GIG REVIEW: An Evening With JONATHAN DAVIS Live at Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI

With 44 shows on the docket, running from one side of the country to the other. Jonathan Davis and Co. are ready to rock his 14^th solo show for the album “Black Labyrinth”. As the night begins the sidewalk is packed by early fans for a wonderfully set up VIP Meet and Great with Jonathan Davis in the front bar in the theater he was so kind with his fans stopping for photos and signed photos were available as well. After the meet and greet all the fans got early access to the venue and with that the opening band hit the stage. Local act No Resolve warmed up the packed house for this intimate affair, and man did they come out blazing. They didn’t look or sound like a local act they looked like the touring supporting band very impressive. I see big things coming in their future.

With a short intermission to change the set up, fans you could tell were ready for the main act. You could feel the energy in this small packed room. The anticipation was amazing. You could tell with set design and lighting this was not gonna be your average Korn show this all had a very different fell to it, very intimate and raw. With a gentleman dressed in all black on the stand-up bass, and to the right another dressed in all black will an electric violin, and one more behind him on the keys and Synths Jonathan was bringing something a little different. Also, on drums Korn’s very own Ray Luzier, man is he a beast behind the kit. With Davis and crew ready to start the experience blackness and red lighting shines upon the stage as Jonathan walks out to a huge applause and people screaming “JD”.

After years of preforming all over the world there is a sense of shyness to him as he comes out to greet the crowd. Starting off the set he breaks into “Underneath My Skin” which is also the lead off song on his new solo album. Now with the album not being released till May 25^th via Sumerian Records for most, this is their first time hearing these new songs and they are all very much digging it. Rocking heavy with the track “Everybody” the crowed was building that’s for sure. Everything warmed up now Davis and Co. blasted out “Forsaken” the whole crowd knew it, as it was the hit track off the Queen of the Damned Soundtrack that Jonathan did the score for.

You can feel the difference in his music over Korn for sure, I’m loving the middle eastern influences throughout these tracks and the beautiful synth sounds builds a beautiful fullness to this set. “Basic Needs” has this dream like feel to it with beautiful tablas, sitars and heavy drum rhythms it all brings you to another world and the crowd was there with him. Ray Luzier is a beast!!! Did I say that already because he is, a mad man on this song? Bringing it back to early 2000’s again Jonathan grabs another track off the Queen of the Damned in “Slept So Long” originally sang by Orgy frontman Jay Gordon, but written by Davis and Richard Gibbs.

After getting the crowd in a frenzy with that one he slides into the Black Labyrinth some more with “Medicate”, “Walk on By”, “Please Tell Me”. He did a beautiful tribute song to the late Chester Bennington with the track “System” again off the Queen of the Damn Soundtrack and vocals originally done by Chester. At the end of the song he gives a salute to Chester and much respect from the crowd as well.

Closing out the set he picked a wonderful song in Neil Diamond’s classic “Love on the Rocks”. Loved this cover and I believe it blew the fans away as well. After a brief break on side stage Jonathan came back out to a huge applause almost a bit embarrassed by it all, such a humble man as he thanks everyone. With two songs to go he fires on all cylinders with the hit track “What it is” that had people moshing, crowd surfing and all out going wild before closing out the night with the song “Happiness” which I thought was very fitting as everyone left this show with a giant smile on their faces.

If Jonathan was looking to get more intimate with his fans, he did just that in Detroit. I hope it doesn’t take another 10 years for him to release his next album. But for now, you can all pick up your copy May 25^th or get your presale downloads now.