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SXSW scene: In line for Metallica!
The rumors had bubbled for weeks: Metallica, the metal gods from Northern California, would be playing SXSW. Some saw it as a marketing stunt for the video game “Guitar Hero: Metallica,” which comes out March 28. Others thought that maybe not all of the band members would appear. After days of speculation, the Metallica gear now sits on the stage at Stubb’s, while hundreds of fans lineup outside.
People have wondered whether getting into the show would be akin to a papal vist. How early would you have to line up? Who would get in? Should non-bage holders even bother?
Die-hard Metallica fans Ron Clark of New Jersey, Jeff Holland of Virginia and their buddies — first in line at Stubb’s — left nothing to chance. The group flew down to Austin this morning after getting a deal on last-minute air fare. No SXSW attendees these. They flew to Austin solely to see their metal heroes. It will be the 58th show for Holland and the 128th for Clark, members of Metallica’s fan club, who heard about the show through the fan club Web site and subsequently won a raffle for spots on the band’s guest list along with dozens others in line.
Why fly thousands of miles to see a band you’ve seen so many times? Easy, says Holland, who got in line at 1 p.m. Friday. “When they do these special shows, those are the best,” Holland said. “The small venues are just more intimate.”
Clark, who plans to fly back to Clifton, New Jersey, after the show, says he doesn’t even mind wading through hipsterpallooza and a bunch of bands he doesn’t like to see Metallica rock. “If we have to sit through crappy opening bands, that’s alright with us,” Clark said.
The guys expect an hour and a quarter set, but as Holland says, “It’s not the length that matters, it’s the songs that matter to us.”
As for those songs, Clark and Holland, in true hardcore fan fashion, said they hope to hear more of the band’s obscure and older stuff, along with a few tracks from the new album. So, “Damages, Inc., “The Shortest Straw” or “No Remorse” would be just fine with this traveling band of brothers in rock.
At 10 p.m., much of downtown and parts of the city as far away as Hyde Park will all get an earful.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW 2009
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By Jon
March 20, 2009 9:13 PM | Link to this
Who cares about metallica?? Let me know when SLAYER comes to town. Hey Matt, for the record it’s “Damage,INC.” and “Shortest Straw”.
By Jcman
March 20, 2009 10:25 PM | Link to this
Who cares about “SLAYER”? I would much rather see Metallica.
By TXn
March 21, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
I care about Slayer…because they are still a band that make real metal and always have, always will. They are not trying to get their Metal cred back and teach kids that video games are more fun than REAL instruments.
By Jeff H.
March 22, 2009 4:51 AM | Link to this
Nice story Matthew!!!