To reference the old advertising campaign from Belfast in the 1990s, it had "the buzz" at Wednesday's (12th June 2024) edition of this year's Belsonic at the huge Ormeau Park in the city. The city hasn't seen this much raw energy in years as Nova Twins, Tom Morello and Limp Bizkit all played to a packed crowd.
First on stage were English duo Nova Twins who played an unstoppable set with their typical genre-bending sound. The twosome have gradually been making big waves this last couple of years, and proved the perfect act to get the crowd going.
Next up was Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, ranked as the 18th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. Though he himself would baulk at numbering so high above many of his heroes including Randy Rhoads and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, it's a testament to his sheer inventiveness as a player.
And it shows in the songs. "What's up, Belfast!" said Morello before opening with 'Soldier in the Army of Love', the first single from his latest all-rock solo set, due to be released on June 28th. Continuing in the same solo-vein, he declared; "Let foes of justice tremble", ahead of 'Vigilante Nocturno' the second track in an already storming set.
Cheers then came when Morello revealed; "It's been over 30 years since the last time I played in your beautiful city, and I've been waiting a very, very, very long time for this moment." Delving back to that 1993 RATM gig at the Ulster Hall, the crowd got what they'd really came for; an extended medley of some of Rage's greatest riffs.
Celebrating Audioslave meanwhile, and in particular his close friend and fallen band mate, Tom said; "I'd like a huge, celebratory, in memoriam cheer for Mister Chris Cornell. Please join us in this prayer for all of the departed loved ones", before a poignant 'Like a Stone'.
Nearing the end of his set, he introduced 'Killing in the Name' as; "an old Irish folk song", with the powerful anthem getting the Belfast crowd jumping as Morello turned the microphone to them imploring; "you guys sing this!", before signing off with a run through John Lennon's 'Power to the People'.
Nu Metal linchpins Limp Bizkit meanwhile, have never played Belfast and after their intro song 'Sweet Home Alabama' finished the band members appeared on stage, with motormouth main man Fred Durst announcing to the crowd: "This is not Alabama, my friends, my family in Ireland. Limp Bizkit is in the house, baby."
With Durst sporting a green camouflaged New York Yankees baseball cap, and confusing high-vis jacket combo, 'Break Stuff' kicked things into life. "I knew the moment I got off that airplane here in Belfast, that this motherfucker was going to go off tonight", declared Durst, and he wasn't wrong.
Blasting through their certifiably Nu Metal catalogue, the Florida five-piece's generation-defining anthems rolled back the years to the early 00's, from not-to-be-confused-with-The-Who dirge 'My Generation' to UK No.1 single 'Rollin'.
A faithful cover of The Who's 'Behind Blue Eyes' offered some respite, before 'Nookie' removed any hint of tenderness. Throwing in another cover, their infamous take on George Michael's 'Faith' was dedicated to "all the ladies in the crowd".
Seeing out the night with 'Take a Look Around', and a finale of 'Break Stuff', the band bookended their set with their most energetic track. "It's been epic. Don't stop believin' ya'll", said the divisive Durst, signing off.
It may have been Limp Bizkit's first time in Belfast, and Morello's first in over three decades, but it is clear from the crowd in the city tonight that they would have both artists back sooner rather than later.
Check out our gallery from the show. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
Next up was Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, ranked as the 18th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. Though he himself would baulk at numbering so high above many of his heroes including Randy Rhoads and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, it's a testament to his sheer inventiveness as a player.
And it shows in the songs. "What's up, Belfast!" said Morello before opening with 'Soldier in the Army of Love', the first single from his latest all-rock solo set, due to be released on June 28th. Continuing in the same solo-vein, he declared; "Let foes of justice tremble", ahead of 'Vigilante Nocturno' the second track in an already storming set.
Cheers then came when Morello revealed; "It's been over 30 years since the last time I played in your beautiful city, and I've been waiting a very, very, very long time for this moment." Delving back to that 1993 RATM gig at the Ulster Hall, the crowd got what they'd really came for; an extended medley of some of Rage's greatest riffs.
Celebrating Audioslave meanwhile, and in particular his close friend and fallen band mate, Tom said; "I'd like a huge, celebratory, in memoriam cheer for Mister Chris Cornell. Please join us in this prayer for all of the departed loved ones", before a poignant 'Like a Stone'.
Nearing the end of his set, he introduced 'Killing in the Name' as; "an old Irish folk song", with the powerful anthem getting the Belfast crowd jumping as Morello turned the microphone to them imploring; "you guys sing this!", before signing off with a run through John Lennon's 'Power to the People'.
Nu Metal linchpins Limp Bizkit meanwhile, have never played Belfast and after their intro song 'Sweet Home Alabama' finished the band members appeared on stage, with motormouth main man Fred Durst announcing to the crowd: "This is not Alabama, my friends, my family in Ireland. Limp Bizkit is in the house, baby."
With Durst sporting a green camouflaged New York Yankees baseball cap, and confusing high-vis jacket combo, 'Break Stuff' kicked things into life. "I knew the moment I got off that airplane here in Belfast, that this motherfucker was going to go off tonight", declared Durst, and he wasn't wrong.
Blasting through their certifiably Nu Metal catalogue, the Florida five-piece's generation-defining anthems rolled back the years to the early 00's, from not-to-be-confused-with-The-Who dirge 'My Generation' to UK No.1 single 'Rollin'.
A faithful cover of The Who's 'Behind Blue Eyes' offered some respite, before 'Nookie' removed any hint of tenderness. Throwing in another cover, their infamous take on George Michael's 'Faith' was dedicated to "all the ladies in the crowd".
Seeing out the night with 'Take a Look Around', and a finale of 'Break Stuff', the band bookended their set with their most energetic track. "It's been epic. Don't stop believin' ya'll", said the divisive Durst, signing off.
It may have been Limp Bizkit's first time in Belfast, and Morello's first in over three decades, but it is clear from the crowd in the city tonight that they would have both artists back sooner rather than later.
Check out our gallery from the show. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
