies made for an impactful start to the night. Songs like “Holy Roller” and “Circle With Me” stood out, their heavy, groove-laden riffs whipping the early crowd into a frenzy. Spiritbox’s ability to shift between ethereal, almost haunting soundscapes and brutal, gut-punching heaviness felt like a natural fit for the tour’s eclectic lineup. The band’s tight performance set the tone for the night, blending technical prowess with emotional depth.
Next up was Gojira, a band that has been making waves in recent years not only for their music but also for their environmental activism and a recent appearance at the Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony. The French metal masters wasted no time turning Pine Knob into a sea of headbanging, with their signature blend of technical precision and primal heaviness.
Opening with the thunderous “Born For One Thing” from their latest album Fortitude, Gojira took the audience on a journey through a setlist that included fan favorites like “Stranded,” “Flying Whales,” which was dedicated to environmental activist Paul Watson, and “The Cell” with it’s attacking guitar and low bending notes that pulsed from the heavy subwoofers situated in front of the stage. Their seamless transitions between pummeling riffs and intricate, atmospheric interludes demonstrated their musical versatility. The highlight of their set came with “L’Enfant Sauvage,” where drummer Mario Duplantier delivered an explosive performance, his relentless double bass drumming shaking the amphitheater. Gojira’s set was a masterclass in modern metal, leaving the crowd primed and ready for the main event.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: KoЯn. As the lights dimmed and the massive curtain dropped and the opening notes of “Blind” reverberated through the venue, the crowd erupted. Frontman Jonathan Davis emerged with his iconic H.R. Giger-designed microphone stand wearing his trademark red tracksuit, and from the first note, it was clear that KoЯn came to remind everyone why they’ve been one of the top metal acts for 30 years. The band delivered a setlist that spanned their entire career, including classics like “Falling Away From Me,” and “Got the Life,” alongside “Start The Healing” from their 2022 release “Requiem”.
Davis’s guttural growls and scat-like vocals were as powerful as ever, and the band—comprising guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch, touring bassist Ra Diaz, and drummer Ray Luzier—was in top form. The synergy between the band members was electric, their performance tight and energetic. The crowd responded in kind, standing the entire performance banging their heads and singing along throughout the night.
A massive LED screen pivoted over the band during the show alternating as a dynamic backdrop when behind, and when hung flat above, a giant panel light that illuminated the band, particularly drummer Luzier during his extended drum parts at different points in the show.
After the 15-song main set ended with “Y’all Want a Single”, The band returned out for a three-song encore featuring “Falling Away From Me”, “Oildale”, and “Freak on a Leash”, their most popular mainstream hit.
KoЯn’s show at Pine Knob was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of a legacy. Thirty years in, KoЯn still knows how to command a stage, and with bands like Gojira and Spiritbox in tow, the future of metal looks just as thrilling as its past.
KoЯn
Here to Stay
Dead Bodies Everywhere
Got the Life
A.D.I.D.A.S.
Hey Daddy
Good God
Start the Healing
Blind
Ball Tongue
Clown
(preceded by an instrumental jam)
Shoots and Ladders
(with a snippet of Metallica’s “One”)
Twist
Make Me Bad
Insane
Y’All Want a Single
Encore:
Falling Away From Me
Oildale (Leave Me Alone)
Freak on a Leash
Gojira
Born for One Thing
The Axe
Backbone
Stranded
The Cell
Flying Whales
(dedicated to environmental activist Paul Watson)
Grind
Another World
L’enfant sauvage
Mea culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)
([traditional] cover) (with “Remembrance” outro)
Silvera
Amazonia
Spiritbox
Cellar Door
Jaded
Angel Eyes
Soft Spine
Circle With Me
Holy Roller
All photos by Dan Boshart
KoЯn:
Gojira:
