With drivel season winding down but also in the middle of summer concert season...I wanted to detail the best concerts I have even attended with a top 10 list.
Too long, don't want to read - Metallica's S&M2 at the Oracle Arena in San Franscisco is #1
Why it is special
Not surprisingly Metallica is #1 on my list but they would not have been if I had not been lucky enough to attend this show.
The Background -
Metallica agreed to bring back the S&M show to open up the Oracle Arena in San Francisco...this is the new home of the Golden State Warriors and it is an incredible venue. They were going to do one show on Friday, Sept 6th 2019. A few lucky Metallica fan club members got presale tickets and it sold out in 10 seconds on Ticketmaster. I did not get tickets, they went on the secondary market immediately and Metallica fans were pissed. For an event this special to grabbed up by bots and put on Stubhub...was not ideal for fans or for Metallica so they added a second show. I remember listening Bill Simmons on a podcast the week after the shows and he mentioned how he was there for the Friday night one. He was essentially complaining about it until the last few songs of the set that he knew...that was the Friday night crowd, the Sunday night show was different.
The second show was 100% Lottery for Metallica fan club members. I was lucky enough to win the lottery for the opportunity to purchase tickets. The second show on Sunday, Sept 8th was 100% Metallica fan club members and it was an event.
I loved the first S&M...I loved my favorite band thinking outside the box and playing with a Symphony. It had been about 20 years since Metallica had played a show like this and it was never in my frame of reference they would do it again. Fans did not know what to expect...most of us thought it would be a repeat of the original with a few new songs and the first set was that. And then they got creative again.
The second set started with...
A piece played by just the Symphony with a heavy tone to it
An instumental piece with the Symphony and Metallica
James only and the symphony
Metallica playing acoustic instruments with the Symphony
A Tribute to Cliff Burton by the Symphony - all of us were loving it
I don't expect to ever get the opportunity to see Metallica do this again and I am extremely lucky to get the opportunity to have seen it. Hands down the most incredible concert event I have ever attended.
Highlights
Outlaw Torn - one of my favorite Metallica songs from the Original S&M and I was thrilled they brought it back
Ecstasy of Gold - hearing the Symphony play this live was incredible
The Call of Ktulu - instrumental Metallica song with the symphony
Unforgiven III - just James and the Symphony. No other Metallica members and James was singing all by himself, no guitar. I attached the video for this one...James looks nervous doing it (what do i do with my hands vibe). I love they take risks like this...just another reason they are such a special band.
Anesthesia - a tribute to Cliff Burton done by the Symphony's bassist. The entire place got goosebumps. What a moment.
Halo on Fire - this song transitioned so well with the Symphony, not my favorite on the album and I had seen them play it live which was ok but this version was perfect.
Setlist
LAMP - my wife and I were in Barcelona on vacation (on our way to a Metallica concert at the Olympic Stadium) and they announced the 2nd S&M2 show. I told her about it immediately and explained the lottery. She essentially looked at me and said "you know you are going to win that lottery, you always win those kinds of things." She was right. She has seen Metallica with me 4 times and Metallica is not her favorite band...however she will tell anyone that S&M2 is the best concert she has ever attended.
Supporting Acts
None
Why it should be higher
#1 already and not likely to change
Why it should be lower
Can't think of a reason
I will post more youtube videos throughout the day...so many amazing versions of songs we have listened to for decades.
Thank you all for the comments and adding to the context of these posts. I love that some of you were at the same shows in my top ten that I attended. It is also nice to revisit some great memories over the last 25 years of my concert going life...I hope I motivated at least some of you to go see some legendary artists while you still can.
Too long, don't want to read - Metallica's S&M2 at the Oracle Arena in San Franscisco is #1
Why it is special
Not surprisingly Metallica is #1 on my list but they would not have been if I had not been lucky enough to attend this show.
The Background -
Metallica agreed to bring back the S&M show to open up the Oracle Arena in San Francisco...this is the new home of the Golden State Warriors and it is an incredible venue. They were going to do one show on Friday, Sept 6th 2019. A few lucky Metallica fan club members got presale tickets and it sold out in 10 seconds on Ticketmaster. I did not get tickets, they went on the secondary market immediately and Metallica fans were pissed. For an event this special to grabbed up by bots and put on Stubhub...was not ideal for fans or for Metallica so they added a second show. I remember listening Bill Simmons on a podcast the week after the shows and he mentioned how he was there for the Friday night one. He was essentially complaining about it until the last few songs of the set that he knew...that was the Friday night crowd, the Sunday night show was different.
The second show was 100% Lottery for Metallica fan club members. I was lucky enough to win the lottery for the opportunity to purchase tickets. The second show on Sunday, Sept 8th was 100% Metallica fan club members and it was an event.
I loved the first S&M...I loved my favorite band thinking outside the box and playing with a Symphony. It had been about 20 years since Metallica had played a show like this and it was never in my frame of reference they would do it again. Fans did not know what to expect...most of us thought it would be a repeat of the original with a few new songs and the first set was that. And then they got creative again.
The second set started with...
A piece played by just the Symphony with a heavy tone to it
An instumental piece with the Symphony and Metallica
James only and the symphony
Metallica playing acoustic instruments with the Symphony
A Tribute to Cliff Burton by the Symphony - all of us were loving it
I don't expect to ever get the opportunity to see Metallica do this again and I am extremely lucky to get the opportunity to have seen it. Hands down the most incredible concert event I have ever attended.
Highlights
Outlaw Torn - one of my favorite Metallica songs from the Original S&M and I was thrilled they brought it back
Ecstasy of Gold - hearing the Symphony play this live was incredible
The Call of Ktulu - instrumental Metallica song with the symphony
Unforgiven III - just James and the Symphony. No other Metallica members and James was singing all by himself, no guitar. I attached the video for this one...James looks nervous doing it (what do i do with my hands vibe). I love they take risks like this...just another reason they are such a special band.
Anesthesia - a tribute to Cliff Burton done by the Symphony's bassist. The entire place got goosebumps. What a moment.
Halo on Fire - this song transitioned so well with the Symphony, not my favorite on the album and I had seen them play it live which was ok but this version was perfect.
Setlist
- The Ecstasy of Gold
(Ennio Morricone cover) (with San Francisco Symphony) (Performed by the San Francisco Symphony) - The Call of Ktulu
(with San Francisco Symphony) - For Whom the Bell Tolls
(with San Francisco Symphony) - The Day That Never Comes
(with San Francisco Symphony) - The Memory Remains
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Confusion
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Moth Into Flame
(with San Francisco Symphony) - The Outlaw Torn
(with San Francisco Symphony) - No Leaf Clover
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Halo on Fire
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Set 2:
- Scythian Suite, op. 20: II. The Enemy God and the Dance of the Black Spirits
(Sergei Prokofiev cover) (with San Francisco Symphony) (performed by the San… more ) - Iron Foundry
(Alexander Mosolov cover) (with San Francisco Symphony) (Michael Tilson Thomas conducting) - The Unforgiven III
(with San Francisco Symphony) (performed by the San Francisco Symphony with James on vocals, Michael Tilson Thomas conducting) - All Within My Hands
(with San Francisco Symphony) (acoustic with Avi Vinocur) - (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
(with San Francisco Symphony) (standing bass solo by Scott Pingel, principal bassist of the San Francisco Symphony) - Wherever I May Roam
(with San Francisco Symphony) - One
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Master of Puppets
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Nothing Else Matters
(with San Francisco Symphony) - Enter Sandman
(with San Francisco Symphony) (with 'The Frayed Ends of Sanity' outro, MTT conducts & moves to keys at the finish)
LAMP - my wife and I were in Barcelona on vacation (on our way to a Metallica concert at the Olympic Stadium) and they announced the 2nd S&M2 show. I told her about it immediately and explained the lottery. She essentially looked at me and said "you know you are going to win that lottery, you always win those kinds of things." She was right. She has seen Metallica with me 4 times and Metallica is not her favorite band...however she will tell anyone that S&M2 is the best concert she has ever attended.
Supporting Acts
None
Why it should be higher
#1 already and not likely to change
Why it should be lower
Can't think of a reason
I will post more youtube videos throughout the day...so many amazing versions of songs we have listened to for decades.
Thank you all for the comments and adding to the context of these posts. I love that some of you were at the same shows in my top ten that I attended. It is also nice to revisit some great memories over the last 25 years of my concert going life...I hope I motivated at least some of you to go see some legendary artists while you still can.
