TOUR ARCHIVE

Date: 1998-03-21
Location: San Francisco, CA - United States [68 shows here]
Venue: Baker Hamilton Square [1 shows here]
Info: MTV Reload, Rehearse, Request
Fan reviews: 1 - Add yours!
Author: Yeagstr@aol.com
Setlist: Yes

I got to the secret place around five. They lined the radio contest winners on one side of the door, and us club members on the other side. There were 175 contest winners, 71 club members, and about 15-20 VIP people. At 5:30 they let the contest winners go in first, then they let us in. We walked up three flights of stairs, into an unfinished loft type area. Everything was wood (huhuhuhuhuhu) no sheet rock or any of the finishing touches. The MTV people were very careful in seating us. Because the stage was in the round, the equipment was everywhere, Metallica's and MTV's. It was very random on how they sat us. I got to sit/stand on one of the five tri-level "grandstands" that were placed around the room. I was at the top, so i got to see over everybody, and had a great view. For the next hour or so, i saw the boys come out from backstage, just kinda taking in the crowd and the vibe i guess. At about 6:30, the producer was just going over things with us, like telling us to be all loud when they go to break and coming back from one. Then pinfield came out, and was hyping up the crowd. (Like we needed to be hyped up more!!!) The boys finally came on stage at about 6:45.

About the show: i can't emphasize how much better the show was in person. Plus, it was all dark and stuff on TV, it was much brighter in there.........Fuel was AWSOME live!!!! I can't explain it, this song was full on kicking my ass!!!! I never headbanged so hard........ Until devil's dance came on. This song was too much!!! Now i know why i hurt soo much, i was headbangin through the whole show!!! I am soo glad that they didn't play enter sandman. King Nothing was a much better choice. During the commercial breaks, the band was just lolly-gagging around, talking to the fans on stage, jamming a little tune here and there. They seemed kind bored during the breaks. When the band finished Motorbreath, they were kinda undecided on what to play........The crowd was yelling out songs to play, i heard master, battery, and our section was yelling out fixxxer!!! Well, the boys went into so what......and what was real funny, was that James was censoring himself!!! He was saying "so what you boring little *bleep*" that was cool. After that, the boys were leaving the stage, right in front of my grandstand, so all the people on the grandstand rushed down to shake hands, and hopefully get a word with the boys. I stayed at the top; not wanting to fight that crowd, and hoping just get a glance of acknowledgement. Kirk did look up at me and gave me a wave as i was yelling at him. Jason was shaking hands down in front and just as he was about to go backstage and he saw me yelling at him. I was yellin "Jason, you da man, you da man!!!" He came over to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for coming out to see him play. I said thanks for having us....and then he went backstage.

And to top it all off, i was on the television!!!!! (I'm the one gonna be on t.v. looking all buff) i had a whole 2 seconds of airtime, by myself!!! Right at the end of devil's dance, where James yells "ha-ha" they show me!!! The guy in the 96 club shirt, black hat on backwards, and glasses, you know, the dorky looking one........

I hoped you enjoyed my little review. It was the best Metallica show i have ever been to........So far. Who knows what lies in the future for Metallica and me..?