On Saturday July 23rd, ‘The Return of the Dreads Tour’ hit Phoenix, Arizona at the Ak-Chin Pavilion, featuring In this Moment, Rob Zombie, & Korn. This was probably the hottest show of the summer, literally. Despite the scorching temperature of about 115 degrees, people still swarmed to the show. The gigantic line seemed never-ending as it wrapped all the way down to the parking lot; everybody was anxiously waiting and melting as they stood there. With the scent of excitement and sweat from the crowd, it was time to begin what was going to be an amazing night.
As the piercing sun shined bright in the sky despite being 6:30pm, it was show time. The stage was set, and In This Moment kicked things off with intensity. Their set was short, but sweet. This was my 3rd time seeing them live, and they still blow me away. In This Moment, for those who don’t know, create a show & an experience that is unforgettable. The best way to describe their live performance is to say it feels as if it were almost a play. Every song has its own unique props along with Maria Brink and her incredible wardrobe changes, and her two back-up performers. From donning latex body suits to the black wings of Isis, you cannot take your eyes off the stage. Between each song, the skeleton crew comes to assemble stage for the next act. Although they only played six songs, they absolutely left a lasting impression.
The crowd was a mixed generation of young to old. You could see the look on the faces of those who had never seen or heard of In This Moment be astonished. As the blonde bombshell flipped her hair from side to side, screamed at the top of her lungs with fire and passion, and the guys shredded while sweating from the heat, you could feel the energy. The amount of work, time, effort and planning behind their performance is unreal. As always, they encouraged their fans to become the show, so the crowd was filled with a few people dressed up in support of them. They were simply magnificent, and when their set was over, everybody was left wanting more.
Up next, we had the man of horror himself: Rob Zombie. Within minutes of setting up the stage, it had transformed into what felt like a twisted carnival. With green lights and a cast of characters making appearances in a few songs, we were treated to a fun show. The large sea of people went nuts as soon as Rob and his band began to play. Their set was jam-packed with a lot of killer songs, and for some of us, it felt like the 90’s were back. Dressed in cowboy fringe, Rob owned that stage as he ran around and never stopped. It was cool to see him walk across the railing and hold the crowds’ hands. From start to finish, he walked that whole way down, and the fans immediately went crazy.
It’s great to see that even after so many years, he still loves that crowd connection and makes an effort to be closer to them. As he ranted about a few things, I’ll never forget when he told everyone “to get off their phones because the one-armed clap doesn’t work. Put your cell phone away and use both. Their use to not be cellphones in my day.” When everyone clapped together after that statement, you could hear how much more louder they became. The band finally closed with “Dragula”, and the crowd went wild. Personally, so many old memories came rushing to my head of me listening to that song as a kid. It was an amazing moment.
Finally, we had Korn. Getting to see them after so many years was awesome. All the guys on stage were pumped, and Jonathan Davis’ vocals still sounded as good as ever. Korn fans are very interesting people, and watching them get into the music was a fun time. Their last track was the infamous “Freak on a Leash”; there was no better way to end an incredible set.
To watch these three musical worlds collide on one night was amazing. People of all ages enjoyed the show. The killer line up of In This Moment, Rob Zombie & Korn all put on a great show despite the brutal heat, and there was so much talent and passion from every single member of every band. In short, ‘The Return of the Dreads Tour’ is a must-see affair!