Although the Family Values Tour didn't sell out, the fans who found their way to the E Center on Wednesday were treated to some eye-catching (and blinding) pyrotechnics and ear-blasting grooves (and profanity-laced soliloquies).
However, given the nature of the tour - which includes Korn, Rammstein, Ice Cube, Limp Bizkit and Orgy - the aforementioned elements showed all was well.Ice Cube set himself up, literally. In a calculated and rehearsed display, Cube walked off the stage in disgust. His rapping partner MC persuaded the audience to recite an angry chant that eventually lured Cube back to the microphone.
And though he was huffing and puffing out his disenfranchised lyrics, Cube looked as if he were going through the motions.
True, he did rap out a couple of older hits like "Natural Born Killahs" and "F--- the Police." And he introduced a new tune from his new "War & Peace" album that will be released in November.
Still there was enough posing to say that rap (especially Gangsta Rap) has become a mere parody of itself.
Rammstein, on the other hand, was the best part of the show. This Euro-pyrotechnical-erotic band displayed its set through walls of fire, shooting sparks and German lyrics.
There was even an exploding telephone that lead singer Till Lindemann threw into the air.
Other combustible articles included two microphone stands. Meanwhile, sparks flew from drumstick tips, boot toes and a bow whose arrow was used to light two wire-riding fireballs.
During the flashy (really) set, the German-based band pelted the audience with such gems as "Du Hast" and "Engel."
Orgy and Limp Bizkit were OK but not great. Although Bizkit's set was a UFO (complete with alien), the bands played hard and won over a few hearts in the audience.
Once Korn got on stage, there wasn't anyone standing who wasn't moving at one point or the next.
Tunes such as "Freak On a Leash," "Shoots and Ladders," "Dead Bodies Everywhere" and "Children of the Korn," sung as a duet with Ice Cube, rallied fans throughout the E Center.