«
»
Show Reviews

A NON-METAL FAN REVIEWS THE BIG 4 SHOW

 Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at 10:00am by

Okay so I know we’ve just about run this Big 4 shit into the ground this week, but this is so priceless I just had to share it.

My friend, who we will refer to here only as M.A., lives in Los Angeles, and is not a metalhead. But her boyfriend is — or, at least, he’s a fan of certain bands from a certain era — and so it was with some curiosity that she accompanied him this past weekend to the Big 4 show in California.

So I shot her an e-mail this morning to see how she liked the show. What follows is her response. As metal fan, you will most certainly appreciate all her observations about the show:

Big 4 was… an experience. I think I spent more time eyeing the crowd than I did the bands. Great people-watching. There were like two black dudes in the crowd. Crazy. Slayer fans seemed to win the award for most ridiculous/insane looking fans. When other bands were performing they would just walk around screaming, “SLAYYYYYERRRR!” We didn’t get too close to the stage, so there was no chaos or madness around us really except for the occasional mini-mosh which seemed to involve two guys bumping shoulders. No one pushed or poked me, so I was content. I can’t say I “dug” Metallica but being that their songs are way more melodic than Slayer (and I recognized many of them) I enjoyed it the most. I remembered what you said about James’ voice [I told her his vocals suck now. I also said Lars can't play the drums, but I guess she forgot. -AR] and there were notes he clearly could no longer hit, but for the most part I thought he sounded pretty good. The guys I went with who are fans had a great time.

So, to answer your question, if I never hear a metal song again, it will be too soon. But I’m still glad I went.

Question: Practically everyone there was high. I don’t really smoke pot, so maybe I just don’t get it, but if it’s supposed to mellow you out, why would it heighten the experience to listen to that kind of music and get high? I get why you would when you listen to Radiohead, but it seemed odd for metal.

I’m gonna go smoke some pot while I contemplate how to respond to this.

-AR

Tags: , , , , , ,
  • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f60fa9e6421f91d4c1d1d0e1fe20a144?s=80 Goro923

    She hit the nail on the head with the “SLAAAAAYYEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!!!”, when I saw them last year there were like ten different (fat) dudes that shouted it before Testament started.
    But I think it happens at every metal show anyway.

    • dicknballs

      I shout SLAAAYYYYEERRRRRRRRRR! at every show I go to.

      • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/f60fa9e6421f91d4c1d1d0e1fe20a144?s=80 Goro923

        Point.

        • gnarlk

          “slayerrrrrrr” is the new “freebird!”

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kasper-Maigaard/1027001938 Kasper Maigaard

            Well I’d say that “FREEBIRD!” is still a thing, so let’s just say that “SLAYERRR!” is the freebird of metal.

      • Ironicallyunkvlt

        Yea, I do that periodically whatever show I’m at. It’s kinda like a text to see if anybody else will join in, and I’m never disappointed.
        I went to see Opeth once and everybody just screamed SLAYER! pretty much right up until they came on.

        • http://lordsofmetal.nl/index.php?lang=en Barnacle Bill

          In the Netherlands we scream ‘SPEEELEEEEEH!!’, which means ‘start playing’.

          • El Peras

            I yell SLAAAAYYYER at old ladies in the street, they usually answer back with a fearful CATHETEEEEER! scary shit.

        • Marcel

          Years ago somebody did that at an Opeth show I went to. Akerfeldt responded in his usual deadpan manner “Yes, we are Slayer. I am Tom Araya. How are you doing?”.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Wade-Gunn/1628352147 Wade Gunn

        me and my buddy tried to start a Slayer chant at a Kesha concert this weekend…it didn’t go over very well.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jacob-Quintero/788612754 Jacob Quintero

          lol you were at a Kesha concert

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Elijah-D-Bliss/1791485986 Elijah D. Bliss

    This is awesome, you guys should do a bi-weekly thing or something when non-metalheads review metal albums or shows… if you can get them to sit through a whole show/album, haha.

