Music

A Limp return

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This week marks Limp Bizkit’s first U.S. performance with its original lineup in eight years, a free concert at the Pearl that’s already been marred by controversy after it was changed from a July 10 show at Mandalay Bay Beach that was to function as a UFC 100 party. The band was none too pleased with the UFC folks and pulled out of the gig, preferring to play a more traditional venue rather than a poolside stage at Mandalay Bay.

From the Calendar

Limp Bizkit
July 18, 9 p.m.
free (tickets distributed starting at noon).
The Pearl, 942-6888.

It should come as no surprise that Fred Durst & Co. are still a bunch of prima donnas; that was basically their stock-in-trade for their entire original run as a band. For some reason (professional obligation, temporary insanity), I saw Limp Bizkit live twice during what was probably their lowest period, after the departure of original guitarist Wes Borland (often credited with whatever creativity the band’s music possesses) and before the just-ended hiatus. In August 2003, I saw Bizkit (with Mike Smith on guitar) open for Metallica at the LA Memorial Coliseum, where it was met with persistent boos (that tour is notorious for a Chicago date at which Durst stormed offstage thanks to aggressive heckling), and in November 2003 I saw the band at a co-headlining show with Korn at the Joint (again with Smith on guitar), in front of a more receptive audience (although the boos were still present). Neither show was exactly impressive; at the Coliseum, Durst’s whiny crooning on the band’s cover of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” sounded excruciating reverberating through the giant stadium, and at the Joint the band bludgeoned all the emotion out of their odd cover choice of Nirvana’s “You Know You’re Right.”

With Borland back on board, this week’s show will probably be a little more musically accomplished, and, hey, it is free. Chances are Durst still hasn’t learned how to sing, though.

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