After sleeping off my near-death experience, I got up for short run (which I strangely couldn't breathe very well on), then we were off to Boner-ooh (after a brief stop at a classy dining establishment by the name of Waffle House, that is).

After missing the Boner-ooh exit, circling back, and then a brief search of our car, we were in the Boner-ooh parking lot in no time. (Super-Ron's friend had called with horror stories of waiting in line for like 8 hours just to get into the parking lot the day before). When we got out of the car, there were two dudes parked next to us with Metallica shirts on. They asked if we were there to see Metallica, and then told us we should have been in Nashville the night before. Apparently, they were among the people that were hanging out behind the record store who were just there to catch a glimpse of the band leaving. They did say they could hear the show from outside, so I guess it was probably still a cool experience. We told them that we were there, but we didn't elaborate too much. I'm surprised neither of them said, "Hey, did some numb-nuts actually pass out in there?"

After wandering amid a sea of hippies we found Super-Ron, Brad, Sean (Ron's friend who we've met at a few other shows. He's the cool dude from Jersey who took the ridiculously long bus ride for the Roanoke show back in '04 for those who remember), and a couple of Ron and Sean's other friends. We had A LOT of time to pass before the MetClub BBQ, so we wandered around Boner-Ooh for while, which lead to the discovery that there really isn't anything worthwhile to do at Boner-Ooh other than look at hippies and wait for Metallica. We ended up hanging out under a tree for a while. I was making sure to drink plenty of Gatorade, since it was ridiculously hot, and I didn't need to add another risk-factor for a repeat occurrence of the previous night's involuntary nap. The problem with drinking lots of Gatorade is that you have to make frequent visits to the nasty port-a-johns, but it's a small price to pay. We spent a little time watching people frolick around in the yellowish-brown water that was spewing from the Boner-Ooh fountain, which was enough to make me not ever want to go near that fountain again. Eventually, Jeff and I headed over to the meeting spot for the MetClub BBQ. Vickie and Yeager showed up and started handing out wristbands to the BBQ and M&G winners. Some drunk MetClubber offered to "help" with the list, who then proceeded to tell his friends some of the remaining names on the list, so they could get in. Way to go d-bag drunk guy.

Me, Big Jeff and Super-Ron

The BBQ was very cool. They had REALLY GOOD food, and it was cool hanging out in the shade and meeting some cool new people. Big Jeff and I shared a table with the Mission Metallica Boner-Ooh Contest winners, who had flown down from Michigan. They were pretty stoked about the M&G, and the show. If I remember correctly it was their first Metallica show. Adam Dubin interviewed Big Jeff and I about The Basement gig. I think Jeff busted on me for passing out on camera. Adam asked us what we thought about Tom, the new security dude, and he explained to me that he was the dude who helped Ron carry me out after my battle with consciousness. As I told Adam, Tom was actually very cool about it. On a side not, I'm glad that they found a cool dude to take over after Gio. Gio is such a cool dude, and I was bummed to hear he wasn't with the band anymore. I also had several people from the crew ask me how I was doing and had a few guys giving me a hard time about whether I was going to last through the Boner-Ooh set.

After the BBQ, it was time to head toward the main stage. Boner-Ooh has a policy where they clear out the pit area after each act, so we were told to just head over to the pit entrance and wait until the last act before Metallica, which was supposed to be Chris Rock. We met up with Ron, Brad, Sean, etc. and waited by the gates. After they emptied the pits for the act before Chris Rock, who I can't even remember. We were informed that there was actually a line already for Metallica (and one for Chris Rock, as well). Having experienced the utter chaos that occurs with "lines" when they finally open the gates for a Metallica show, we debated on whether to get into the line or stay where we were at. The line was basically single-file, yet the gates to get into the pit area were really wide. We ended up getting in the Chris Rock line which only had a few people in it and were going to wait there and see how things played out as far as the line deal went for Chris Rock, so that we would know what it was going to be like when they opened the gate for Metallica. It was at this point that we all sat down, because it Metallica's set was still a few hours off. For some reason, I attracted the attention of a girl who seemed utterly stoned and she wanted to talk to me about turtles. I got up and turned around after she sat in front of me, but Ron was nice enough to ask her if she wanted to get her picture taken with me. (Thanks Ron!)

Do you see a resemblance?

"Hey, I like your shirt."

When it was time to open the gates for Chris Rock, the dude working the gate announced that they were going to let people in for Metallica at the same time, and utter chaos ensued. We actually ended up in front of couple of dudes who had been waiting there for hours before us. I let the two dude get in front me as we made our way down to the pit, because they were bitching about getting screwed over (and rightfully so), yet when I got down to the rail, I looked back later on, and they were behind us. Oh well. When we got on the rail there was a woman who appeared to be in her 60s to the right of us, and a dude alternating between talking and smoking weed non-stop right behind us. When Chris Rock came out, the guy felt the need to repeat everything Chris Rock said, and strangely enough, it was a lot less funny than when Chris Rock would say it. He also explained to every one around him how AC/DC would blow Metallica off the stage if they were there. He also would later inform us who Lars was during the Metallica set. (Thanks for enlightening us, bud.)

Before Metallica came on, we saw a couple of the photographers from the Basement show the night before and chatted with them for a bit. For some reason, A LOT of photographers were taking our pictures.

(Picture from Don VanCleave)

Can you spot us?
(Picture from Don VanCleave)

(Picture from Don VanCleave)

Can you spot us?
(Picture from Don VanCleave)

Front page picture of the 6/15/08 edition of The Tennessean

As for the show itself, it was nothing short of awesome. It was very solid set, and the crowd was totally laid back as far as pushing against the rail goes. It was easily the "easiest" outdoor show I've ever been to (quite the opposite of being on the rail for KFMA day). Ron and Yeager both busted on me during the show checking to see if I was "alright." During "Sad But True" (which was the song that spelled the end for me the night before), Ron looked over and asked if I was going to make it. Thankfully, there were no visions of darkness, lack of breathing, or anything of that nature. I actually got to enjoy the show, including being able to enjoy "And Justice For All" live for the first time in a while. (They played it at KFMA, but the keywords here are "being able to enjoy.") All in all it was an awesome time, and it was great to be back on the road, even if it was only for a few shows. That being said, bring on the U.S. Tour!

After the show

After the show