    • Blargh

      Brilliant idea.

    • TurdMaster

      This. Please do it, for the love of god.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Grinman-G-Rinman/1669130777 Grinman G. Rinman

      This would be the best thing on the site, do it.

    • noobpotato

      Seriously guys do this. Would be an interesting read, send a non metal fan to a watain show or something.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Moore/100000644501129 Brandon Moore

        I concur with this idea.

    • MSalonen

      Agreed, do this!

    • stana

      yeas please, moar reviews from teh infidels!

    • Jizzmaster3000

      Sergeant D already does that.

      • fritz

        1

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rich-Peto/509357110 Rich Peto

          Definitely do it.

    • bleh
  • Chainsword

    Pot makes the music sound heavier. Maybe faster.

    • David

      Really…not your ears, then?

  • Drums_ov_death

    Here’s another privileged CUNT that just got to tag along and “experience” it all. Who let this bitch have an opinion. I really don’t give a shit about the “big 4″ but i would’ve gave a a better review. “Great People-watching” = I’m a judgmental douche!!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Cobb/566162517 Corey Cobb

      Oh, go change your tampon and keep your fucking mouth shut you hyper-sensitive 15 year old.

      • Emily

        This is insulting to those of us who do have to change tampons.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Cobb/566162517 Corey Cobb

          Apologies, ma’am

        • Johnny Death

          I thnk you may need to pull some more strings to influence Corey to not be insulting on your bloody rituals.

    • cougar party

      U mad, bro?

      • Josh

        Come at me, bro

    • OldandTired

      lol u mad?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Keith-Brown/537636633 Keith Brown

      Just because you’re jealous you didn’t get to go doesn’t mean you get to use impolite language, young man

    • quiksta

      Some fat and stupid slayer fan could not get his fat assed white trash mom out of kitchen long enough to steal her welfare check, and leave the family doublewide to make the show himself. Bitter much?

    • colbow

      y u mad bro??

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Grinman-G-Rinman/1669130777 Grinman G. Rinman

      You could have left out everything but the last four words of this and it would have gotten your message across perfectly.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Grinman-G-Rinman/1669130777 Grinman G. Rinman

      You could have left out all but the last four words of this and you would have gotten the same message across.

    • Mordecai 9000

      Person making an angry post with little attention to proper grammar = I’m a judgmental douche!!!

      • rob

        shes there because her bf digs it. and thats great. every gf ive had hated metal and was into country. so i never could get one to go to a show with me. sounds like a good chick.

  • Corey

    I find pot makes the music sound cooler and makes moshing feel crazy awesome.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Vanderven/502827008 Mike Vanderven

    i always thought ti was weird how they have 1 drummer, and everyone else just has a snare. GET ALL THE KITS ON STAGE AND FUCKIN BELT IT OUT!

    • Matt

      It’s enough of a struggle for Lars to play in time with himself, let alone with Benante and Lombardo…

      • ajs432

        For real…they’ve replaced Liquid Metal with mostly live Metallica tracks for the last week and the guy straight up can’t play. Makes me feel way better about my own playing. He particulary sucks at the double triplet during the breakdown for “One”

        • Aussieluke

          Have to say man,I saw them when they were here (in Aus) late last year and Lars nailed that bit and every bit of every other song they played that night.
          Maybe he plays on depending how much money went into his bank that day,I ano.

  • Charlie Brown

    pot slows down the music and makes it become more accessible. Listening to BTBAM stoned and sober is NOT even close to the same experience. Stoned = amazing. Sober = barely able to enjoy.

    • chainchomp

      Have you ever seen the back of a 20 dollar bill……..on weed???

      • Charlie Brown

        I have not but thats what i’m talking about. this guy gets it.

    • MikeForbid

      You’re missing something if you can’t enjoy BTBAM sober.

