Metallica pays tribute to Broncos
Those not in the know might think of country as Saskatchewan’s musical genre of choice. Rock, and metal in particular, is firmly welded to Prairie tastes.
Proving the point, Sasktel Centre was packed with fervent headbanging, fist-pumping fans ready to worship at the feet of Metallica Saturday night. The band has not been in Saskatoon since 2004, and the anticipation in the air for this show was evident immediately upon arrival at the venue.
The floor was already sticky with beer an hour before the band hit the stage, and herds of bros elbowed their way through packed halls and a testosterone haze to get to more beer.
There was, however, also a sense of multi-generational camaraderie in the crowd that speaks to the longevity of the band. More than a few families sat together in the stands. The ages of guys with neck tattoos stretched from 18 to within eyesight of 80.
The intense hype was warranted, as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members strode onto the stage to deliver a roar of unrelenting music to committed fans revelling in the force of the blast.
The stage was placed in the centre of the stadium floor, with the legendary Lars Ulrich’s drum set placed at centre ice. There were no Jumbotrons, so fans had to watch closely as lead singer James Hatfield, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo moved around to face different areas of the audience.
Hetfield, Ulrich and Hammett are all in their mid 50s, but the only thing that betrays their age is some grey hair.
They also made a donation to the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre during their visit.
Multiple box screens rose and fell above the band as they played, creating atmosphere with lights and movie clips, and kindling memories with vintage photos and clips from the band’s beginning in 1981 to now.
The boxes even served as drums at one point, with all four members picking up mallets to perform a choreographed drum piece. At another point, an effect made it look like people were trapped in the boxes and were trying to escape.
The songs were the true centrepieces of the night, with fans knowing every opening lick and the rapid-fire lyrics. Their hit Nothing Else Matters was dedicated to the Humboldt Broncos.
The unrelenting intensity of both the band and crowd made one understand why the Metallica family is so large and enduring.