By: Robert Cavuoto
On August 7th, Gigantour touched down in New York City at none other than the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom. The opulent venue was originally constructed as an Opera House in 1906, but tonight’s show would be a much different type of music than it was a designed for, a music that will rock the old ballroom off its foundation and possibly level it.
For one reason or another, it was going to be an abridged version of the Gigantour bill with only three of the five bands playing – Newsted, Black Label Society and Megadeth. Device and Hell Yeah both sat this show out.
Jason Newsted of Metallica fame and his band took the stage shortly after 7:00 p.m. and opened with “Heroic Dose,” off their new CD, Heavy Metal Music. Though the CD was only out for one day, fans in attendance knew all the words. Jason even commented from the stage how cool it was that they were singing along.
Before playing “Soliderhead” Jason yelled to the crowd; “Looks like I’m playing to a hundred of my closest friends tonight”, as his start time was possibly too early for New Yorkers to get their shit together. Tonight it was more about the quality of the fans, not the quantity who were excited to see Jason’s band. Newsted’s performance was outstanding! An angry energetic display of raw emotion let loose on and drenched the crowd.
In appreciation for their patronage, the band went on to pummel their fans with “As the Crow Flies”, “King of the Underdogs”, “Nocturnus”, and closed the set with a cover of Metallica’ s “Whiplash”.
Next up was Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wylde who went on around 8:15 pm to an almost packed house. Zakk came out with arms extended as he approached his microphone stand which was draped with skulls, rosary beads, and a giant wooden crucifix affixed to the very top. He was armed with his purple Gibson ZV Bullseye, slung over his shoulder with a monstrous black studded guitar strap – truly fitting for the Viking from Hell. Ravenous worshipers rocked back and forth, screaming his name and raising their fists paying homage to the ringmaster.
The stage was nothing short of being equally equipped for the sonic attack with 10 Marshall Stacks – five on each side of the drum kit. A huge BLS banner hung the length of the stage above the band. When the first chord of the opening song, “Godspeed Hell Bound” sounded, the crowd went berserk. All Hell had broken loose at the Hammerstein and swirls of small mosh pits began to form.
The sound mix was perfect, you could hear every instrument and vocal part, as if you were listening to their CDs at full throttle. The Doom Crew consisting of Nick Catanese on guitar, John “JD” DeServio on bass, and Chad Szeliga on drums were clad in their traditional BLS biker vests. Their musical skills were epic and their stage commaradarie exhilarating. The audience was a reflection of the band; wearing leather BLS biker vests, studded wrist bands, and full sleeve tattoos.
Prior to the show Zakk humbly told me he doesn’t consider himself a shredder, but I think differently as he tore through his guitar solo after “Forever Down” on his Pinstipped Flying V of Doom, leaning heavy on his trademark pinch harmonic through-out which helped make him the famous guitarist he is today.
BLS played about ten song,s including “Destruction Overdrive”, “Bleed for Me” and “Stillborn”. But the highlights of the night were “Overlord” and “Parade of the Dead” and it didn’t hurt when the band launched Sonic Brew inflatable beach balls and anatomically correct female blow-up dolls out to the blood thirsty crowd. I’m not sure who was having more fun; the fans crowd surfing while defiling the dolls or the band watching the carnage first hand.
At 9:30 p.m. Dave Mustaine’s Megadeth closed out the evening. The band appeared out of the smoke as a video showed futuristic robots assembling the band’s logo ascoss the huge video screens surrounding the stage. Fans began to chant while a pre-recorded audio clip of “Prince of Darkness” played. As the intro faded the band rolled out “Trust” off their 1997 release Cryptic Writings. By now the Hammerstein was packed to capacity with even the people in the reserved seats on their feet.
Like BLS, Megadeth played spot on; Dave Mustaine pointed at the crowd and taunted them with his devilish snarl from behind a halo of auburn hair. Every song was played with a sense of fury from beginning to end, like a demolition squad looking to take apart the old brick and mortar Hammerstein. Dave is not only an amazing lead guitarist but a fantastic rhythm guitarist. It was awe inspiring to watch his right hand keep time with the double bass pounding of Shawn Drover on drums. His band was equally matched now that Dave Ellefson was back in the fold on bass. Also note worthy was guitar virtuoso Chris Broderick who took center stage on many of the leads, looking like he could play them in his sleep.
Wasting no time Megadeth slammed the fans with song after song including “Hanger 18”, “Sweating Bullet”, “She-Wolf”, and “A Tout Le Monde”. Dave Ellefson’s bassline for “Peace Sells” whipped the fans into a final frenzy before closing the night with “Holy War…The Punishment” as the encore.
It was truly a great night of metal music for everyone that was in attendance. By 11:00 p.m. the old Hammerstein was barely standing as Gigantour 2013 gave it one Hell of beating.
GALLERY
