Reader here! I got thinking about live music, and how there’s nothing better than a good concert, to really get the blood pumping, and really get you feeling amazing.
To that end, I posed a question on our social media pages…
For me, it’s an amazing thing. Regardless of what kind of mood I’m in, it’s impossible to go to a Metallica show, and not feel better at the end of it!
There is an feeling at a Metallica show that is unique, that you don’t find at a show by any other artist.
With electrifying riffs and unmatched energy, a Metallica show isn’t just any concert – it’s a soul-shaking journey. From James Hetfield’s trademark vocals and precise and machine gun-fast rhythm guitar and Kirk Hammett’s iconic solos and wah-wah tone, to Lars Ulrich’s impish glee on the drums and Robert Trujillo’s thunderous yet funky basslines, the music grabs you and doesn’t let go.
Here’s what sets a Metallica show apart, though: the spontaneous moments that make you feel part of something bigger, the communal energy that sweeps through the crowd, and the way every song seems to tell your own story. Whether it’s the fist pumping refrains of “Die! Die! Die!” during “Creeping Death” (which is not nearly as morbid as it sounds), the band imploring the crowd to get louder while singing along to the chorus of “Seek and Destroy,” they get the crowd involved and on the same page like no other band I’ve ever seen before.
Add in the stunning pyrotechnics that throw off heat you can feel hundreds of feet away, the immersive light and video displays, and the heartfelt performances, and it’s clear that Metallica creates a vibe like no other band.
And depending on the night, some songs hit you just the right way, or you hear them when you need it. Maybe you need an energy boost, or feel like the world’s got you down. “Seek and Destroy” will provide that pick-me-up you need. Just days before I saw the band in Edmonton in 2017, I got word that a childhood friend had passed away, and “Fade to Black” hit harder, while being completely cathartic at the same time. Maybe you just have a burning need to be part of a mass singalong. “Enter Sandman” has you covered.
My brothers and I are all huge Metallica fans, going to see them on multiple occasions. I’ve seen them four times – theee times in arenas (Edmonton in 2004, Saskatoon in 2004 and 2018), and once in a stadium setting (Edmonton in 2017), and they always put on an unforgettable show, that leaves you ready to see them again ASAP!
My parents have even be to see them in action!
I can’t claim to be the biggest Metallica fan in the family, though. My youngest brother, Barrett has that title, having seen them in concert around a dozen times. They are his absolute favourite band (the same way that the Rolling Stones are my #1). ear’s seen them multiple times in Canada, and while travelling the world, he’s been able to see them in festival settings, soccer stadium shows, and even as part of the Big Four events, featuring the “Big Four” of thrash metal all on one bill – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. And he’s going to see them again twice this summer, when they bring their “No Repeat Weekend” tour to Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, on August 23 and 25. It’s a really cool tour – two nights in the same city, with a completely different setlist each night, along with different opening acts each night!
If you get to see Metallica in person, don’t miss out. They are a band you need to experience live. Videos can give you a taste of the experience, but it’s not the same as experiencing that energy in the flesh! Here’s one from that August 2017 show we attended.
Metallica’s a band that gets me going. Who does it for you?
