[ATTENDED: May 24, 2019] Slayer
I have been a fan of Slayer since their debut album, Show No Mercy. I was a major metal head in high school, always searching for heavier and heavier music. Metallica was great but then came Slayer. I more or less stopped listening to them after college. Although in 2001 (with the release of God Hates Us All on 9/11) I reintroduced myself to their newer stuff. And since then I have been checking out each release.
Their final album, Repentless, came in 2015 and they have been touring it ever since. This is–and I assume it’s true–their Farewell tour.
They’ve had a remarkably stable line-up over nearly 40 years. Drummer Dave Lombardo left and then came back and then left again. I would have loved to see Slayer with Lombardo, but I was able to see him (and actually see him) when he played with Dead Cross (I was five feet from the stage). I would never have actually seen him with Slayer (so much stuff on stage. I never saw Paul Bostaph behind the kit).
The only other line up change came when guitarist Jeff Hanneman died. That was pretty major, since Hanneman co-wrote so many of the songs. But Exodus guitarist Gary Holt filled in and has been in his place for six years (he recorded Repentless). Holt has a different playing style (his solos are more structured), but he comes from the same heavy, dense guitar background and fits in just fine.
I had actually been intimated about going to a Slayer show, especially as an adult. I have seen my fair share of metal shows, but I assumed the Slayer audience would be a step more intense. Just waiting online was intimidating with every other person shouting “SLAYER!” at the top of his lungs.
I finally decided to see them in 2017 at The Electric Factory, but when I called on the night of the show to secure my ticket it had literally just sold out. So I figured I’d never see them live.
Then they announced this farewell tour. It was going to be at an arena (which would be less insane than a club, in terms of fan behavior) and I was able to get decent seats. [This show was better than that one for setlist, and I have to assume pyro as well]. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 