March 26th 2010, Austin, TX, was the first time ever I overdose on metal.
I drove there from San Antonio with a friend to celebrate a very special occasion, it's Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary tour and Megadeth will be performing that night, along with Exodus and Testament.
I saw Megadeth in 2006 at Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Testament were also opening for them then.
I got to Stubbs -the restaurant/bar where the event was going to take place- around 11:30am, the doors were set to open at 6:00pm but I wanted to make sure I get a near by parking spot and to be the first in the line and thankfully we accomplished both.
I was wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans as all my stuff were packed cause I was travelling to Abu Dhabi for work the next day.
Walked around, saw the roadies unloading amps and monitors with Mustaine and Megadeth names on them.
Went inside Stubbs to eat, behind me in line to pay was the singer from Testament with a roadie, I would have said hi but I didn't know his name.
Waited in the sun next to the gates, line started forming up behind us.
Saw Testament singer and drummer walking in and out several times.
Testament bassist -who I took a picture with in Dubai rock Festival 2006- came by and took some pictures with Testament fans, I talked to him with them a bit, he's a nice guy.
Heard Megadeth sound checking, saw Mustaine walking to the sound engineer/mixer tent, people behind me screamed his name, he looked and waved, I did the military salute to him so he smiled and did the same thing back at me, it was awesome heh
Couple of chicks who didn't have tickets went and spoke with the radio people who were there for the show, they got them in, it's at times like that you feel all your morals are worthless and wish you were a sleazy whore.
Doors opened, we ran in, caught a great spot at the rails upfront on the left side of the stage, I choose the spot cause I wanted to be standing close to David Ellefson who I never saw before.
Exodus was loud and their frontman was very energetic and funny, he did however encourage people to form a mosh pit which is always unpleasant, I'm here to enjoy the live music, I could get these same bunch of fuckers at my back yard and blast the same music on the stereo and ask them to run around pushing each other, but I guess that's the only downside to that type of show.
Testament were great, just like Exodus; they're not my kind of music due to the vocals style but at a live show I enjoy all brands of metal, just for seeing good players perform and hearing them at the spot.
Got a Testament guitar pick from GLENN DROVER! that's right he's touring with them which was news to me, he was in Megadeth if you didn't already know that and he's Shawn's brother (the current Megadeth drummer).
My legs were killing me from the pushing and my chest was hurting from being squashed against the railing, my ears were hurting from the loudness as the monitors were right by us and I was worried I wouldn't have any energy left for Megadeth.
Testament finished and a few minutes later their banner dropped to reveal the Megadeth banner, the crowd went insane.
The sound checkers and the roadies checked on the instruments, the drums were covered so we didn't see the tech, it occurred to me that roadies are picked solely on their physical ability to move stuff and mental ability to be complete assholes with a hint of douchebagism, there must be an asshole test before they get hired with an average score, maybe they get them to push down old ladies crossing the street or something.
Lights went out.
Intro music started, a list of weird spoken warnings along with stringy music.
A spot light to the right of the stage, Chris Brodrick came out.
A spot light to the left of the stage, David Ellefson came out, we roared for him and I lost it, I freakin love that guy.
The covers hiding the drums fell and we saw Shawn Drover.
She-Wolf mean distorted open riffs started, Mustiane has stepped on stage, FUCK FUCK FUCK THE ENERGY IN THE CROWD WAS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
"Grrrrrrrrr The mother of all that is evil" Next thing I know we were all jumping to that riff once the other guitar and the bass kicked in, I love that song, I wish they didn't open with it though cause the crowd screaming was almost louder than Dave's guitar which is the only thing the song starts with.
"One look in her lusting eyes"
I was singing my hearts out, the guy beside me looked at me and was like "dude!
", then he tried to out loud me, the people around us did the same, it was awesome through out the show.
"Beware the she-wolf and her bite, her mystique lips tell only lies"
Since Dave finished singing to the end of the song I was in a higher state of ecstacy, I love the solos in that song, I started singing along to them and everyone around me did the same, Mustaine smiled at us and nodded as in " hell yeah!"
*Clean notes*
Breaking right into In My Darkest Hour, once the verse riff came in I was jumping up and down like a mad man.
"In my hour of need.. heh, you were not there" We started singing along and the guy beside me took it a step further; he was acting out the lyrics with his hands and arms, for some reason I did the same, it was fun heh
"Feels so cold, very cooooold, no one cares for meeeeee"Some crowd surfer elbow completely bashed my skull, I didn't care.
