Metallica F***ing Rocks!
Last night, I went to my fifth live Metallica concert, and if these guys keep doing what they do so well, it will definitely not be my last.
The show at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, on November 1, 2008, was, to say the least, amazing! Hetfield’s voice was in top form; Ulrich’s drumplay is intoxicatingly outstanding; Hammett’s pickwork is unmatched; and Trujillo’s bass made me miss Newsted less and less. Their performance was nearly flawless, making one hilarious false start midway through the set — an absolute rarity for a band as tight as they are — which seemed to be intentional, for showmanship’s sake.
A good selection of the songs came from their newest album, Death Magnetic, but they drew from their extensive setlist over the years, including songs from Load, Master of Puppets, …And Justice For All, Ride the Lightning, and Kill ‘Em All. Their performance of the song, “One” – a staple among the Metallica shows I’ve had the pleasure of viewing — is always mind-jarringly awesome! Add well-choreographed light shows, pyrotechnics, and humongous floating coffins, and you’ve got one 2-hour nearly non-stop musicfest that’s worth not being able to hear well for a few days. And two encore songs isn’t a bad deal either.
The Sword and Down (which featured former Pantera frontman, Phil Anselmo) opened for Metallica in P-Town.
If you haven’t seen Metallica live before, and whether you’re a current, lukewarm, or potential fan, this is the concert tour that you’d want to see. Rock on!
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