{"id":22358,"date":"2024-09-12T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orkus1.com\/experienced-live-ko%d1%8fn\/"},"modified":"2025-03-05T17:57:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T16:57:05","slug":"experienced-live-ko%d1%8fn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orkus1.com\/en\/experienced-live-ko%d1%8fn\/","title":{"rendered":"Experienced live: Ko\u042fn"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

August 19, 2024, Bonn, Kunst!Rasen<\/p>\n\n

Since 2012, the Bonn Rheinaue has been transformed into Bonn’s largest open-air site in summer.\nTop-class concerts take place here week after week.\nThis time, visitors were in for another highlight as the nu-metal pioneers from Ko\u042fn<\/strong> made a guest appearance in the popular city on the Rhine.\nWith 10,000 visitors, the concert was completely sold out.\nThe first fans were already there in the morning to secure the best seats directly in front of the stage later on. <\/p>\n\n

Deliberate contrasts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Admission took place as early as 4:30 p.m. and really quickly.\nNow we had a good two hours to linger on the grounds, fortify ourselves for the evening ahead and make new friends.\nThe Canadians from Spiritbox<\/strong> awaited us as special guests.\nTogether with their front woman Courtney LaPlante, the band is currently one of the up-and-coming modern metal acts.\nThe singer calmly entered the approximately three-meter-high stage and approached her microphone stand.\nHer dark hair was set off with purple sections to match the background on the screen.\nIn addition to a heavy sound and deep growls, the Canadians also had melodic sounds with crystal-clear vocals to offer.\nWhile Courtney moved gracefully and gave the audience her sugar-sweet smile or the occasional air kiss, guitarist Mike Stringer had a bitterly evil expression on his face to match his riffs. <\/p>\n\n

Against the current<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Courtney and her men kept coming close to the edge of the stage, cheerfully changing their positions on stage and making the most of the space.\nIn addition to the ear candy “Jaded”, the hit song “Circle with Me” and the powerful track “Holy Roller” stood out in particular.\nThe quartet was already well received by the audience.\n“I see you guys and I appreciate this.”\nThe Canadian scored further bonus points when she said that so many people in the metal scene like to tell the crowd what to do.\nInstead, she opted for the contrasting program “Do whatever the fuck you want!”\nBrian “Head” Welch from Ko\u042fn<\/strong> didn’t miss the opportunity to watch her special guests perform from the side of the stage – what an honor!\nCourtney sincerely thanked Ko\u042fn<\/strong> and the entire crew for their time together.\nThis evening finally marked the end of the tour.\n Spiritbox<\/strong> said goodbye with “Hysteria” after their entertaining 45-minute set.\nDeep, dark, heavy riffs were finally accompanied by devastating growls.\nWell, that was a successful start to the evening. <\/p>\n\n

A rousing start<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

After the stage conversion, the unique biomechanical microphone stand in the shape of an exotic woman, which H.R. Giger once designed for Jonathan Davis, was unveiled at 8pm.\nAnother huge LED wall was mounted on the ceiling at the front of the stage.\nWe were therefore in for a special visual spectacle.\nThe Ko\u042fn<\/strong> logo was emblazoned on this very screen to accompany the intro “4U” and so the show began.\nTogether with his bandmates, the legendary frontman took to the stage in a green Adidas suit embroidered with sequins.\nWhen the opener “Rotting in Vain” was played, there was no stopping the crowd.\nCompletely euphoric, the crowd surged forward.\nLike a whirlwind, the fans in the front section simply swept away anyone who just wanted to watch the concert.\nDrummer Ray Luzier was really up for it and, right at the beginning, he twirled a drumstick high into the air before skillfully integrating it back into his drumming. <\/p>\n\n

Established shining star<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

All around the stage we were served animated videos in changing colors to match the lightshow.\nIt looked really impressive.\nThe sonic unfolding of anger and resignation on the track “Here to Stay” heated up the cauldron even more.\nThis was accompanied by the loud voices of the dedicated crowd.\nThe first beer showers cooled the overheated tempers.\nJonathan also got rid of his jacket and from then on walked across the stage singing in a black tank top.\nWhile guitarists Brian “Head” Welch and Munky didn’t leave their seats for a while, eliciting virtuoso sounds from their stringed instruments song after song and swinging their bowls with commitment, you could tell that bassist Ra Diaz has only been on stage with the guys for a few years.\nWith unbridled enthusiasm, an unspeakable joy of playing and his honey-cake horse smile, he was not only to be seen everywhere, his stage frenzy was also extremely infectious.\nSince Fieldy’s sabbatical, the dedicated bassist has more than earned his place in the band. <\/p>\n\n

