Prudential Center @ Newark, NJ - 2/1/09

We bought our tickets in September for this show and in the months leading up to it, we couldn't be more excited. This was my wife's first show. She knows of Metallica through me but she really saw it first hand. She was a trooper for coming out especially since she had surgery on 1/15 to remove her gall bladder. We arrived early at the Prudential Center just because traffic around this new arena can be hectic. We found a spot close to the arena and made our way inside. I had only heard about this place through people at work but it is a brand new up-to-the-minute venue just built within the last year for the New Jersey Devils hockey team. Before entering, we spoke to some Metallica fans from PA who had made their up to catch this show. Then we went in the wrong door mistakenly because we already had tickets.

After finding out we were lost, we found the line again and went in the right door this time. We found our seats by a snack bar and took the environment in. It was relatively empty when we arrived but the hardcore Metallica fans had made their way into the pit as expected. So after waiting around and snacking, The Sword came on followed by Machine Head. I had listened to Machine Head back a few years when I was in the Navy and they're not bad at all. They were bent on not being forgotten as they had told the crowd that they were "Machine F---ing Head!" They made everyone repeat it a number of times. After a while, we got it.

So....after all the opening band's gear was removed, we knew who was coming next. I heard "Ecstasy of Gold" and we were bracing ourselves for the reason why we were all here. There were a couple of false alarms by the curtain prior to Metallica coming out. I think a band member might have stuck his head out to tease the crowd. I'm not sure. There was a loud roar at one point before the band came out. About 15 minutes later, they arrived and took the stage. The place went nuts.

What I really enjoyed was the new material off of Death Magnetic. Metallica sounds vibrant, energetic, youthful and hungry again. It was great to hear that old sound too. The old tracks never get old. They played them like they were brand new. My wife started feeling uncomfortable about half way through because the vibration off of her stomach was causing the surgery spot to feel sore. She got up and had to walk around a little while. She was sorely missed but I give her credit for showing up and trying her best to enjoy this concert. Meanwhile, I was having the time of my life with my favorite band.

If I had to pick a best song, I go with "Master of Puppets." They played it all the way through and rocked hard as always. The only difference between 1992 James and 2009 James is today's James is not dropping F-bombs as often. Oh yeah and the hair is shorter but when it comes to this band, hair means nothing. The most unusual part of the show was the encore "Seek and Destroy". These blow-up balls fell from the rafters and the band started kicking them into the crowd as souvenirs while playing. I was too far back to get one but it was quite a scene. I have never seen anything like that before.

I've included some pictures that were taken by my wife so enjoy them. There was an annoying usher who was busting everyone's chops about taking pictures but the key was not taking them during the opening bands. During Metallica, nobody said a word so it was a question of not getting caught. I don't know what the big deal was. You go to a show and you want to take pictures. Why is that such a problem? It's not like it's going to affect Metallica's playing. Give me a break. So, this show brought the Metal as always. No one shall ever destroy the Metal. This is Anthony and Marybeth signing off from New Jersey. Peace!