      • Charlie Brown

        Not really, I’ve listened to them more than enough times to come to this opinion. A lot of their heavier moments are monotonous. Their “Diverse” genre infusion is often forced into songs and does not flow seamlessly. Sure, I enjoy some of them, but for the most part their song writing has a lot to be desired. However, I’ve seen them live(stoned) and it was fucking awesome. I’m about as big of prog fan as their could be, I’d just rather listen to the faceless or obscura over them any day.

        • Lupus McKay

          Have you tried Mr Bungle? they’re awesome, stoned or sober.

          • Siril

            Seriously. You suggest Mr. Bungle of all the prog-bands in the world? Mr. Bungle? Because no one has ever heard about them if they are a prog/metal fan. Seriously.

          • Lupus McKay

            That’s why I recommended Bungle, because prog metal fans have ever heard of them and they`re excellent to listen to while stoned. We were talking about getting stoned and listening to fucked up music, right?

  • BlackVomit

    Pot and Vol. 4, best ever………..

  • yzermantiis

    Yelling SSSLLLLLAAAAAYYYYYYYEEEERRRRRR at a metal show is more annoying than dipshits who still yell FREEBIRD!!!!!!!!

    • cougar party

      That’s debatable.

      • rob

        the most annoying thing at a metal show is people with their cell phones out through the entire show. never could understand why someone would pay for a show only to watch it through a 2 inch screen.

  • yzermantiis

    +1 Gnarlk

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamel-Banner/731572742 Jamel Banner

    :( ….it would have been 3 black dudes if I wasn’t poor

    and BTW….they probably weren’t just smoking bud…methinks a lil white was involved as well

    • Hetal

      We would’ve looked like a couple of Cocoa Puffs in a giant bowl of Kix.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamel-Banner/731572742 Jamel Banner

        What about the mexicans ??? There was a bunch there apparently…..what cereal would they have been ???

        • ZOOM

          Reese’s Puffs

          • Hmm

            Ha ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking!

  • The Big One

    I just shouted SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAYEEEEEER in my Tuesday morning meeting. It’s natural.

  • rob

    slayer should do a cover of freebird.

    • Jillian

      1

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Burton/784250631 Dan Burton

    You can shout SLAAAAAAAAAAYYYYEEEEERRRR anywhere in the world at any time of the day and someone will always go ‘RRRROHHHHAAAAAARRRR’ or ‘SLAAAAAAAAAAYYYYEEEEERRRR!!!’ back.

    And that is a stone cold fact.

  • Shuriken420

    Slayer still fucking rules even if those dudes look fucking exhausted lately.Props to Mustaine for not going the Metallica route(its kinda funny that mustaine sings better than hetfield these days).Never liked Anthrax and Metallica can plain just fuck off. if this dudes gf went to a metal show with her man, knowing she hates,this music,thats a pretty down ass bitch!

    • Kevin

      Were you alive in the 90′s? He did try to go the “Metallica route”, it just wasn’t nearly as commercially successful.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ian-Cimaglia/1097033911 Ian Cimaglia

      “(its kinda funny that mustaine sings better than hetfield these days)”

      I’m sorry, but are you fucking deaf?

      • marplot

        I think his point is more that James can no longer hit all the notes he used to while dave has always had a limited range and is still within it.

        • Uhh?

          Actually, from what I hear, Dave can’t even hit some of the stuff in his VERY limited range anymore.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamel-Banner/731572742 Jamel Banner

    @ Shuriken420……Mustaine TRIED to go the Metallica route……it just wasn’t successful in comparision to Metallica

  • Shuriken420

    @jamaal banner: I meant that mustaine didnt sell out and start playing stupid country ballads, cut his hair and just over-all stayed true to his shit.metallica are a bunch of sell out dickheads who have lost all respect in my book….

    • Uhh?

