Support
Corrosion of Conformity
10 October 1996
Newcastle Arena, Glasgow Barrowlands
Richie
White and Gloria Gibson proved themselves real die-hards by travelling to both
the Newcastle and Glasgow dates on Metallica's recent tour. Here's their verdict
on both performances by the metal giants.
Metallica's recent trek to the UK with support from Corrosion of Conformity was
a double treat for northern fans, ourselves included.
A Scottish date had been mooted many months previously, but venue availability
meant it was not to be. However, just two weeks before the tour kicked off it
was announced that the band(s) would play a scaled-down show (and as it
transpired scaled down set) at Glasgow's seedy Barrowlands Ballroom. Tickets for
Glasgow disappeared like snow off the proverbial dyke... Newcastle:
Metallica's first show here for years is met with exceptional fervour - COC
lauding Newcastle's favourite tipple. The slowly swelling crowd are treated to
some choice cuts from the band's recent Wiseblood album, winding up their set
with their classic Vote with a Bullet.
Metallica are the law where metal is concerned - their product is always
well-packaged, and that includes their live shows. Tonight they're playing on a
stage the size of a hockey pitch, planted right in the middle of the arena. It
creates the biggest front row ever, as 90% of the stage edge is accessible. But
it means the crazy crowd element is more thinly spread, which tends to tame the
band down a bit!
It's an astounding spectacle. The first two songs are played with house lights
on - So What gets things off to a boisterous start, while the first track aired
from the recent Load album, Ain't My Bitch, sounds 200% better loud and live.
The superb Bleeding Me, drenched in red light from the futuristic alien lighting
pylons, is the most powerful mid-set number.
Classics such as For Whom the Bell tolls and Fade to Black send shivers down
your spine and get the dandruff airborne. The band have finally dropped the
stalwart Seek and Destroy from the set, lifting the pace tenfold, and replacing
it with a well crafted medley of shorts from the albums Ride the Lightning and
Kill' em All.
Slowie One is spectacular, with camouflaged, dashing roadies running the
gauntlet of hundreds of flashbombs during the intro.
Enter Sandman brings the first set of encores to a close in devastating fashion
- lighting rigs explode and topple, while lighting men literally drop from their
spotlight perches in the dark above.
You think it's all over - but nobody leaves! A string of 100-watt bulbs are all
that light the stage, and the band return with tiny amps and excuses of
technical problems. It's all a wicked rouse and we get a blistering set of
encores including Breadfan, Am I Evil and Motorbreath.
The biggest and loudest metal soirée ever seen in the North.
Glasgow:
Glasgow has the vital sparks that were missing in Newcastle - lunacy, heat,
captivity and intimacy. The band belong to the crowd and aren't getting away
until they've shot their load. By the end of the set we want more, but are too
tired to ask for it. Memories like these are priceless.
Ritchie Gibson, Gloria Gibson
This
Review by Ritchie
Gibson & Gloria Gibson
was Originally on
at
http://www.vibes.co.uk/details.cfm?type=6&rev_id=83
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