It’s been two days since Knotfest Los Angeles 2021 and my body is still sore. It shouldn’t be. I enjoyed the concert from the cushy comfort of Sec FLST9 Row C Seat 5, the premium sitting by the stage. Fuck. It sucks getting old.

When my husband asked me about my overall experience at the festival—I went alone, by the way—my answer to him was a solid 7/10 as the bands were great but the venue wasn’t. Even though it was my first time at the Banc of California Stadium I had high expectations for it, but at the end of the day the venue’s offenses—not gonna go into detail—were harmless and inconsequential, infuriating yes, but at least us Maggots were safe and had the chance of enjoying the show all night long.

Just like clockwork, Slipknot started their hour and a half set at 9:20pm on the glorious and cold Friday night of November 5th, 2021. That time and date will go down in my personal history as the moment part of my soul was given back to me after one year and eight months of pandemic paranoia; California’s covid craziness put my lifestyle on hold and took hostage part of my identity, who was I without the joy of freedom, of people? So here’s my vaccination card. Let’s fucking do this!

Slipknot gave us an amazing performance. We were their last stop in their 2021 US Tour (29 shows in seven weeks) but you would have thought we were their first, they all had so much energy and holy shit how do they do it!? I pray to god I have a fraction of their stamina when I hit my fifties and that I am still headbanging by then.

Their setlist consisted of their greatest hits plus their new single, The Chapeltown Rag, and even though I loved it all I was hoping they played some of my favorites, but I guess there will be another time to watch them perform in person the masterpiece that is Eyeless, Sulfur, Dead Memories, Custer, and Solway Firth. Also, did I mention that the concert was streamed live all over the world? I hope they end up releasing the pro-shot recording via download or dvd so I can add it to my Slipknot collection.

If I had to choose one moment as the most especial of the entire evening I would have to say it was when we all got down during Spit It Out – what a blast it was! When I realized what was going to happen I took out my phone and started recording. Duuude, I fucking did it, I am now proudly—and without any question or doubt—an Official Maggot!

Here’s to more music, more concerts, more culture, more arts, more people, more us! See you around.

In Love and Fear,

-Marath

P.S. If you would like to watch the full pro-shot live stream of the song Spit It Out, go here and enjoy it while it lasts ;)

[February 17, 2022 EDIT: Slipknot released today the official music video for their new single The Chapeltown Rag which consisted of live footage from their 2021 US Tour and for a couple of seconds (00:45 mark) you can sort of see my left arm. Listen, I fully acknowledge it is so dumb for me to even point it out but somehow it feels… I don’t know… mmmh… important at some very, very small level? All I know is that I am grateful that the girl next to me was able to capture the attention of the band’s film crew while she was headbanging so I could have this tiny moment of perpetual happiness.]