"You just laughed, hahaha, BITCH!"After In My Darkest Hour, Dave took a moment staring at the crowd and then gave us his notorious, much anticipated;
"Good Eeeevening"Directly into Skin On My Teeth, not a favorite but it gave me time to catch my breath and take a few pictures with my cellphone.
"No escaping pain, you belong to me" The catchy chorus got me though, I went back to singing along.
After that Mustaine went and got a towel, changed guitars into a wonderful v-shaped guitar with Rust In Peace artwork on it, got back and look at us,
"Let's cut the bull shit, we all know why we're here" he said, he shrugged and smiled looking at his guitar then it happened.
The riff intro for Holy Wars brought an outstanding uproar from the crowd, it was unbelievable.
The thrashiest sharpest most energetic riffs in history are packed in the first couple minutes of that song, I head banged so hard my friend covered his face in fear I'd hit him in the face hehe
"Brother will kill brother spilling blood across the land"I'd like to note that they played that song when I saw them in Dubai but David Ellefson's presence gave it a different taste, it was Megadeth, pure and simple.
"Up on my podium, as the know-it-all scholar"I sang that section so loud and I was the only nerd that knew the lyrics to that entire little part.
"Waaaaage the war on organized crime"Gosh how priceless was the expression on Dave's face as he sang that last part.
"Mercy killings, mercy killings! killings! killings! killings!" Right into Hangar 18, these ripping four chords, Chris Brodrick fits perfectly in Megadeth btw, first person since Friedman I feel fills the spot perfectly.
"Possibly I've seen too much"The riffs and the solos between the first chorus and the second verse sounded amazing, I was wowing like I've never heard them before!
"Military intelligence two words combined that can't make sense"Exit the lyrics and enter the instrumental madness of Hangar 18 to it's end, again Brodrick kicks ass in vibe and guitar skills.
Mustaine was standing right in front of me for most of his solos, man oh man how this guy shreds.
"Got one chance, INFILTRATE THEM!"Take No Prisoners in all it's glory, with distortion on Ellefson's back vocals, epicness drip.
"Take no..mmmmmmmmm SHIT!"By this point my throat started hurting but I was no where near giving up on singing every word of the album along, so far I hadn't missed one!
Mustaine went behind the monitors on our side, I could still see him, had some water and walked back to the microphone,
"This next song is about one, two, three, four, five magics".
Now it's worth mentioning that this song could possibly be my favorite song of all time, not my favorite Megadeth song, simply my favorite song of all time, I couldn't remember a week going by without listening to that song at least once, even when I wasn't feeling like Megadeth altogether, so imagine how I felt.
After the loud intro Mustaine and Brodrick left the stage, it went dark except for a spot light on Ellefson playing that haunting bass line, I'll be honest and tell you that a tear escaped my eyes, yes it happened no matter how gay that sounds heh
Mustaine came out playing, stood next to Ellefson who was on my side of the stage and then Brodrick came out from the other side, doubling Mustaine's riff on higher notes and standing right next to them, it looked and sounded amazing.
"Bestow upon me magic Wizard, all knowing, all wise"All the little solos during the verses were identical to the studio version, much to my delight and kudos to both Mustaine and Brodrick!
"Let the ceremony consecrate the marriage, let me be the protege of five magics"As the story nears it's climax I felt that shiver down my back and Mustaine's expressions were so intense.
"Give me alchemy"I started hand gesturing the numbers and everyone around me followed, it looked and felt very cool.
"Give me sorcery"2
"Give me wizardry"3
"thermatology"4
"Electricity"5
"I master.."We sang that part so loud Dave smiled and winked heh
"..five magics"I was so glad he sang the remastered version when it came to the order of that part and the verse..
"I master.."and I hoped the final part with the rough vocals gets sung with the same vocal melody as the remastered version.
"..five magics"The highlight of the show for me was coming up, there was no point of saving any energy on singing, jumping or headbanging at that point and I sure didn't even though the pushing from the crowd was getting painful against the rail.
Ellefson turned on some vocal distortion unit, at least I assumed that's what it was and I was right!
"Possessed with hellish torment, possessed with hellish torment
I master magics five, I master magics five
Hunting the abyss lord, hunting the abyss lord
Only one will stay alive, only one will stay alive
He who lives by the sword, he who lives by the sword
Will surely also die, will surely also die
He who lives in sin, he who lives in sin
Will surely live the lie"Final solo, end of an important 6 minutes in 2010 for me so far, lights out.
Topic: Overdosing on Metal (An Experience) (Read 4311 times)