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October 30, 2004
Megadeth!
I went to a Megadeth concert in the Hollywood Paladium last night! It was great! A friend of mine bought the tickets and since we seem to be the only two Iranian Megadeth fans around here, we went together.
The concert was great, although the openning act, Exodus, was awful, boring, and very Metal cliche! While they were "playing" and cursing at the people, I watched the Metal going crowd (I stand out, I admit, but so what, I never fit the streotypes anyway!). There seems to be a new sport developing, one that I call "Metal Wrestling!". The crowd was overwhelmingly male (I would say 90 per-cent) and mostly your streotypical shaved headed, tatooed, bearded ones for that. These seem to like a sport which consists of people running in circles and people on the side pushing them hard to make them fall. It seems to be a way of proving your strength and "manhood" and to me, it sounded like a new manhood right of passage: in a society where no tradition of proving your masculanity remains, the old tribal ways have to find a way to express themselves, and this seems to be the answer. Anyway, I was fascinated by how engaged they were in this, but I was also glad that I was standing by the middle fence!
After Exodus left, Dave Mustain and his new Megadeth appeared. The new band is good, and the guitar player is note perfect. Dave himself was in great shape, very nice and gentlemanly, quite different than Exodus' frontman. He played with energy, spoke kindly and respectfully, and sang with clarity and passion. I loved his performance. He also started by sitting on an amp and praying: yes, Dave has found god! (Oh god, now what?!).
They played great songs, including stuff from the new album (Something That You Are, Something that I'm Not: his song for Lars Ulrich of Metallica) and most famous old songs (Tornado of Souls, Symphony of Destruction, Hangar 18, ...). When he played "Train of Consequences", I went crazy and started shouting, and my friend Safa was looking at me in awe, saying: "I never knew you could get that crazy!".
In the middle of Peace Sells...But Who's Buying, a 15 litter large trash can hit Safa and I in the head and left us stunned for a few minutes. I guess violence and throwing things is also part of the mannly ritual as well! Stupidity certainly seems to be! I also got into a fight with someone, but I guess he was a bit scared about the fact that I was not scared! The security guy took him after I had pushed him to the fence and told him to go away in a rather unflattering way!
We could not take pictures (why Dave? Why? We don't sell pictures of you!). We took some pictures outside which I will upload later.
Anyway, now I have a bump in my head and 1:40 minutes full of Megadeth in my ears! Until next time, TTFN!
Posted by Khodadad at October 30, 2004 02:48 PM
Comments
It sounds like you had a great time at the concert, Khodadad! I have never been much of a fan of Metal Bands. My musical tastes were formed in the late 70's and early 80's, although I do like some more recent music.
You seemed to be watching the croud with the eyes of an anthropologist. I would have probably done the same thing. :) This Metal Wrestling phenominon sounds like an evolution of the Mosh Pit. I once observed such a Pit and its violent slam dancing. All I can say is that I was glad that I was no where near that craziness!
I hope that the bump on your head is getting better. I have heard of flying beach balls at concerts, but not flying trash cans! :)
I have a History Channel program to watch this evening. I'll let you know what I think about it.
Posted by: David at November 1, 2004 10:58 AM
Sounds like a blast, literally. When one goes to any type of concert which is exciting then one has to endure some sort of injury. Whether its loss of voice due to screaming or a bump in the head. You can also take the safer route and go to a Kenny G. concert... I hope your bump is healed soon.
Posted by: jamak at November 2, 2004 07:42 AM
Jamak Jaan: i rather die than see Kenny G. Live!
Posted by: Khodadad at November 3, 2004 08:28 PM
Oh come on, the man is talented and that hair do is to die for
Posted by: jamak at November 4, 2004 12:10 PM