Location: Little Rock, AR, USA Date: November 22, 2008 Venue: Alltel Arena Review by: Joseph Morrison
No matter if this is the first time you see Metallica or the fiftieth, two things are an understood constant: 1) "Ecstasy of Gold" creeps into each crowd member's ears which produces anxiety and excitement that is nearly palpable. And, 2) we are all about to go on one hell of a ride! The Little Rock, Arkansas concert at Alltel Arena Saturday 22 November, 2008 was no exception.
As "Ecstasy of Gold" plays on, the anticipation increases to a pinnacle, then four silhouettes take the stage. As the guys pick up their guitars or mount the drum kit, the eerie beginning of "That Was Just Your Life" plays. Once the opening track ended and Metallica started to play live, the crowd erupted. I saw them at the same place in 2004 and I have to say that 'tallica not only looks healthier, they sound better, and they look like they are actually having fun! All night, the guys were meeting at some random point on stage and thrashing in each other's faces. And when they weren't meeting each other, they were getting in the audience's face and
melting it completely to the bone. Some highlights for me was when Lars reached out to hand someone his cup of whatever was drinking and I was lucky enough to have it handed to me. A while later, he tossed another drink into the crowd and I wound up with that cup, too! And at the end, "Seek and Destroy" was played and the black beach balls were dropped from the rafters. I don't know how I did it, but I managed to snatch up one of the large ones. I could barely hold the thing when I tried to leave that night. Even after getting two cups from Lars and one of the huge balls, I didn't have the best night ever. There was a kid a few people across from me who was probably 8. He got a stick handed to him by Lars and a pick straight from James. I can't remember if Kirk or Rob gave him anything, but I do know they both gestured to him several times for, I'm guessing, being proof that Metallica is the best band ever and they cross every generation gap. That, or they liked the "Jump in the Fire" shirt he was wearing.
Even after the cups and gigantic beach ball, the best part of the show was seeing how Metallica looked like they loved playing live and looked like they could keep doing this for many, many, many years to come.
And here's the set list:
That Was Just Your Life
The End of the Line
Creeping Death
Ride the Lightning
One
Broken, Beat, and Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Wherever I May Roam
Kirk Solo 1
The Day That Never Comes
Master of Puppets
Blackened
Kirk Solo 2
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
Die, Die My Darling
Whiplash
Seek and Destroy
