Megadeth kicks off U.S. trek in Grand Rapids

REVIEW (WJRT) -- Any self-respecting thrash metal fanatic knows you can't do much better than a Megadeth show when all the planets line up and Dave Mustaine and Co. thoroughly melt faces with a performance for the ages.

But how about a Megadeth show with Bay Area thrash unit Machine Head, metalcore mavens Suicide Silence and heavy-hitting upstarts Arcanium on the bill, too? And let's say the bands aren't playing some cavernous arena, but instead a cramped and sweaty club and the groups are up close and personal with every face in the place?

Oh, and on the opening night of Megadeth's current U.S. trek?

That actually happened Saturday night in Grand Rapids inside the walls of the Orbit Room, and it was a show that aside from a soundboard mix that had voices occasionally buried too deep under the brutal sheets of guitars blasting out from the PA, was near flawless in its execution.

Arcanium and Suicide Silence tore things up early, so this drag racer of a concert had long since slammed the accelerator to the floor by the time Machine Head stormed the stage.

Led by guitarist and singer Robb Flynn, Machine Head jumped out and seized the capacity crowd by the jugular and never let go. Flynn is a charismatic and powerful frontman, and like a general on the front lines of battle, when he ordered fists in the air, ragers standing elbow to elbow on the main floor nearly clocked one another in shooting arms and knuckles skyward.

Flynn owned this crowd, and the braver souls who tossed themselves about in the swirling whirlpool of the circle pit in the middle of the joint paid tribute by sending bodies tumbling overhead while machine gun strobe lighting nearly induced seizures.

Elsewhere, Flynn tried on several occasions to hurl water bottles into the hands of thirsty fans and not deflect them off unsuspecting noggins, and at one point, a young couple who chose not to slam into one another drive-by style in the pit actually embraced for what seemed like an eternity amidst the chaos -- a sight to see at a show where black eyes and bruises are typical.

Recognizing that packed houses aren't the norm since the nation changed guards with its Commander in Chief, Flynn bellowed: "The economy has been brutal on everybody and this means a lot to us. Do you feel like losing your minds with us?"

And by the time he and co-lead guitarist Phil Demmel had exorcised every ripping guitar solo they could muster on set closer "Halo," the audience was primed and fired up about the impending reunion with old pal Mustaine.

Dry ice created a thick fog to herald Megadeth's arrival and sirens screamed and mechanized blue searchlights twisted and turned as each member strode out under cover of darkness.

Individual spotlights shone bright on bassist James LoMenzo, drummer Shawn Drover and new guitar slinger Chris Broderick, and anticipation reached fever pitch as Mustaine took his place center stage behind his mic, columns of Marshall amps humming and waiting for capital punishment.

At that point, to say the crowd roared to life would be an understatement. It sounded more like an airliner had pulled in and parked inside the hall. And Mustaine, one of music's most vocal malcontents, cracked a wry smile as he launched into the opening frenzy of "1,320'," a high-octane tune from the band's new "Endgame" about life behind the wheel of a top fuel machine.

Barreling through a roughly 90-minute set that was smartly focused on the metal part of the heavy metal equation, Mustaine shredded through what amounted to a greatest hits package that borrowed heavily from Megadeth's unholy trinity of pure liquid metal classics "Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?", "Rust In Peace" and "Countdown to Extinction."

Only the aforementioned "1,320'" and "Endgame" lead single "Head Crusher" were road tested this night, which made plenty of room for Megadeth live staples like "Wake Up Dead," "She Wolf," "Hangar 18," "Skin of My Teeth," "In My Darkest Hour," "Tornado of Souls" and "Devil's Island."

The band was deep in the pocket and insanely tight, and Broderick and Mustaine effortlessly traded licks and locked in as though Broderick and he had been joined at the hip for decades. In fact, Broderick may be the best six-string partner Mustaine has had since his days of dueling with axe savant Marty Friedman.

"This is the first time we've ever started a tour in Michigan," Mustaine grunted, flashing his trademark sneer of a smirk.

Dressed in a black dress shirt and black jeans and donning black Megadeth wristbands, Mustaine kept charging through classic after classic, including newer cuts like "Kick the Chair," while polishing off old gems like "Ashes in Your Mouth" from "Countdown" and "Killing Is My Business ... And Business Is Good" thrasher "Rattlehead."

All the while the singer/guitarist kept his lion's mane of golden-red curls mopped about his face as his head bobbed up and down, slashing the strings of his signature Dean flying V while his fingers scrambled up and down the fretboard. And when Mustaine snarled out the familiar, "Hello, me, meet the real me" intro of "Sweating Bullets," the throng shouted along with every word.

Megadeth's set was a virtual clinic in all killer, no filler. With the exception of a quick plug for the band's new satellite radio gig (during which Mustaine asked the crowd to cheer for an upcoming bumper spot), Megadeth's main man barely spoke, discarding rote banter in favor of letting tunes like "Symphony of Destruction" and "Peace Sells ... " do the talking.

By the time the band had snapped every neck on the floor and in the balcony and nearly brought the walls down by morphing "Holy Wars ... The Punishment Due" and "Mechanix" into a single-song encore, every human in the hall was exhausted but grinning ear to ear.

But that's when Mustaine truly went to work. He slapped hands, threw out guitar picks and covered his heart in appreciation for his loyal followers. And then he rounded up his quartet and for damned near five minutes gave the crowd a standing ovation.

"Thank you, one and all," Mustaine said, putting a fist to his chest. "God bless you."

Megadeth has put on thousands of concerts in its near 30-year existence. This night, with the bonus of an intimate setting, the band put on one of its greatest live shows ever.

Megadeth may not actually be into the business of killing, but Mustaine is indeed in the business of killing it these days.

Setlist:

"1,320'"
"Wake Up Dead"
"Hangar 18"
"Skin of My Teeth"
"Head Crusher"
"She Wolf"
"In My Darkest Hour"
"Take No Prisoners"
"Rattlehead"
"Kick the Chair"
"Tornado of Souls"
"Sweating Bullets"
"Ashes In Your Mouth"
"Devil's Island"
"Symphony of Destruction"
"Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying?"
(Encore)
"Holy Wars ... The Punishment Due"/"Mechanix"

The ABC12 Listening Room staff: James Chesna, editor-in-chief; Josh Daunt, managing editor, photographer; Beth McEnroe, staff writer, photographer; Eric Fletcher, chief photographer; Randy Cox, photographerr; Chris Carr, photographer; Jessica Reid, contributing photographer; LeeAlan Weddel, contributing editor, writer; Shawn Light, contributing writer; Robin Chan, contributing writer.

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james chesna, listening room, music, entertainment

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