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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 10, 2010
Eye Street
Index Glennville Rodeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Best of the West show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Battle of the Salons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Thunder Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-26
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Remembering who they are Country
tour loses performer
Korn looks back for inspiration, says leader Davis in exclusive chat
Throwdown suffers some setbacks, but show still on
BY MATT MUNOZ Bakotopia.com editor mmunoz@bakersfield.com
Home is where the art is for Korn. Appearing Friday at Rabobank Convention Center, the local band gone big time is ready to enter the next phase of its longstanding career with a new record label (Roadrunner) and CD —“Korn III: Remember Who You Are,” out July 13. “It’s gonna be a stripped down, raw show,” said Korn lead vocalist Jonathan Davis via telephone of the band’s “back to basics” approach to recapturing the spirit of their early live performances. “It’s all part of the ‘Remember Who You Are’ concept, what we’re all about and who we are.” Formed in Bakersfield in 1993, Davis and longtime bandmates James “Munky” Shaffer, guitar; and Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu, bass; along with former members guitarist Brian “Head” Welch and drummer David Silveria were instrumental in creating what is now known as “nu metal,” a mix of heavy metal and alternative music styles. Popularized during the mid-’90s, Korn’s worldwide success helped heavy rock cross over into other genres, including hip-hop. Earning critical praise, Grammys and MTV video awards, plus numerous gold and multiplatinum records, the band also experienced its share of pain along the way with notorious tales of drugs and alcohol abuse — all now in the past. Performing and releasing new material in subsequent years with core members Shaffer and Arvizu, plus new permanent drummer Ray Luzier, Davis points to their fiercely loyal fan base and hometown for motivation. “We have such amazing fans that have been sticking with us over the years,” said Davis. “We’re having a great time out on this tour, and things haven’t been better.” Like their newest CD, “remembering” also meant reuniting with the craftsmen of their career, namely producer Ross Robinson. Holding court during the recording of their first two releases — ’94’s “Korn” and ’96’s “Life is Peachy,” Robinson once again spared no mercy in bringing out the band’s best. “For this new record, we went into a tiny room and just wrote and recorded the album the way we used to do it,” said Davis. “It was really hard for me — using 2-inch tape, no click track for tempos. It gives the music kind of a soul.” Opening with “Uber-Time,” an eerie spoken-word intro, the album soon segues into “Oildale (Leave Me Alone”), named after one of their childhood play-
BY MATT MUNOZ Bakotopia.com editor mmunoz@bakersfield.com
COURTESY OF KORN
Korn, from left: James “Munky” Shaffer, Jonathan Davis, Ray Luzier, Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu.
grounds. Subject to interpretation, the accompanying music video was filmed on location and in true Korn fashion, there’s plenty of twisted imagery. “It was really cool,” said Davis of the video’s filming experience that lyrically makes no reference to the city. “Being in the oil fields around the pumping units, going to places we used to hang out, ride bikes and stuff.” Throughout the rest of the album, listeners will be treated to the band’s strongest material since 1999’s “Issues.” As he is with their current tour, Davis is confident fans will also be pleased upon “Korn III’s” release on July 13. “It wasn’t like we were trying to copy those first two records, just capture the
GO & DO Korn with 2 Cents, and Big Jay Oakerson When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Rabobank Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $23.25 to $35 Information: 852-7777
early vibe,” said Davis. “It really translated well on this one and we’re all really excited about it.” Hitting smaller venues this time around, Davis says that the band looks forward to playing another familiar locale of their youth when they return to Bakersfield on Friday. In other news, Korn is taking a stand on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by launching a boycott against using the company’s gasoline while on tour this summer. The band has formally announced that it will not be fueling any of its touring vehicles with BP products and is strongly encouraging other touring artists to do the same. “The daily images are hard to watch,” says KORN frontman Davis. “We need to do our part to let BP know there are consequences for causing something like this. We want to send a message to corporations like BP so that they will take more preventative measures in the future. The more costly their punishment, the more money they will spend to make sure disasters like this don’t happen again. It’s plain and simple capitalism.”
First came the announcement that Bakersfield’s stop on the Country Throwdown tour had been pushed back two days, followed by word that weak tickets sales had scratched some shows from the tour altogether. And now featured performer Ryan Bingham, fresh off an Oscar for his songwriting, has announced he won’t be coming back to Bakersfield, a town where he spent a good chunk of his youth. But tour producer Kevin Lyman said local ticketholders are guaranteed a show. “We are 100 percent committed to making the rest of these shows happen,” said Lyman via telephone Tuesday morning, despite reporting cancellations in Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Phoenix. Tuesday morning the tour was dealt another blow with the announcement that Bingham was dropping off the remainder of the tour. Stating “scheduling conflicts,” Lyman is hoping to have him back. “I was not happy with that,” said Lyman of Bingham’s announcement. Bingham has local ties, having spent his early years in Bakersfield before moving to New Mexico. Earlier this year he was awarded an Oscar for Best Original Song for “The Weary Kind,” from the movie “Crazy Heart.” “I’ve had so many moving pieces on this thing, that we’re hoping to have an announcement that Ryan’s back on.” According to talent handlers SMG, Rabobank ticketholders unable to make the rescheduled date may return them to the box office for a refund. Tickets bought through Ticketmaster must be refunded through Ticketmaster. A mix of new and established country acts, the Country Throwdown tour is modeled after Lyman’s annual VANS Warped Tour, which experienced similar setbacks during its inaugural year. The first part of the festival, at the Convention Center, starts at 1 p.m. and features the smaller-named acts. Seating is general admission. The last half of the festival, which starts at the arena at 6 p.m., features the main acts. Seating will be reserved.
GO & DO The Country Throwdown Tour, featuring Montgomery Gentry, Eric Church and more. 1 p.m. Friday, June 18, Rabobank Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave. $30-$33.50 plus fee. ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.