My take on the Orlando show.
Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer.
Saturday, October 2nd at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando.
I'll start with the venue. This was my first time attending a show here. The sound was amazing, once someone remembered to flip the "on" switch half way through Anthrax's first song. The show was general admission on the floor with a balcony area above looking down, kind of like the House of Blues in Orlando. Advice - if you are under 6 feet tall, spend the extra bucks for the balcony, you won't see a damn thing unless you are up front. The next time I go to a show there, I'll get the balcony because you also have the chance to take a seat between bands.
Anthrax has been a huge part of my musical life. Anthrax has been a huge part of all my closest friends' musical lives as well. You can't flip through a photo album without seeing Anthrax shirts everywhere. I firmly believe there were more Anthrax shirts in Spring Hill growing up than any other band. I've met the guys in the band on numerous occasions and they have all been class acts - I'm talking to you Scott and Joey! \m/. These guys constantly have proven to me that they go above and beyond the call of duty for their fans. Anthrax has been the one band that I've tried to track down every b-side and non-album track they have ever released. I enjoy them that much. I can't even say that about KISS. Those of you who know me very well will understand the magnitude of that statement.
Right before 7 PM Anthrax hit the stage. They haven't sounded better. Joey is in top form and still hits all his highs. The new guitarist, Robert Caggiano (no more Dan Spitz) did an excellent job and has actually been a part of Anthrax for the better part of 10 years off and on. Frankie Bello is a madman on stage and is highly entertaining. Scott Ian is a monster that crushes all. Charlie. Charlie has cemented in my mind as the most underrated drummer in heavy metal history. The man was handing out double-kick fills like Dunkin has Donuts. Some of the fastest feet I've ever heard were last night.
I was fully expecting nothing but a greatest hits set list and probably the same songs I've heard live since the Sound Of White Noise tour. I was only half right, and honestly after their performance don't give a damn. They nailed it. They stole the show. They played for 40-45 minutes? What? Any sound curfew be damned, Anthrax deserves a minimum hour set. Period. I felt insulted as a fan (not by them, but by the situation). No matter, they took their time and destroyed live. This was better than both times I saw them on SOWN, Stomp 442 and Volume 8 tours as well as the small unannounced show on the Persistence of Time tour that I was privileged to attend when Maiden canceled their show. They simply haven't sounded better. Ever. I can't wait to see them next year after they release their new album with Joey back on vocals where he belongs. Hopefully it lasts longer this time around.
<span>Anthrax live set:</span>
Megadeth
They sounded tight musically. Almost like the album. Mustaine's voice mix was sub-par or maybe he just was, I can't honestly say because this was the first time I've seen a complete Megadeth set (the first time I left after 2-3 songs because Motorhead demanded my presence backstage and then on stage for their set - Megadeth be damned). I did enjoy them. That being said, unless they are part of a package tour like this again, I'd probably pass on seeing them again. I love Megadeth, don't get me wrong, I own every album, but perhaps being sammiched between Anthrax and Slayer steals some of their thunder. They just didn't leave me with that "WOW" feeling.
They did play the entire Rust In Peace album from start to finish, which was pretty damn cool.
Megadeth live set:
Slayer.
Slayer kills live. Their energy is monstrous. If you have never seen them live, you just will never understand. There's a reason there's a sterotype for metal heads who just run around or hang out of a driving car window throwing horns and yelling "SLLLAAAAYYYYEERRRR". It pretty much sums up the only true way of describing seeing them live. No other words do it justice.
Lomardo rules. He's a machine. He sits at the throne where all metal drummers prostrate before him.
They played the entire Seasons In The Abyss album. \m/
Slayer live set:
One last gripe. $35 for a tour shirt in this economy? NO SALE.
Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer.
Saturday, October 2nd at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando.
I'll start with the venue. This was my first time attending a show here. The sound was amazing, once someone remembered to flip the "on" switch half way through Anthrax's first song. The show was general admission on the floor with a balcony area above looking down, kind of like the House of Blues in Orlando. Advice - if you are under 6 feet tall, spend the extra bucks for the balcony, you won't see a damn thing unless you are up front. The next time I go to a show there, I'll get the balcony because you also have the chance to take a seat between bands.
