Top 20 From The First 20 Years #2: Metallica/Danzig/Suicidal Tendencies 6/8/94

(i am incapable of taking a straight picture)

This show!

The open air on the water vibe of the Jones Beach Amphitheater combined with METAL!

I'm pretty sure this is the first show with top to bottom repeats. This was my third time seeing Metallica (i think i would go on to see them only twice more.), my third time seeing Danzig (i would go on to see them/him countless times, actually i'm still waiting for the 25th anniversary show announcement for nyc), and my second time seeing Suicidal (i would see them a week later and then not again till like two weeks ago.). So i was familiar with everyone and knew exactly what to expect. Then i had all of those expectations blown away.

Suicidal played a quick intense set, totally ignoring the fact that the amphitheater was less than half full, with a ton of people just chilling in the parking lot. The parking lot i'm pretty sure you can see from the stage. Mike was crazy and full of energy, taking full advantage of the giant stage. This was suicidal with both Trujillo and Rocky, classic lineup.

Danzig. Danzig in 1994. Danzig at the absolute peak of their popularity. The re-release of 'Mother' from the Thrall:Demonsweatlive EP was still in ridiculously heavy rotation on mtv and on the radio. This was the last go around for the original Glenn/Christ/Eerie/Biscuits lineup. The amphitheater was mostly full by the time they took the stage, as they were quite the draw at the time. A ten or eleven song 40 ish minute set that was all hits, opening with 'Brand New God' which was at the time a new song from their forthcoming record, 4P. Performing 'Mother' smack in the middle of the set as opposed to the tradition of closing out the set with the biggest song, came as no surprise as Glenn, the non-conformist, is actually quite predictable. The crowd was alive and headbanging the entire time (the fully seated venue was kind of a downer, but the atmosphere of the beach almost always makes up for it), singing along with most of the songs, but obviously 'Mother' was the moment. The biggest surprise was the fact that Danzig, the opening act, came out for an encore. Yep, he's that much of a dick.

The amphitheater was filled to the brim. The parking lot was full of people who couldn't get in. You could see the stars, you could see the stars reflecting in the water around the stage. The intro music hits, the people go crazy, Metallica takes their places, and BANG open with fucking "Breadfan." This was Metallica having fun. This was their "we're stir crazy in the studio and just need to get out on the road" tour. This was before all the psychiatrists and all the "coping with success" nonsense. They had released a monster record, toured the world, achieved more than any of their contemporaries, and were working on the follow up. This was their break. The set was a good balance from all the records (they played 'disposable heroes'!!) and they genuinely looked like they were having fun. Maybe it was the last time they had fun. It was all disappointment and over-thinking for the band from here on out.

Top to bottom an excellent show, metal head matt loved it, hardcore kid matt was still in his infancy...but he would be breaking out soon...three months or so from this show...

Top 20 From The First 20 Years #1: Anthrax & Fight at Roseland 4/20/94

It takes two and a half years and twenty six shows before the first one makes the list, odd.

This was Anthrax on the sound of white noise tour, arguably (by me mostly) their best record. If memory serves me correctly this was the last show on this part of the tour, and this was the last leg of the SoWN tour. Before the record came out in may of 1993, Anthrax did a run of extremely small shows. They played at the Grand in NYC, it was the record release show the day before it came out. I remember walking into the local video store (tyler video in Woodhaven, Queens) with my friend to get a pair of tickets. There was literally only one left. I bought the ticket under the agreement that we would go down and scalp another ticket and split the cost. Then i had to have knee surgery the week of the show...and had to skip it. Damn. (I remember making my mom drive me to the record store on crutches to buy Sound of White Noise the day it came out.)

The first leg of the tour later in 93 i somehow missed...i can only imagine it was on the same day as a show i was already attending. Being that it was Anthrax/white zombie/quicksand...well...clearly i must have had something MUCH BETTER TO DO.

To say my anticipation for this show was high is a complete understatement. I had eleven months to digest that record, at that point they had a number of videos on headbanger's ball from that album. Just ridiculously amped for this show.

Then you have to take into account that FIGHT was announced as the opening act.

War of Words was a record that hit me like a ton of bricks. I mean, i was familiar with Rob Halford, i liked Judas Priest as much as required by the metal head community, but FIGHT was a whole new ballgame. That record was far ahead of its time.

The show itself was amazing. Fight hit the stage like a wrecking ball. Im pretty sure they played the entirety of War of words, the crowd knew every word...moved to every song...in all honesty, when they were done, that would have been enough to get this show on the list. Then came Anthrax. The hometown conquering heroes. They had spent the previous year supporting their biggest commercially successful record ever. Had proved that replacing their singer would not only not be the death of the band, but instead infused new life and energy into their act. This was Anthrax at the absolute top of their game. If you needed to pinpoint the absolute PEAK of their career, I would be convinced it was this show. They played a shortish set 12-15 songs...but it was all go! If i recall, there was also a cover of "lookin down the barrel of a gun". John Bush absolutely killed the older material, and just shined on HyProGlo and the other "new" material. When it came down to the end of the set/encore part, they were just like "screw it, we arent going to pretend to walk off and come back...lets just do this." and continued through the end. For such a large show it seemed so intimate and small. Like everyone knew each other and everyone had a good time. The only downside was that the three friends i went with and i all bought the same shirt...we had to coordinate attending school for awhile. (it was the fight war of words tour shirt with all of the words maxi-printed on the front. I actually wore that shirt up until a few years ago, i remember wearing it to the gym when a guy struck up a conversation with me about how he knew rob halford when he lived in San Francisco. I had no idea i was being chatted up. i am a little clueless all the time)

Anthrax/Fight was the first show i went to where i had no complaints, had a good time throughout, and obviously to this day, still talk about.

The Top 20 Shows From The First 20 Years: An Introduction

Recently I finally got around to arranging the last year and change worth of ticket stubs. Put them all in a new binder...then rolled some out of the last binder into this one. Essentially dividing the first 20 years of concerts from what i hope will be the next 20.

I go to a lot of shows, always have. I decided last summer that i should put together a top list...top 10 did not seem enough, 20 certainly seemed like a possibility. So i gave myself some parameters. First being they had to fall within the first 20 years. That gives us December 18, 1991- the same date 2011. That is still a lot of shows. In order to help me narrow it down, and of course because i like to give myself ridiculous rules, the ENTIRE show had to be worthy. Opening acts, the bill from top to bottom. This made it more challenging. Made it a little more fun for me. The order will be chronological. I mean seriously, it was hard enough to pick 20, and as I sit here getting ready to do this, even the 20 I picked might not be set in stone.

Starting tomorrow and continuing over 20 posts (obviously), I will list the top 20 shows i have attended over those first 20 years. I reserve the right to make additional "honorable mention" posts, as well as particular break out sets that don't qualify because of poor openers or what have you. Who knows how long this will take, I am, obviously easily distracted by things. Lets have a little fun and talk about music for a bit.