Hey Rock Revolters! I’m back!
Did you miss me? Hell, you didn’t even know I was gone did you? That’s OK, we’re about to change all that. My first show back is a real kick-ass event so – let’s get down to the rocking, shall we.
A little late getting this review out – there are a number of reasons and I won’t bore you with any of the meaningless details. What you do need to know is that this show was so freaking good – there was no way in hell I wasn’t going to tell you about it.
On February 1st – Metallica came to town for the first time in a decade. A lot has happened in those 10 years – for the band, for the city of Cleveland but the love affair was quickly rekindled as the band ran to the stage to the strains of The Esctacy Of Gold and then immediately burst into an ear-busting rendition of Hardwired.
Performing in the round – the stage was spectacular in its simplicity with Lars situated in the center and the rest of the hard rocking troupe strategically placed around the large and rather barren stage. High above were a series of cubes that would rise and fall – also serving as huge video monitors. They would flash, change color – so simple yet so effective. The band – with the exception of Lars – would work their ways around the stage – microphones were scattered all around the stage – this gave a huge number of fans the ability to get up close and personal with their head-banging heroes.
The way the show was staged did lend itself to a much more intimate setting then the cavernous Q should allow.
The setlist was phenomenal. With a catalog like Metallica’s – song choice has got to be an issue but – the band managed to hit all the high notes of their career and they even threw a few surprises in along the way.
The biggest for Cleveland rock fans being a performance of The Michael Stanley Bands My Town to a roaring and cheering crowd. For those of us in attendance of a certain age – it was a truly magical moment that I’m actually finding hard to put into words. For this old school MSB fan – it was the surprise of a lifetime – and just a crapload of fun.
But that was hardly the only high point from this stellar metal showcase. Check out these highlights from the 18 song setlist.
Seek and Destroy, Wherever I May Roam, The Unforgiven, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Fuel, Sad But True, an amazing performance of ONE and then the encores literally shook the foundation of The Q.
Rushing back on stage to give us Battery, probably the best version of Nothing Else Matters that I have ever heard and of course closing out the night – as expected – with Enter Sandman.
The takeaway from being in attendance at this show is this – Metallica is likely the best band touring right now – I realize there will be a large number of you who read those words and will vehemently disagree with the statement but – you’re wrong. These guys are a well-oiled machine – they are playing better than they ever have and the sheer weight of the talent on that stage is enough to stop a freight train in its tracks. Yes – they honestly are that good.
Find them, see them, thank me for it.
The band winds its way around the US through March and then they head overseas for the summer so – catch them while you can.
