First Thought:

I have been a huge Metallica fan for a longtime, but never went to go see them in concert. Like many people, I feel that since the Black Album, the quality of their music has declined. Although unlike many “hardcore” fans, I actually liked the Load and Reload Cds, but agree that St. Anger was garbage.  Death Magnetic came out and I am digging it and figured I better go see them before they die (or before I do). Overall, I was excited.

The Bill

The Sword, Machine Head, Metallica

The Venue

Allstate Arena – Great views…AWEFUL SOUND. The stage was a giant rectangle about 3/4 the size of a baskeball court. With 8 microphones placed throughout the stage and Lars’ drum stand sitting on a rotating circle stand in the middle.

The openers: I actually missed the first opener “The Sword” as me and the boys were out at Harry Carays having some pregame drinks. We got there in time to see the incredibly dissapointing sounds of Machinehead. I have a couple friends who are big Machinehead fans and they rave about their live shows. I even think I may have seen Machinehead at a big radio show 10+ years ago. Anyway, all we heard was one big  jumbled mess of drums and bass. Could not hear any lead guitar or the singer. Couldn’t tell where one song ended and the other began. To sum it up…I think even without the bad Allstate arena acoustics, these guys would have sucked balls.

The Headliners:

Metallica came out and immediately I was dissapointed, but again it was because the audio mix in the arena was soooo piss poor that I couldn’t hear Kirk Hammett or James Hetfield (the 2 main reasons I like Metallica). They opened up playing a couple of their new tunes and then  mixed it up with older songs from the Black album and before. They didn’t play anything between Black and Death Magnetic…which was good. Fortunately, the sound got better as the night went along and I enjoyed the concert much more.

The Good: One, Sad But True, All Nightmare Long, Cyanide, Master of Puppets, free audio download of concert

The Bad: That Was Just  Your Life, Fight Fire with Fire, the black Metallica beach balls that fell from the ceiling during Seek and Destroy (cheesy).

Set List:

1. That Was Just Your Life
2. The End of the Line
3. Harvestor of Sorrow
4. For Whom the Bells Toll
5. One
6. Broken, Beaten, Scarred
7. Cyandide
8. Sad But True
9. Welcome Home (Sanatarium)
10. All Nightmare Long
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master of Puppets
13. Fight Fire with Fire
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Die Die My Darling
17. Whiplash
18. Seek and Destroy

Overall: I would definetely see Metallica again…but only if they played at a different venue. The All State needs to be blown up and rebuilt for the 21st century.

Rating: 3 Magic Donkey Hats

monkeyclown MonkeyClown, Music 1/27/09, All State Arena, AllState Arena, Concert, Death Magnetic, january 27th 2009, List, Machinehead, Metallica, review, Set, Setlist, The Sword