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Date: 2008-10-17
Location: San Francisco, CA - United States [68 shows here]
Venue: Cow Palace [9 shows here]
Info: Rehearsal Show
Fan reviews: 1 - Add yours!
Author: Phil
Setlist: Yes

When Metallica announced their rehearsal show in San Francisco on October 17th, it was almost like fate: I would be traveling back to the states for work on October 15th!

When I found out I'd actually be able to go, I was beside myself with excitement! A huge thanks to Jeff, Toby, Vicky, and everyone else! This was going to be an extra special show. This was going to be just a few hundered people, but around a stage for a big venue - this was going to be very unique.

Josh flew up on Friday afternoon. I left the office early, picked him up and we headed to Cow Palace. We were there way early (around 4), so we decided to drive around San Francisco a bit. Sadly, we found out that the "Walk of Fame" with Metallica's plaque (given when San Francisco named "Metallica Day") has been removed! On our way back the 101 was packed and we hurried back through surface streets arriving a bit before 6.

Even pulling into the parking lot you could tell this was not your typical Metallica show. The venue had a small skeleton crew. There was one tiny section of the parking lot open with one guy standing at the gate. We parked and walked over to the line. While we were standing in line, I noticed Nadir's ex-wife (I can't remember her name) a few people ahead of us in line, so we went over to say hi. We chatted for a while until the line moved inside.

Once inside I saw Toby and Vicky and we chatted for a few minutes. I'd seen a picture of Toby with his new short hair, so I was prepared, but most people didn't recognize him. I let Josh be confused for a minute or so before I explained what was going on.

After catching up, Josh and I went onto the floor. This is when it sunk in how cool this show was going to be. Small shows are one thing, but if they're in a small venue, a lot of people are still in the back. With this venue - and the in-the-round-stage - there was room for ton of people on the rail and almost everyone was within a few feet of the stage. Josh and I picked a spot on the "left" side of the stage, against the rail.

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While we were waiting Dan and Jeff stopped by to say hi, and we all chatted for a bit.

Looking up I could see that the stage setup was the one they'd made for the Death Magnetic release party and I was excited to see the coffins! I took some pictures of the stage and equipment - it's not very often you're allowed to have a camera, have room to move around, have relaxed security, and are this close (and are not working).

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Venue security was minimal - a few guys in the pit, but that was about it. Many of the folks here were guests of the band - and their children. Throughout the evening (before Metallica took the stage) kids were taken for tours of the stage by Jeff or other crew members which was really cool.

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It turned out we were standing next to Mike from Faith No More (except he was in the pit). He was there with 4 daughters and his parents. We chatted with him for a while, which was pretty awesome. How often are you standing around talking to the band's guests while relaxing against the rail just before Metallica starts?

Metallica was supposed to hit the stage between 7:30 and 8, but unsurprisingly they came on just after 9pm.

The show started and the night continued to prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The band was relaxed and having fun.

They re-did the end of some song a few times to practice. At one point they all stopped to talk about something and it turned out Kirk's guitar was in some strange tuning none of them had heard, which Rob explained to the audience. James lost quite a few lyrics to various songs. It was definitely a warm up show and that's what made it very cool.

James chatted with the audience a bit and thanked them for coming. The band was excited to be bringing the new material out on the road, and they played quite a lot of it.

The show kicked off with lasers, which I tried to catch on film, but you'll see it didn't come out well.

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The boys pounded out the opening of the show with That Was Just Your Life and The End Of The Line before ripping into Harvester Of Sorrow! They brought out Until It Sleeps and even The Four Horsemen! One of the covers was a blinding rendition of Blitzkrieg!

I've been very close to the stage before, but this was different. Without 40,000 people behind you to crush you, you can just enjoy the show. The band was almost playful - at time it was almost as if they were posing for our pictures!

The row of speakers in the center of the stage had pyro pods in them, which I don't recall from Berlin, and was very cool.

During sandman Steve Wiig came out to chat with Mike from Faith No More, and we all talked for a bit. Steve introduced us to Mike, and during the conversation Mike explained that the Jump in the Fire shirt one of the girls was wearing was given to him by Cliff Burton and the shirt another girl was wearing was given to him by Ozzy!

Mike and his family left 3 songs early because the girls were falling asleep at which point the security guard came over to ask Josh and I who Mike was plus a few other questions about the set.

The band was in top form: excited and relaxed. It was truly a special night.

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After the show I had some pics that Steve had given me, but the guard had picked up one I didn't have, so we did some trading. Jeff stopped by again and we chatted a bit and on the way out I ran into Brandy, who I don't think I'd seen since the Madly tour.

Outside we ran into the guys we were standing next to inside, so we chatted for a bit before heading off to find some In-N-Out. We stopped at an ATM and I noticed I didn't have my license in my wallet. Embarassingly I called Jeff to ask him to keep an eye out for it, and then promptly found it in my pocket. Oops. :)


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