I went to 58 shows and spent about $1500 on my tickets (only mine, probably more when i got tickets for other people!). Note that this does NOT include beverages, merch, or gas. I need to keep track of other expenditures in 2013.
Favourite show:
I think it's gotta be Iron Maiden/Alice Cooper tied with Rammstein (just barely). Rammstein, my first concert in 2001, was simply unforgettable. I think if we had been thinking and got closer seats (maybe even floor tickets) for Rammstein, that woulda taken the cake. Iron Maiden had its share of insane, debilitating heat, but it was totally worth it.
Highlights:
Seeing a lot of my favourite bands- Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Michael Schenker, Kamelot, Iced Earth among them. not bad at all! Also seeing The Iron Cross Band from Burma was pretty interesting. Road trip to PA to see WINTERSUN (and Eluveitie). Seeing big guns like Aerosmith and Kiss for the first time was pretty cool too.
Worst show:
My Enemy Complete, runner up: Deicide. I thought MEC shoulda sounded better, especially in that small venue. And I was not really familiar with a lot of their songs. I kinda was underwhelmed. But they did sound better later in the year, supporting The Birthday Massacre. Deicide, I also was not familiar with a lot of songs, and they kinda sounded generic to me. I left about halfway into their set. A decent experience, but ...I don't think I'd go out of my way to see them
Sleeper Show:
Primordial/While Heaven Wept/Cormorant - This show I was interested in seeing WHW and Primordial sounded OK, so I was like ok a cheap show after work is fine with me. But live both of those bands really sounded phenomenal. WHW was crystal clear and there was so much energy around them. Primordial also had a different type of energy and was very intense.
Cheapest show:
My Enemy Complete was $5 (included admission to Midnight club).
Most Expensive show:
Iron Maiden/Alice Cooper. over $100. Totally worth it X_X:
Most Overpriced shows:
Slash was $35. That seemed a bit high for him IMO. It sold out tho O_O: Iron Cross band- $50. But they had a TON of people, it was a lone show (3hrs and going!), AND it was the swanky Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. I don't think they tour much, so maybe it was a fair price.
Most PUMPED Moment:
Joakim from Sabaton pointing at me and my RAINBOW shirt during 'Metal Crue', during the relevant verse about RAINBOW. I was FLOORED \m/
Most Disappointing:
I thought the sets of Aerosmith, Sonata Arctica, Cheap trick, and Poison were pretty weak. But Fozzy seemed like they should have been way better live, especially with Chris Jericho's energy level. Similar complaints about some bands at M3. I think Aerosmith was 2nd disappointing, just because they really shoulda been better!
Most Ridiculous moments:
The guy from Pentagram pulled down his pants and had some some ridiculous googly eye leggings or something.
Seeing someone walk around with a huge Star and Bars during Brad Paisley Tailgaiting was pretty ridiculous too. That and the altercation between the 2 dudes at the port a potty.
Iron Cross band being shut down by the police because the crowd of Burmese people was way too rowdy.
Rammstein's pryo was EPIC.
Paganfest crowd
Least Metal Moments:
EVERY DRUM SOLO (that wasn't Alex Van Halen)
Just (mostly) kidding!
Sound of Thunder was cut off not once, but TWICE at Jaxx/Empire. WTF? But I think that Yesterday's Saints guitar being stolen was the least metal. I mean come on, who was such a dick at that show?
Chibi from the Birthday Massacre injured her leg during the show and they had to cut it short. Totally not metal :( But understandable.
The bushwhackers at Obituary def pissed me off the most and shoulda been kicked the hell out.
Getting physically ill after pittin' at the Korpiklaani show was def my personal least metal moment, followed by leaning against the wall near the loo listening to their last few songs thru the door.
Gauntlets :
Apparently sometimes there are shows that I *need* to see...that are back to back to back. See below
3/28, 3/29, 3/31
- VAN HALEN
- Paganfest- Turisa, alestorm, arkona
- A Sound of Thunder
9/10-9/12, 9/14
- Obituary, Broken Hope, Decrepit Birth, Jungle Rot, Encrust
- Symphony X
- Primordial, While Heaven Wept, Cormorant
- Kamelot, a sound of thunder
- Fozzy w/ A Sound of Thunder
- Dethklok, All That Remains, MacHine Head, The Black Dahlia Murder
- Six Feet Under, w cattle decapitation, wretched
Jaxx/Empire (16 times)- The venerable Jaxx (redubbed Empire late last year) was host to a ton of shows that I went to.
Ram's Head Live (9)- This Baltimore venue had a number of great shows.
The Fillmore Silver Spring (6)- Up and coming venue in Silver Spring (close to home!) is getting more heavy shows. It is a bit expensive to drink at, though.
Jiffy Lube Live (5)- ex Nissan Pavilion, home to huge shows like Kiss and Brad Paisley.
Merriweather Post Pavilion (4)- I saw a ton of hair bands at this easy to get to venue
Most seen bands this year:
I saw local favourites A Sound of Thunder 3 times!
By comparison, in 2011, I saw Kix and Blackguard both 5 times each (WOW).
Runners Up:
Bands seen twice in 2012
- Blackguard
- Alestorm
- Kix
- Night Ranger
- Jungle Rot
- Eluveitie
- Michael Schenker
- Skeletonwitch
- Steel Panther
- My Enemy Complete
- Black Dahlia Murder
- In Flames
- Aesthetic Perfection
- Bang Tango
In order of regretfuls:
At the Virgin mobile Free fest (ZZ Top, Skrillex), I somehow completely under anticipated the amount of people that would be there. We spent like 25 minutes driving around for parking and finally gave up.
Ghost- Should have gotten a ticket before hand and ventured out to DC for this show- it was sold out. I didn't know they were that popular.
Manowar- during Thanksgiving they came to NY/PA I think were the closest... I dunno maybe next time. Was like $85 AND far.
Rhapsody of Fire- Shoulda gone to see them, but I think I was tired or something lame.
Cinderella- this was the second time I missed them- also the second time I went on Holiday like the day of their show.
Dio Disciples- Its a long way to go to whitemarsh to see this excellent DIO cover band...
Morbid Angel/Dark Funeral- I was sickly, but I still shoulda hopped on the Metro to see these guys at the swanky Howard Theatr
Rob Zombie/Megadeth- Shoulda gone, but this was the day after M3 day 2 and I was pooped/hung over.
GWAR- they came around twice, I recall the second time was the day we got back from PA
