So last night, I went to the Times Union Center to see Metallica. First I’d like to say that I think this was the best concert I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely one to remember.

The opening acts were a band called Volbeat, which they are an out of country band, they came all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark. They were actually very good too. I enjoyed them. They are a metal band but they also put some punk rock and rockabilly into the mix. The crowd seem to love the band as they gave Volbeat a good response.

Seeing Lamb of God, who are mainstream icons, they’re on tour in support of their new album, “Wrath”. The guys were really there, Randy Blythe the singer, Mark Morton and Willie Adler, the two fully bearded long-haired guitarists, drummer Chris Adler, and John Campbell the bass player were all on stage. They were mostly performing songs from their last two records, “Sacrament” and “Wrath”. Lamb of God is a band I’ve admired for a long while. I was really impressed with their performance. Very tight and they put on an entertaining show. Although I’ll be honest with Randy, all he did was scream and growl, so you could barely hear his vocals. Randy has good stage presence and he likes audience participation as he was trying to get the audience to make some noise for Metallica. If the crowd noise isn’t loud enough he’ll say, “You all sound like a bunch of fucking pussies, how about a little louder for Metallica?”

Before Metallica hits the stage, the lights went dark, and classical music started. It was the opening intro from the “S&M” live album, the instrumental intro titled, “Ecstasy of Gold” started the show. Then the band kicked it right off, with “That Was Just Your Life” a song from their new record “Death Magnetic”. All the guys were on stage in person, Hetfield, Hammet, Ulrich, and Trujillo. They were putting on good light shows. Using smoke machines, flame throwers from the floor, etc. Doing it all.

There was a mosh pit going, the moshers were going pretty wild…later in the band’s set during the song “Sad But True”, I think that’s when the mosh pit got way out of hand the most. Pretty much the entire audience on the floor were going crazy. Pushing everyone around and crowd surfing, all that. There were huge muscle guys in the pit, throwing everyone around at random.

Metallica definitely sang live and played their instruments live, they don’t fake anything at concerts. On stage there were microphones on each corner, so the audience all around can get a chance to view the members up close. That’s why each band that played had to use wireless instruments.

The Metallica show was mostly greatest hits show, and played a few songs from their new album “Death Magnetic”, but this was an amazing show. Seeing Metallica on TV was one thing, but if you see them live in person, you’ll see that they are the greatest live performers on Earth.

Metallica’s setlist from last night in Albany, Nov. 12th:

Encore

I’m glad they played, “The Memory Remains”. That’s one of my favorite tunes by them. The sing along to that one by the audience was amazing. That strange chant they do that was created by the great, Marianne Faithful, who sang the song on the CD. They don’t play that song on their tours too much either, and I’m happy they choose Albany to play it.

They recorded the show live, I remember Hetfield saying they were. It’ll be on their MetallicaLive site probably, but you’ll have to pay for it of course to download that show.

I’m glad I finally get to see a band I’ve admired for years. They are heros of mine, I don’t care what the haters say. Metallica is not for everyone, but they did a lot to get where they are today, and now they are Hall of Famers. This will be a show to remember, indeed! I love Metallica!!!

Kev