      Yes…because getting a haircut and expanding your musical horizons makes you a sell-out…

      Meanwhile, Mustaine cannot, and has never, been able to sing. Whining through your teeth and sounding like you have a nasal infection isn’t cool.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamel-Banner/731572742 Jamel Banner

      No he did not……however he did write A Tout Le Monde and Crush Em….

      Load >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Reload>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RISK

      #100%fact

  • Shuriken420

    @uhh: I agree that mustaine is a terrible vocalist.
    on the other hand,youu can call it “expanding your musical horizons” or any other sappy shit you want but fact is metallica sold out…..HARD!!! Legions of ppl the world over agree with me on that.so if youre a die-hard metallica fan I get it.id be pissed having to defend my fav band all the time too.

    • Kevin

      “Metallica sold out… HARD!!!”

      Um,so did Mustaine. He just didn’t make as much money or fame off of it.

      CRUSH EM’ IS SO BRUTALLL!!!!!!!!

  • Uhh?

    I don’t have to defend them. I still enjoy what they do. I understand some don’t. I don’t really care. I don’t see how they’re labeled as selling out, when most other bands that take a shift in musical style are applauded for taking chances and being “innovative”.

    But even if you want to claim they “sold out”, why should that stop you from enjoying the music? Take it for what it is. It’s their band. They can do what they want with it. You don’t HAVE to compare new stuff to the back catalog. You can take each album individually and say “okay, I may not enjoy this as much as I did their older stuff, but for what it is, it’s pretty good.”

    Just a thought.

  • http://www.nylithia.com Dental Damnation

    Pot makes everything better, end of story.

    • Hmm

      Spoiler alert: No it doesn’t.

      • fester

        boner.

  • Maderchod

    Fuck this whore

  • Shannon hill

    I yell SLAAAYYYEEEEERRRRR!!!!!! at football games.

    • grossj

      in bathroom stalls whilst pooping

  • Thegreatadrianing

    Pot makes everything better. I didnt fully grasp colors til I got really stoned and listened to it on a good pair of headphones.

    • Hmm

      I was able to do this without pot, so…gonna have to stick by my original statement.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Cunningham/100000167213200 Brandon Cunningham

    funnest thing ever is outside the venue before or after a slayer concert. screaming SLAAAYYYYEEERRR at the top of your lungs will almost always get a reaction of many fans screaming it back at you.

  • Shuriken420

    @kevin: ok u got me with that crush em bullshit but Mustaine didnt write Load,Re-Load or St Anger.one song vs THREE bullshit Metallica albums….i think Mustaine wouldve fucking off’ed himself had his name been anywhere near those dogshit records.

    • Uhh?

      I doubt that very much. The entire album “Risk” was poorly recieved by fans for the most part. Not just “one song”.

      And if I remember correctly, Dave recorded “Risk” because of a comment Lars made about him not taking enough risks with his music. So basically, Dave not only DIDN’T stay true to what he was doing, but he also failed at it. And why? Because he was seemingly still trying to “show up” a band that kicked him out years ago, which is just kinda pathetic.

      And of course once it turned out to be a flop amongst fans, he started blaming everyone in the band but himself.

  • Shuriken420

    @ian:nope!not deaf. but when I hear Mustaine “sing” as opposed to Hetfield, i only slightly less wish I was.SLIGHTLY! Not much!

  • http://~ B. Ewing

    Pot kicks ass. Metal kicks ass. Do em together. DUH!

  • dr. doomdrummer

    I yelled sllllllaaaaaaayyyyyyeeeeerrrr at the Houston rodeo and got the sslllllaaaaaayyyeeeerrr back from a few people!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Britt-Granitt/582086079 Britt Granitt

    Weed just gives everything a +1.

    Relaxing +1
    Moshing +1
    Reading +1
    Video games +1
    Food +1
    Music +1
    Shaving your balls +1

    The only exception is sex. It gives sex like a +seriously, like a million.

  • Hmm

    Stupidity +1000000000000