Wild escalation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

“I love you, Jonathaaaaan!” shouted a fan towards the stage.\nAlthough Ko\u042fn<\/strong> ‘s latest album was successful and was showered with praise, only one song from it made it onto the setlist: “Start the Healing”.\nMenacing shouts alternated with melodic, even sweet vocals, only to become oppressive and evil in the chanting.\nThe crowd was just as crazy as “Good God”.\nWhile strangers bounced on you, hugged you and engaged you in conversation, the crowd of crowdsurfers got going.\nSo there was plenty to do in front of the stage – in the meantime, you hardly noticed what was happening on stage. <\/p>\n\n

A delightful journey through time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

To my relief, this was followed by an expansive drum solo from Ray.\nHe alone was now the focus.\nEveryone else left the stage for a moment.\nThe drummer let off steam to strobe effects and blue light and his own fun was clearly written all over his face.\n“Are you readyyyyyyyyy?”\nThey headbanged peacefully to the famous riffs of the classic “Blind”.\nAn absolute highlight followed with “Got the Life”.\nThe entire stage was lit up in warm orange-red hues.\nAll the musicians were on fire for this song.\nJonathan felt like he was singing for his life and we all jumped around in the crowd and sang along happily.\nIt felt like we were all Sweet Sixteen again at that moment.\nIn the meantime, Brian and Munky appeared and came right to the front.\nThey also waved to the audience. <\/p>\n\n

Karma will sort it out<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

During the song “Falling Away from Me”, a guitar pick suddenly landed on the floor between us. Some of the rigorous fans simply reached into the mud at random. And we sang “Beating me down. Beating me, beating me down, down. Into the ground.”\nIncidentally, the pick didn’t reappear until much later. And it was right behind me. A really nice woman had found it. Jonathan addressed us: “How are you feeling tonight? I said, how the fuck are you feeeeling? This year we celebrated thirty years with this band. It’s amazing. We wanna thank you. So, you wanna keep this party rolling? Let’s take the middle finger up! One, two, three – fuck that!” “Y’All Want a Single” created a sense of community.\nDuring the chorus of the angry song, the band and fans repeatedly raised their evil fingers together, smiling inwardly as they celebrated the resistance. <\/p>\n\n

Concentrated intensity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

After just an hour, the official part of the set ended suddenly and unexpectedly.\nCalls for an encore spread, but then it became romantic.\nAn infinite number of cell phone lights lit up and created a warm atmosphere.\nJonathan returned to the stage – while playing his fine bagpipes, he came very close to the edge of the stage.\nGradually, the rest of the instruments began to play again.\nA snippet of Metallica’s<\/strong>mega hit “One” provided a pleasant surprise during “Shoots and Ladders”. The fans became deafeningly loud when the closer “Freak on a Leash” came on. Once again, everyone jumped around with their arms raised in euphoria. On stage, too, every last ounce of energy was tapped and the musicians gave their all. Jonathan beamed: “Thank you so fucking much. You were an incredible crowd.”\nAt the end of the tour, Ko\u042fn<\/strong> brought their entire crew and Spiritbox<\/strong> on stage to take a souvenir photo with us.\nMunky’s son threw numerous guitar picks into the crowd together with his dad.\nRay, Brian and Ra Diaz also threw gimmicks to the front.\nAt the end, Ra Diaz even got rid of his red cap.\nIt was an intense 85 minutes. Even after 30 years, Ko\u042fn<\/strong> have lost none of their immense power.\nWork on their next album has already begun.\nIt can go on like this! <\/p>\n\n

Setlist SPIRITBOX:<\/strong>“Cellar Door” – “Jaded” – “Angel Eyes” – “The Void” – “Rule of Nines” – “Blessed Be” – “Secret Garden” – “Circle With Me” – “Holy Roller” – “Hysteria”<\/p>\n\n

Setlist Ko\u042fn :<\/strong>“Rotting in Vain” – “Here to Stay” – “A.D.I.D.A.S.” – “Clown” – “Start the Healing” – “Good God” – “Blind” – “Got the Life” – “Falling Away From Me” – “Coming Undone” – “Somebody Someone” – “Y’All Want a Single”— “Shoots and Ladders” – “Twist” – “Divine” – “Freak on a Leash”<\/p>\n\n

Text: Nadine KloppertPhotos: Michael Gamon<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n