Bethel, New York, once the iconic site of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival, was transformed into a haven of nu-metal nostalgia on Friday, July 26th when Limp Bizkit brought their Loserville Tour to Bethel Woods.
Notorious for their unforgettable set at Woodstock ’99, where their intense energy contributed to the festival’s infamous chaos, it took 25 years for Limp Bizkit to successfully rewrite the script. Now older and wiser and out for redemption, the band delivered a high-octane, testosterone-fueled performance that both honored and deviated from their controversial past.
From the moment Fred Durst strutted onto the stage, sporting a backwards Yankees cap and a pinstriped Shohei Ohtani Japanese jersey, the audience—an eclectic mix of die-hard fans from the late ’90s and early 2000s and curious new listeners—erupted in a frenzy. The setlist, a deliberate nod to their greatest hits, had the crowd singing and headbanging along to former chart-toppers like “Nookie,” “Rollin’,” and “My Way.” Along with frontman Durst, all the OG members of Limp Bizkit were present and accounted for in Bethel.
Bassist Sam Rivers was looking particularly dapper performing in all white suit and shades, while DJ Lethal and drummer John Otto confidently held things down from the risers in the back. Guitarist Wes Borland, the band’s enigmatic and theatrically dressed master of disguise, was truly a sight to behold. Wearing a gold battle helmet and a pseudo samurai gi, he resembled something of a cross between the Predator and a character straight out of the Warhammer games.
His dark black eyes barley visible as the iconic axman thrashed circles around the stage to songs like “Eat You Alive” and “Hot Dog.” After showing off some tasty Pantera and Metallica licks between songs, Borland would then break into a signature riff almost anyone can play, having a field day on an extended version of “Break Stuff,” the same song that became the scapegoat for the way things spiraled out of control at Woodstock ’99. This time, however, when the song kicked in, the people didn’t kick in nearly as hard. There were no fires set or crowd surfing on plywood the entire night.
The audience itself was a fascinating mix. There were those who had been at Woodstock ’99, now older but still wearing their vintage band tees and reliving the glory days. Alongside them were younger high school-aged fans, some experiencing the raw energy of Limp Bizkit live for the first time. Eavesdropping on a stranger’s conversation, I almost spit my drink out when a guy asked his friend if they’d ever seen Limp Bizkit before and she responded, “No, but I’ve heard a lot about him.” This blend of generations created a unique atmosphere, one where nostalgia met the present day in a powerful collision of sound, emotion and hormones.
The history of Woodstock 1969 loomed large over the performance. Bethel, the birthplace of the peace and love movement, juxtaposed sharply with the aggressive, rebellious energy that Limp Bizkit embodied. Yet, this contrast seemed to be exactly what the crowd craved—a raw, unfiltered experience that tapped into the cathartic power of music. The resurgence of nu-metal, a genre that blends heavy metal with elements of rap and hip-hop, continues to captivate audiences. Fred Durst, as always, remained a polarizing figure and central to it all. Now in his 50’s and rocking a full silver beard, some see him as the quintessential anti-hero of the nu-metal era, a symbol of defiance and non-conformity.
Others, however, view him as a relic of a dark time in music history, often citing his vulgar and childish lyrics as the bands biggest handicap. Regardless, there is no denying Durst’s ability to command a stage and connect with an audience, even decades into his career. His provocative personality and off-the-cuff remarks kept the crowd at Bethel Woods on their toes all evening long as he clearly still resonates with a massive amount of fans. During the song “Livin’ it Up,” Durst would become one with the people by leaving the stage and performing while walking through the crowd. Later during “Full Nelson,” Durst would invite a bunch of kids up to sing with him and take selfies, a tender moment they will likely never forget.
On the wheels of steel, DJ Lethal had his hands full all night playing samples of songs between songs. Touching on everything from Bon Jovi’s “Livin on a Prayer,” and Creedence Clearwater Revivals’ “Proud Mary” to the Beastie Boys “Fight For Your Right” and Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain,” perhaps his most surprising selections were snippets from Britney Spears “Baby One More Time,” and George Michael’s song “Careless Whisper,” which Fred encouraged everyone to slow dance to.
After working their way through “Boiler.” Fred wound pander to the crowd some more, asking “How many people have been in a shitty relationship before and how many are in a shitty one right now? You can’t say it, because you’re with them tonight and your fucking miserable because you had to come to the Limp Bizkit concert with them, I understand.” Without missing a beat, the band would then drop into the song that started it all for the LB, their cover of George Michaels “Faith.” It was the only song played from the band’s 1997 debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y’all$.
Introducing its follow-up by saying, “This next song seriously chaps my nads,” the familiar riff of Mission Impossible had the crowd roar with delight when the band kicked into “Take a Look Around.” Getting a bit introspective in the middle of it, Durst would talk to the crowd once again. Using the opportunity to express his opinions on the current political climate, he would go on to suggest that politicians are using technology, cell phones in particular, to turn people against each other.
Declaring that it should always be “us against them” and that he will always be on the side of the people, he thanked everyone for coming out and rocking to some heavy music peacefully. Encouraging people to take a look around and hug their neighbors, Durst seemed genuinely appreciative for the strong turnout and that people still remember who they are. It was a clear sign of maturity for a group who, at one time, were considered the biggest and most juvenile band on the planet.
Prior to Limb Bizkit’s headlining set, Loserville kicked off with a diverse bill of opening acts that had a little something for everyone. Highlighted by underground rappers Bones featuring Eddy Baker and Xavier Wulf, their set had some of hardest rhymes and loudest bass I’ve ever heard in person. Before them was a dynamic synthpunk set from the one-man-band known as N8NOFACE. Mesmerizing the early attendees with his bizarre stage presence, guttural screams, and by slamming the microphone into his head to create drum beats, he openly discussed his struggles with crystal meth addiction, saying that for “anyone else who might be struggling, it doesn’t get easier, but it does gets better.”
Thanking Fred Durst from the bottom of his heart for taking him out on this tour, “Already Hate Your Next Boyfriend” was perhaps the song that stuck out most. Adding even more nostalgia to the festivities, actor Corey Feldman (yes that Corey Feldman) kicked off Loserville with a brief set of original music and over the top dance moves. A long-time friend of Durst, the two most recently collaborated on the music video for Feldman’s latest single “The Joke.”
As the night drew to a close, it was clear that Limp Bizkit’s performance in Bethel was more than just a concert. It was a testament to the enduring legacy of both the band and the historic site. It reminded everyone in attendance of the transformative power of music, capable of bridging gaps between eras, generations, and even differing personal tastes. For one night, Bethel and Limp Bizkit were once again at the center of a musical revolution, proving that while times change, the spirit of rock and rebellion is eternal.
Limp Bizkit | July, 26, 2024 | Bethel Woods | Bethel, NY
Setlist: Out of Style, Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle), Break Stuff, Hot Dog, Trust? My Generation, Livin’ It Up, My Way, Eat You Alive, Nookie, Full Nelson, Boiler, Faith, Take A Look Around, Break Stuff (Reprise).
N8NOFACE
Bones featuring Eddy Baker and Xavier Wulf