Anthrax has been a huge part of my musical life. Anthrax has been a huge part of all my closest friends' musical lives as well. You can't flip through a photo album without seeing Anthrax shirts everywhere. I firmly believe there were more Anthrax shirts in Spring Hill growing up than any other band. I've met the guys in the band on numerous occasions and they have all been class acts - I'm talking to you Scott and Joey! \m/. These guys constantly have proven to me that they go above and beyond the call of duty for their fans. Anthrax has been the one band that I've tried to track down every b-side and non-album track they have ever released. I enjoy them that much. I can't even say that about KISS. Those of you who know me very well will understand the magnitude of that statement.
Right before 7 PM Anthrax hit the stage. They haven't sounded better. Joey is in top form and still hits all his highs. The new guitarist, Robert Caggiano (no more Dan Spitz) did an excellent job and has actually been a part of Anthrax for the better part of 10 years off and on. Frankie Bello is a madman on stage and is highly entertaining. Scott Ian is a monster that crushes all. Charlie. Charlie has cemented in my mind as the most underrated drummer in heavy metal history. The man was handing out double-kick fills like Dunkin has Donuts. Some of the fastest feet I've ever heard were last night.
I was fully expecting nothing but a greatest hits set list and probably the same songs I've heard live since the Sound Of White Noise tour. I was only half right, and honestly after their performance don't give a damn. They nailed it. They stole the show. They played for 40-45 minutes? What? Any sound curfew be damned, Anthrax deserves a minimum hour set. Period. I felt insulted as a fan (not by them, but by the situation). No matter, they took their time and destroyed live. This was better than both times I saw them on SOWN, Stomp 442 and Volume 8 tours as well as the small unannounced show on the Persistence of Time tour that I was privileged to attend when Maiden canceled their show. They simply haven't sounded better. Ever. I can't wait to see them next year after they release their new album with Joey back on vocals where he belongs. Hopefully it lasts longer this time around.
<span>Anthrax live set:</span>
- Caught In A Mosh
- Madhouse
- Anti-social
- Indians (complete with Joey headdress)
- A.I.R. (<--- holy shit the highlight of the night, what a surprise)
- Metal Thrashing Mad
- I Am The Law
Megadeth
They sounded tight musically. Almost like the album. Mustaine's voice mix was sub-par or maybe he just was, I can't honestly say because this was the first time I've seen a complete Megadeth set (the first time I left after 2-3 songs because Motorhead demanded my presence backstage and then on stage for their set - Megadeth be damned). I did enjoy them. That being said, unless they are part of a package tour like this again, I'd probably pass on seeing them again. I love Megadeth, don't get me wrong, I own every album, but perhaps being sammiched between Anthrax and Slayer steals some of their thunder. They just didn't leave me with that "WOW" feeling.
They did play the entire Rust In Peace album from start to finish, which was pretty damn cool.
Megadeth live set:
- Holy Wars...the Punishment Due
- Hangar 18
- Take No Prisoners
- Five Magicks
- Poison Was The Cure
- Lucretia
- Tornado Of Souls
- Dawn Patrol
- Rust In Peace... Polaris
- Trust
- Headcrusher
- A Tout La Monde
- Symphony Of Destruction
- Peace Sells
- Holy Wars (reprise)
Slayer.
Slayer kills live. Their energy is monstrous. If you have never seen them live, you just will never understand. There's a reason there's a sterotype for metal heads who just run around or hang out of a driving car window throwing horns and yelling "SLLLAAAAYYYYEERRRR". It pretty much sums up the only true way of describing seeing them live. No other words do it justice.
Lomardo rules. He's a machine. He sits at the throne where all metal drummers prostrate before him.
They played the entire Seasons In The Abyss album. \m/
Slayer live set:
- World Painted Blood
- Hate Worldwide
- War Ensemble
- Blood Red
- Spirit In Black
- Expendable Youth
- Dead Skin Mask
- Hallowed Point
- Skeletons Of Society
- Temptation
- Born Of Fire
- Seasons In The Abyss
- South Of Heaven
- Raining Blood
- Aggressive Perfector (<--- holy shit)
- Angel Of Death (with extended Lombardo crazy ass double-kick from hell)
One last gripe. $35 for a tour shirt in this economy? NO SALE.
