TOUR ARCHIVE

Date: 1999-04-21
Location: Berkeley, CA - United States [6 shows here]
Venue: Berkeley Community Theater [2 shows here]
Info: Symphonica
Fan reviews: 5 - Add yours!
Author: Phil
Setlist: Yes

WOW!!! Fucking wow is all I can say. I'm hella stunned (had to stick some Cali lingo in here, since that's were I am!!!). The show was just amazing!!! So here goes!

We got to the venue pretty early, so we grabbed some food at a nearby Chinese food place. Then we headed over to the venue were I met up with Jeff to get my tickets... which were amazing (10th row)!! I met up with Jameson (from Chapter of the Mad), IPOM Gimp Dave, Dan N., and a whole bunch more I can't remember now (list of people I met for the entire night at bottom). We talked for a while then I went inside. I then met Liz Lawler and her husband, Keenan. They were really cool and I spent some time talking to them before going to my seat.

The orchestra started off playing "Ecstasy of Gold," which was really, really amazing. Then onto "Call of the Ktulu" which was masterfully done. This was one of the songs were the symphony was just as strong as Metallica if not more. There were many parts during the night that if you weren't listening TO the symphony, you wouldn't here them... you would just hear Metallica. But of course there were times when the Symphony really came through. Ktulu was really an orchestra piece, they were very much featured and into this. All different colored lights covered the walls (and similarly, many different light patterns and effects were used throughout the show), and there was a screen on the back wall of the stage that showed what appeared to be liquids flowing past each other. Later in the night different patterns and colors appeared on the screen, and many times band members faces, or Michael Kamen, or an orchestra member would appear on screen, in sort of a "hole" in whatever pattern or display was on the screen.

Master of Puppets followed, and that was truly amazing. This was a good example of what the Symphony did a majority of the show: Add a new and different texture to the songs. It was still Metallica, and Metallica stuck out the most, but the symphony just added some really kick ass texture to it. Then into "Of Wolf And Man" which as always rocked the house. The 3000 people in the little community theater out screamed any fucking huge ass stadium I've ever been in!! It was truly amazing how loud we were. Jaymz even commented on it! Wolf was also really cool, but the Symphony came through much less on this. But into "The Thing That Should Not Be," a heavy piece that even the Symphony stuck out on. They really added a lot to this song! Michael Kamen was excited!! He was jumping on his podium having fun!! Jaymz said less in between songs than normal. Then Kirk went into his "Dance of the Marionettes" solo... and then into "Fuel" which was another great one to hear, but it was odd not having pyro! The Symphony often didn't just play what the band played, they added different parts, they would hold out chords, and add different things... it was great!!! Jaymz made SURE that we sang along for "The Memory Remains!"

Then came a definite highlight of the show! "No Leaf Clover," one of the new songs played tonight! WOWOWOWOWOW!!!! Holly shit!! I don't know how to describe it. Parts of it were slow, and parts of it were heavy... You guys will like it!!

"Hero of the Day" was a bit of a shock. I expected some boos and hisses, but everyone was really into it. Definitely a good point for the symphony! They had a big part in this song!! It was really amazing! Then came... "Devil's Dance".... OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!! The band and the symphony again did an amazing job of becoming one. Especially during the intro when there was no guitar and so the symphony could be heard loud and clear. Then came the infamous Bleeding Me. Known for getting some bad reactions in the US, that sure wasn't the case here! The crowd couldn't have been more into it. It was totally amazing! The Symphony was a big part of the intro., and then once the heavy part came, I was just jumping up and down, and staring at James who was RIGHT THERE!!

During intermission I scored Torbin Ulrich's autograph (Lars' dad). Very cool. I saw Skylar too, but she left a song before intermission...

They came back to "Nothing Else Matters," which was started by James on his stool and the Symphony. Eventually the rest of the band came in. Very cool also, and then a little doodle by the symphony which was really amazing. "Until It Sleeps" was also very cool, and during "For Whom The Bells" Michael Kamen was getting VERY into it. He was turning around and singing, and bouncing on his podium. The whole song was totally amazing. The Symphony was like a background for this song.

Then ANOTHER GREAT HIGHLIGHT, "- Human" another new song!!! Very heavy, very cool. I intensely enjoyed it! It's very reminiscent of "Devil's Dance."

"Wherever I May Roam" was really cool!!! The Symphony has "spots" in this song. It just CAME THROUGH during certain parts, and then faded away. It was very cool!

"The Outlaw Torn" was truly a treat. Only beaten by the two new songs, it was very cool. Jaymz's voice was really amazing and heartfelt. He was very into it, as was the symphony. James commented about not usually playing it, and the crowed went wild. "Sad But True" was as always heavy. The Symphony kept up full strength too!! It was amazing. Then "One " with machine gun sounds and all!!! The florescent lights on the symphony's music stands was used as part of the light show, but the house was full of amazing lights.

"Enter Sandman" was definitely "new." For the song that almost everyone is sick of, it was really cool hearing it with the Symphony.. it was like hearing a new version of it! At this point Metallica said thank you to the Symphony and Michael Kamen; and Michael Kamen said thanks to Metallica. (Again Skylar left at this point). Metallica walked off stage and waited a bit. Then the Symphony did the intro to Battery... well, a version of it. Then came Metallica into the heavy part! It was a great closer because everyone was thrashing!!! Michael hugged Jaymz and Lars, and everybody took bows. Then Lars said "Manana," and it was over. The band didn't throw many pics and stuff... they didn't throw any when the were done, just the occasional pic during the show. James through a few into the Symphony, and a few into the crowd. Other than that, there were none. No sticks.

I had a chance to meet Jeff Yeager, and Dan N., and Alex of Chapter Inc. They were really cool!! I also got to meet Liz Lawler (she did the new MetClub site and Byte The Lightning), and her husband Keenan, both of which were really great to talk to. Mark Devito was also a great guy, thanks for waiting up for me! Jameson of Chapter of the Mad was great, and so was Joanna even though I didn't really get to talk to her much. Dave and I also finally met up! Thanks to Liz Ross for a place to stay and a computer to type this on. Thanks to Jenn, Michelle, Lizzy, and Stacey for a great time, and special thanks to Jenn and Michelle for hooking my up with some 'Tallica for my habit!! And of course meeting Robert from German Power Wolves again was also great!! I enjoyed seeing/meeting you all!

Lastly, I owe the biggest thanks to JEFF YEAGER and LIZ ROSS without who this wouldn't have been possible.