TOUR ARCHIVE

Date: 1998-07-08
Location: Cleveland, OH - United States [18 shows here]
Venue: Blossom Music Center [3 shows here]
Fan reviews: 2 - Add yours!
Author: Dan Walpole
Setlist: Yes

Pre-show: After meeting up with some online Metallibuds, I went to work at the Club booth selling raffle tix for Alie Amato's Bradshaw Mountain Wildlife Refuge. The raffle winners got two after-show passes, along with an autographed drum head. I missed the opening acts, but made it to my seat (4th row on Jason's side) before the show started. Andy Battye was visible tuning up all of Jaymz's guitars. After the intro tape (including CoC's "Long Whip/Big America") "Ecstasy of Gold" finally came on. I had my 5'x3' yellow DONT TREAD ON ME flag raised for the intro music. Without any speaking, the band launched into "Helples." It made a good opener. The full version of "Master" followed. I never thought I'd hear it live. The band paused long enough between the prerecorded screams of "master" and the interlude to raise doubts as to whether or not the full song would be played. "Wolf" came next -- a great concert tune with the crowd yelling "eh" in parts and an opportunity to howl and let it all out. Jaymz had his Deer Skull Explorer for "Wolf." They switched guitars for the next tune. Jaymz teased the crowd by doodling on "Black Sabbath," and then the band started playing "Thingy." Kirk did his little solo after that and started making racecar noises with a slide. "Gimme fuel! Gimme fire! Give me what which I desire!" 8 foot flames rose up and then a BOOM! It rocked completely, but the absence of the "Gimme fuel, give me fire, my desire" part towards the end was somewhat disappointing. "Memory" came next. I couldn't pay much attention to it 'cause I noticed that my backstage pass had fallen off (I hate sweat!). The vocal line that Marianne Faithfull sings was extended, with the crowd singing and clapping. "Bleed" came next and was great! Jason then did a funky bass solo, sitting down on the stairs of the drum riser at the end to be joined by Kirk, sitting on a stool in the middle of the stage. They doodled on "Wild Things." After the doodle, Kirk started playing "NEM." The roadies brought out the Mighty Hetfield's stool, he joined in, adding a dramatic, teasing pause before the first verse. Lars came in after the first chorus. They skipped the last verse as usual, and went into "Sleeps." I would have rather heard something else. "King" followed and contained a little jammin' out the "Outlaw" outro by Jaymz before the "wish I may..." part. "Roam" came after that. After roam, the war sound effects leading into "One" came on. Unfortunatley, there was no pyro for the intro, or even at the "landmine" part. The lights went down afer "One," and the taped intro to "Fight Fire" came on. The transition from tape to live performance could have been cleaner. The band stopped before the bridge to get the crowd going. This song DID have pyro for the last verse -- big huge flames.

This brought an end to the first part of the show. The band took a break while the roadies set up for the acoustic set. "Low Man" went over pretty well, and Jaymz sang some parts much higher than he did on the album version. A very rockin' "Horsemen" followed. Jaymz got the crowd clappin' on this one. The band closed the acoustic set with "Motorbreath," which I didn't like. Probably the biggest disappointment of the show.

After the 3-song acoustic set, Jaymz asked the asshole in front of me who was flipping the band off during the acoustic set what he wanted to hear. After that asshole blurted out something, Jaymz told him, "We're saving it for when your mom gets here." The guys did a very short "FiXXXer" doodle, without much of an actual segue into "Sad" -- Lars just kinda decided it was time to start the next song, and cut the doodle short. The last song with pyro, "Enter Sandman" came on next. It was very rockin' and the crowd was definitely into it. They thanked the crowd and took a quick breather backstage. Kirk came out drinking his yellow Gatorade, and Jason with water, which he tossed on us. They teased with "Remorse" and "Breadfan" and joked around about starting the next song, with each of them coming in at different times. They closed the set with a very energetic "Creep."