Molten Metallica Long-Running Rock/Alternative Band Heats Up Crowd With A Fluid Performance Of Fan-Pleasing Music
Metallica Friday, May 16, Spokane Arena
On Friday night, Metallica poured into the Spokane Arena with an intensity that recaptured the sound off the band’s best album, 1991’s self-titled release.
Before the hard rock/alternative band was about to perform its magic, I headed for the mosh pit. I was warned about my three necklaces that dangled low around my neck.
They’ll get ripped off when you get a black eye. Whoa.
I had butterflies in my stomach, gazing at the huge security guards shouting out the rules, which included “no bodysurfing.” This brought a line of protests from the crowd, which featured a lot of black T-shirts and long, faded yellow hair.
The North Carolina band Corrosion of Conformity, which has played Spokane before at Outback Jack’s, was the opening act. Its light show was tedious, but lead singer Pepper Keenan got the crowd roaring when he would stop after a flood of guitar riffs and ask in a mellow voice: “Is this Washington?”
His question was greeted with an uproar.
The music was good, although I’ve heard better from other garage bands. I felt that COC had a lot to live up to, opening the stage in front of thousands of die-hard Metallica fans.
As Metallica took center-stage, people all around me hurtled their way to the front of the mosh pit for a chance to touch the hands of four men in one of the best rock bands in the industry.
The first few songs included “Ain’t My Bitch” and some songs off the “Kill ‘Em All” album, with guitarist Kirk Hammett exploding into hard-hitting guitar thrashes and lead singer/guitarist James Hetfield’s brooding voice rising above the thundering applause.
Hetfield didn’t stay in just one spot or vault into another, like striking bassist Jason Newsted, but instead made every movement count.
His presence was highlighted by wicked drummer Lars Ulrich, who was off in his own world but still hit every beat. Every word, every look, every note made me want to be a part of their destruction.
Fireworks went off, booms were heard, and fire rose up to heat our sweaty faces.
Among the crowd-pleasers were mostly songs from 1991’s big album, which included “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters,” both radio-friendly, although Metallica never played “The Unforgiven,” one of its most famous ballads. That disappointed many fans.
The song that got the wildest response (besides “Enter Sandman”) was “Until It Sleeps,” famous from the “Load” album for its catchy beat and references to addiction.
“Hero of the Day,” a song that starts out slowly and ends in flames, was also popular.
A soft guitar melody was enjoyable, with Hetfield and Hammett silhouetted in the blue light and rising smoke from fireworks.
Above anything else, this showed Metallica’s level of maturation, being able to quickly switch gears and still make the sound incredible.
Metallica, unlike so many other contemporary bands, understands the singer is not what keeps a band together.
These guys know what it takes to be successful: phenomenal music with lyrics that are real, and an understanding that every band member plays a role, both on the road to stardom and after 16 years of being there.
MEMO: Heidi Thomsen is a student in the Running Start program at Eastern Washington University.