Satan's Luau

A hearty aloha from the Luau where Sunday begins a new series called Metallica: LIVE ... as you may know from the ticking timebomb to the right of you ... the mighty Met will be releasing its first studio album in 6 years

Since I am experiencing a major Metallica-related anxiousness waiting for the new sh--. I decided to write about Metallica concerts and related vids which I have watched recently

Without further ado from the Binge and Purge REMASTERED DVD + CDS:

The Seattle DAMAGED JUSTICE shows of August 29-30, 1989. This tour holds a special place in my heart because on May 24, 1989 on the second leg of the tour Metallica played live in Honolulu for the first time ... and this was the first time that I ever got to see Metallica live --- YEAH!!!

I had just got back the day before from college for summer break, and we went to the show on a whim. We sat in the upper level and even at that vantage point what we saw would be one of the highlights of my life

In fact, my initial impression of the Honolulu show were that this was the BEST show I'd seen in my life (in October `89 I would get to see the Stones on tour with Guns N Roses opening, and that show at best matched this one)

Metallica played at such a volume, energy, and intensity that I was just totally blown away and a fan for life at that point ... or maybe I was a stupid 18 year old with no taste

When I think about it, this was the new lineup after Cliff had died, and they were out to prove that they could still bring it ... the songs which were from the FIRST FOUR ... or the Metallica canon of albums which certain fans point to as the ones before they "sold out" --- Kill Em All (or alternately titled Metal Up Your Ass); Ride the Lightning; Master of Puppets; and ... And Justice For All

What you see in the video that illustrates the greatness of this band and why I was so wowed by their performance in Honolulu:

1. Everyone all black, Everyone long hair --- like it matters? I have to admit after all this time --- I think it did

2.The sheer energy of Jason Newstead, and his trademark pinwheel hair headbanging that would lead to physical problems that made him leave the band (dont get me started on the psych reasons for his leaving)

3. A Metallica that is totally dynamic on stage, lots of movement around the stage. A crowd that is TOTALLY into it

4. Lars showing the finesse on drums that drives the music of the FIRST FOUR. James barking out vocals, and then showing signs of the finesse that he would show more in the more recent three albums (the Loads and Black) ... oh yeah, little known fact ... is that jewelry in James nose, you be the judge

5. And the remaster sounds totally GREAT, nice job making it sound live ... all I can compare seeing this band live during this era ... is JET TAKING OFF

The heaviness of guitar bottom heavy sound that was the TM of this band. The blistering Kirk solos. The tempos that this band plays at, and the deftness that they show in being able to go fast, stop, go mid, start up again, and play clean and dirty sounding riffs

6. Doris, the justice statue blowing up after they played Justice .... that in itself, worth the price of admission

7. Plus INTENSITY just like these emoticons ...

And a setlist that would make any old time Met fan say KILL ME NOW, it don't get any better than this

SETLIST:
Blackened
Bellz
Sanitarium
Harvester
4 Horsemen
Thingy
Master
Seek
Justice
One
Creep
Battery
Caress
Evil
Whip
Breadfan

Anyways, Metallica is best SEEN and HEARD ... if you have the chance rent it, but in the end you'll probably want to buy it ... because this era of Metallica is really their unfamous prime (there are so many things about them at this time that are so FRESH and COOL even watching it today) ... many things would change after the release of the Black album

And of course the picture up above is a McFarlane boxed set based on the look of the band and the stage for the Damaged Justice Tour --- that one you may have to go to eBay for

I'm not parting with mine ....