The recent debates haven't exactly coincided with my schedule. The presidential debate, found me at the local comedy club to catch the semi-annual appearance from Bobby Slayton, who in my opinion, is one of the funniest guys out there right now.
After a weekend in Detroit with The Boss, it was time to bring it back to Cleveland for an unscheduled addition to Matt's schedule. It wasn't until I was reading my email on Saturday, that I realized that the mighty Anthrax would be making a stop in Cleveland at the Odeon Concert Club on Tuesday as one of the openers for Dio. Never mind the fact that the vice presidential debate would be happening the very same night here in Cleveland, clearly my plans were made to include nothing but metal!
On an ideal night, I would have taken in all 3 acts, but tonight fell at the end of what has been a long week of constant activity, and I've got a lot of shit to do, so I made the decision that while I would love to see Fireball Ministry, who were opening the evening, I made the executive decision to skip them. Good call, apparently, as I heard from quite a few in attendance that their performance was a bit sub-par. Oh well - seeing how much I like their music, I guess I am glad I missed the letdown. As for Dio, I have seen him probably 5-6 times within the past few years, and he is always killer - I knew that I would miss a killer set, but with Dio, a killer set is always guaranteed, so go check him out!
That leaves Anthrax, and it was my decision to schedule 45 minutes of Anthrax into the end of my day, and I was glad that I did.
After a killer live album, their first with longtime vocalist John Bush (ex-Armored Saint) at the helm, the band is set to release The Greater Of Two Evils on November 23rd. The collection features 14 tracks total from the band's previous vocalists, Joey Belladonna, and Neil Turbin, re-recorded with Bush on vocals. Having heard "Among The Living" in advance of an interview that we did with Bush on my radio show on Sunday night, this album is going to be completely worthy, let me assure you. Hearing "Among The Living" with 2004 production completely stoked me towards hearing the rest of the album, and hopefully soon, dammit!
Article comments
1 - Jim S
they came to Worcester, MA on Friday night, but I decided not to go because the tix were $30 for a small, shitty, smelly fire-trap of a club.
I've seen Dio a couple of times, most recently with Maiden on the "Give me Ed..." tour. I thought he was much weaker than of old, so I decided 'Thrax wasn't worth it.
When they come back after the new album (which they should have stuck with the original title, METALLUM MAXIMUM AETERUM because it's much cooler!), I'll definately go to see the newer/old stuff.
You are right about one thing though... it took a hella-long time, but the band with Bush has finally come around to where they were before he came on board. When I saw them for Vol 8, they were much weaker than "back in the day." The live DVD rocks, though...
2 - Jim S
oh, and after you saying they played only 6 songs, I'm glad I didn't drop the $30 just to see them.
3 - Eric Olsen
always been particularly fond of Anthrax, especially their punkier and funkier things - great job Matt, thanks!
4 - Matt Wardlaw
Jim,
Thanks for the kind words.
the original title would be "Metallum Maximus Aeternus", just for clarification.
And they did play more than 6 songs - also did stuff like Antisocial, Keep It In The Family, etc.
For the package, I think 30 bucks is fine - You get to see in theory, 3 great bands - even if Fireball Ministry wasn't up to snuff, I have never seen Dio put on a bad show, and by all accounts that I have read, the Dio setlist on this tour is one of the better ones, not as much "paint-by-numbers" as I have seen in the past.
5 - Tom Johnson
Here's the tracklisting for The Greater Of Two Evils, in case anyone's curious and doesn't have the energy to go to all the way over to Anthrax's site:
1. Deathrider
2. Metal Thrashing Mad
3. Caught In A Mosh
4. A.I.R.
5. Among The Living
6. Keep It In The Family
7. Indians
8. Madhouse
9. Panic
10. I Am The Law
11. Belly Of The Beast
12. N.F.L.
13. Be All End All
14. Gung-Ho
No "In My World"? That's one of my favorites, so I'm a little disappointed, I can totally hear Bush singing that. But, overall, I like what I see and I'm sure Bush will sound great on these selections.
6 - Chris
Looks like an interesting album.
I've seen ANthrax a couple times over the past few years and they always put on a great set. I also saw Joey Belladonna perform last year, he still has it too, that was a small crowd and he hung out for a few hours after the show talking about the past, he seemed to miss ANthrax, but didn't fit in with the direction they were heading in.
Anyway, I hope they make it my way again, I'd love to see'em again.
7 - Matt
Dont worry guy's, in my world will be on greater of two evils, along with Lone justice and the song anthrax as bonus track.
8 - Chris
I'm a huge Anthrax fan and I decided to pay the $30 just for them, they where good but the crowd sucked, a bunch of hardcore Dio fans that really weren't in to Scot and the boys. John was great, Scot as good as ever, Joey was really good, it is strange no to see tall as Frankie rockin the bass bu Joey did good, and Charlie he fuckin RULED I think he is one of the best drummers out there he just sick. The set list was a surprise ,I was all ready for I'm the law and Bring the noise, but it was cool any way, DEATH RIDER,NFL, those made up for it and then some, I stuck around for 2 Dio songs because I really don't like him, it was easy to see why the tickets were $30, Dio had enough lights to do an arena show, it was crazy, I did see fireball and I don't like them but they wheren't bad, not my kinda music but they where pretty solid and half the crowd got into them,I don't think they where bad at all
9 - Chad
I seen Anthrax last night at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa and tix were only 22 dollars. I was quite impressed, I had never seen either of the 3 acts and I got right in front for Anthrax (i'm only 4 foot 7 inches tall) and it's hard to see the stage when these assholes in front of you are 6 foot 4 ya know. I got into FB Ministry, they were pretty cool I thought. Anthrax fucking ruled, but it looked like Scott was a bit on the tired side (though I got to shake Charlies hand by the tour bus though later on after Dio got over with.)
Dio was really cool, he had some pretty heavy songs played last night, the only ones I knew well were Holy Diver, Rainbow in the Dark, and Dont Talk to Strangers, but it was pretty bad ass though, and yeah, the light show was a bit overkill, but added to the effects though, it was a bit hard to see him in places because of all the dry ice and shit he used, but oh well, kicked ass nonetheless.
10 - benoire
I saw many anthrax show`s in my life, its a amazing band !
11 - josh
Don't bother buying the new CD. I got to the chance to listen to it a few time and I am greatly dissapointed in the crap that is on this disc. They managed to take some of the greatest and most relavant songs in the metal/trash genre and destroy them. The energy, fire and originality is all stripped away.
It's sad to see such a great band sink to such low levels.