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09/19/2024

Through the Eyes of a Preteen: Loserville Tour (Limp Bizkit, BONES, N8NOFACE, Corey Feldman)

By SYDNEY AND MIKE LEWIS // Those who have been following her journey know that she has attended more than her fair share of metal concerts—some she has enjoyed, while others she has been less enthusiastic about. The LOSERVILLE Tour was one such event where I felt she would either love it or decide to quit photography altogether and never speak to me again.

As Sydney continues to hone her photography skills, I often try to arrange for her to attend various shows in the area, purely for the experience. Those who have been following her journey know that she has attended more than her fair share of metal concerts—some she has enjoyed, while others she has been less enthusiastic about. The LOSERVILLE Tour was one such event where I felt she would either love it or decide to quit photography altogether and never speak to me again.

Her usual response was that she didn’t know anyone on the tour, but I assured her that she knew Corey Feldman. We went back and forth, but I was insistent, pointing out that she had watched The Goonies, Gremlins, and The Lost Boys (at least in part), so she should know who he is. This only made her more confused. Why was an actor touring and playing music? I had already photographed Corey several years ago when he performed at Dante’s, after the infamous Today Show incident that had him roasted across cyberspace. I knew Sydney would either hate his performance or have an unexpected reaction.

Seeing Corey Feldman live is quite an experience. He starts with a video montage that showcases both his acting and music career. It’s hard to pin down his musical genre as he blends various styles, including pop and rock, with a definite 80’s influence in both his music and onstage performance. Sydney mentioned that his dancing reminded her of Michael Jackson, so I pointed out that Corey had indeed spent time with Jackson many years ago. She was completely shocked to learn this. To my surprise, Sydney enjoyed his set, even calling the first song, “Comeback King,” a “banger.”

N8Noface performed shortly afterward, an artist I wasn’t familiar with. It’s just one person who creates a sound described as chiptune Ministry mixed with darkwave synthpunk. I initially thought it was more like electro powerviolence, but I guess I was wrong. Sometimes, I let Sydney take the lead in the photo pit, especially when she isn’t completely won over by the music. About three minutes into the set, we both looked at each other and decided we were done. Neither of us enjoyed the music. Next up was BONES, a rapper known for emo-rap and trap metal. Sydney liked the music, but it certainly was the type of performance that I was onboard for. However, we stayed for our allotted five songs, which made sense as each song was about two minutes long.
Limp Bizkit went on earlier than expected, so we rushed back into the photo pit. The band opened with “Break Stuff,” and Sydney looked at me.

“I KNOW this band!!!”

This is from the same child who, just a week prior, had told me she had no idea who Limp Bizkit was. I can only assume that during one of her various TikTok sessions, she came across someone using their music. While Sydney seemed to enjoy photographing the band, one challenge she faces is that the stage at the amphitheater is a bit taller than she is. With floor monitors and other gear in the way, she tries her best to get good photos, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out as planned. I’m also still working to help her understand that at this venue, she can hold the camera above her head without interfering with the audience’s enjoyment of the show.

There was a moment during the evening that I wish she had been prepared for. At one point, Sydney was simply watching and trying to pick her next shot, something I’ve seen her do many times. During this brief pause, Fred Durst noticed her. He walked to the front of the stage, leaned down slightly towards her, and smiled. I think Sydney was surprised by this and missed the chance to take a photo.

Overall, I believe that Sydney really did enjoy the evening. There may have been moments that didn’t sit right with her, but I think this was another photo pit adventure that for her was very successful for the most part. On the trip home Sydney wanted to listen to Corey Feldman, so he apparently made an impact on her so I would guess that the next time he’s in the Portland area, she’s going to want to attend. She’ll be back in the photo pit again soon and again, she does have her own social media (maybe ran by a parent) so follow her there for more photos.

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