Sorry to start yet another Heaven and Hell thread, but since a fair amount of us think this the "metal event of the year," I figure...what the hell.
So, saw 'em last night. Honestly? Words can't describe the feeling of being there in person. I've watched the Youtube clips, followed the stories on Blabbermouth etc., but none of that can represent the power of the actual show.
Actually, let me start by saying I've never seen Megadeth before. Not being a huge fan, this is no big deal....but then again, they absolutely tore the place up! What a great, great set they did. I was completely impressed. Highlights were: Sleepwalker from the new album (and the opener), I really like that song! Symphony of Destruction, Tornado of Souls, Holy Wars, and a bunch more. They rarely paused for more than 15 seconds between songs, preferring, apparently, to cram in as much as they could. They did two encores. I was thinking of buying the new album when it comes out, but now I definately will, and more will try to see them as headliners when I can. Killer show.
But, the main event is Heaven and Hell of course....so some quick notes:
1. Ronnie sounded just plain fantastic. He hit a LOT of high notes....and though he can have his off-ish nights, sounded like a man of 30 (rather than 60).
2. Great setlist as you all know....but still felt like a surprise to me somehow. They did Falling off the Edge of the World, and I'm not sure that was on the first leg setlist....was it? It was killer anyway. Highlights were....Sign of the Southern Cross, I, Voodoo, Children of the Sea, well...you know the score....they know their strong suites, and are playing them in spades....a very well designed setlist.
3. Can I just say here...that we should crown Tony Iommi the "METAL GOD," and be done with it? There are always converstions about which Sabbath era is THE era....Ozzy, Dio, whatever....but I'll tell ya, the one constant through all the years is the man Tony Iommi....quiet and persistent, consistantly cranking out riffs as if he makes them up in his sleep. He's responsible for a VERY large portion of the foundation of metal (Ozzy years), but a big piece of the foundation of modern metal too (Dio years), to say nothing of excellent albums like Born Again, or even the recent Hughes/Iommi awesomeness! The man is quite simply a legend. And, no, I'm not forgetting Geezer, he's another constant....always been there....keeping the faith as it were....
4. A lot of folks came out of retirement for this one...and that made it a lot of fun. There were conversations all around me to the tune of, "I wanted to go in 1980, but my mom wouldn't let me!" or "the last time I saw these guys I was in high school...." and there were a lot of receding hairlines, but of course some folks who looked like they've aged pretty well too (ha), but it was just fun to be in a crowd consisting of almost completely old-school folks sharing their war stories of the old days. Heard lots of folk talking of the Bay Area Thrash days....and just....a nice, nice crowd. Good folks. Our peeps.
5. This band plays so well, so immediate is their energy, that one can easily forget that you are watching a bunch of "old farts," albeit old farts who are responsible for a great many of the coolest albums in the metal pantheon: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Holy Diver, Rainbow Rising, Mob Rules....on and on and on. This is, put simply, an evening spent with legends.
Heaven and Hell is THE metal event of the year. Believe the hype.
It was awesome!
Oh, last, only saw about 30 seconds of Machinehead (on purpose), and that was plenty. No big whoop.
Here's the setlist, same as first leg (where they DID do Falling off the edge...):
01. E5150
02. After All (The Dead)
03. The Mob Rules
04. Children of The Sea
05. Lady Evil
06. Ear In The Wall
07. I
08. The Sign of The Southern Cross
09. Voodoo
10. The Devil Cried
11. Vinny Appice Solo
12. Computer God
13. Falling Off The Edge of The World
14. Shadow of The Wind
15. Die Young
16. Heaven and Hell
---------------------
17. Neon Knights
So, saw 'em last night. Honestly? Words can't describe the feeling of being there in person. I've watched the Youtube clips, followed the stories on Blabbermouth etc., but none of that can represent the power of the actual show.
Actually, let me start by saying I've never seen Megadeth before. Not being a huge fan, this is no big deal....but then again, they absolutely tore the place up! What a great, great set they did. I was completely impressed. Highlights were: Sleepwalker from the new album (and the opener), I really like that song! Symphony of Destruction, Tornado of Souls, Holy Wars, and a bunch more. They rarely paused for more than 15 seconds between songs, preferring, apparently, to cram in as much as they could. They did two encores. I was thinking of buying the new album when it comes out, but now I definately will, and more will try to see them as headliners when I can. Killer show.
But, the main event is Heaven and Hell of course....so some quick notes:
1. Ronnie sounded just plain fantastic. He hit a LOT of high notes....and though he can have his off-ish nights, sounded like a man of 30 (rather than 60).
2. Great setlist as you all know....but still felt like a surprise to me somehow. They did Falling off the Edge of the World, and I'm not sure that was on the first leg setlist....was it? It was killer anyway. Highlights were....Sign of the Southern Cross, I, Voodoo, Children of the Sea, well...you know the score....they know their strong suites, and are playing them in spades....a very well designed setlist.
3. Can I just say here...that we should crown Tony Iommi the "METAL GOD," and be done with it? There are always converstions about which Sabbath era is THE era....Ozzy, Dio, whatever....but I'll tell ya, the one constant through all the years is the man Tony Iommi....quiet and persistent, consistantly cranking out riffs as if he makes them up in his sleep. He's responsible for a VERY large portion of the foundation of metal (Ozzy years), but a big piece of the foundation of modern metal too (Dio years), to say nothing of excellent albums like Born Again, or even the recent Hughes/Iommi awesomeness! The man is quite simply a legend. And, no, I'm not forgetting Geezer, he's another constant....always been there....keeping the faith as it were....
4. A lot of folks came out of retirement for this one...and that made it a lot of fun. There were conversations all around me to the tune of, "I wanted to go in 1980, but my mom wouldn't let me!" or "the last time I saw these guys I was in high school...." and there were a lot of receding hairlines, but of course some folks who looked like they've aged pretty well too (ha), but it was just fun to be in a crowd consisting of almost completely old-school folks sharing their war stories of the old days. Heard lots of folk talking of the Bay Area Thrash days....and just....a nice, nice crowd. Good folks. Our peeps.
5. This band plays so well, so immediate is their energy, that one can easily forget that you are watching a bunch of "old farts," albeit old farts who are responsible for a great many of the coolest albums in the metal pantheon: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Holy Diver, Rainbow Rising, Mob Rules....on and on and on. This is, put simply, an evening spent with legends.
Heaven and Hell is THE metal event of the year. Believe the hype.
It was awesome!
Oh, last, only saw about 30 seconds of Machinehead (on purpose), and that was plenty. No big whoop.
Here's the setlist, same as first leg (where they DID do Falling off the edge...):
01. E5150
02. After All (The Dead)
03. The Mob Rules
04. Children of The Sea
05. Lady Evil
06. Ear In The Wall
07. I
08. The Sign of The Southern Cross
09. Voodoo
10. The Devil Cried
11. Vinny Appice Solo
12. Computer God
13. Falling Off The Edge of The World
14. Shadow of The Wind
15. Die Young
16. Heaven and Hell
---------------------
17. Neon Knights
