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Ozzfest ’08 review

Posted 11 Aug 2008 in personal

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This month marks our triumphant return to live music. After having to sit out of numerous concerts over the past two years due to financial hardship, we scrimped and saved in order to get tickets to see Metallica headlining the only 2008 performance of the annual Ozzfest tour. And it was worth every penny.

It was over 100° at Pizza Hut Park out in Frisco, TX and although we had been to the venue before, we were doubtful that it would be able to accommodate the record crowds that this show would undoubtedly attract.

Turns out we were right.

Although there were plenty of decent but horrendously overpriced food vendors ($7.00 sandwiches and $4.50 bottles of water), the real deal-killer was the narrow walkway which rings the sunken stadium. Whoever planned the layout of the place didn’t take into account what happens when lines of people waiting to buy food extend all the way across the main concourse. Can you say traffic jam?

Anyhow, just like at Starplex (where Ozzfest is usually held when it comes to Dallas), this place was also divided into three stages. One main stage in the actual stadium and two smaller stages set up in the parking lot area. The “Texas Stage” featured Rigor Mortis, Drowning Pool, The Sword, Destro, and Within Chaos. The Jagermeister Stage had Sevendust, Goatwhore, Devildriver, Soilent Green, Witchcraft, and Kingdom of Sorrow. Of those, we were only really interested in Sevendust and Drowning Pool. Truth be told, we were kinda sad that DP was relegated to the smaller stage while other bands like Cavalera Conspiracy, In This Moment, Apocalyptica, and Shadows Fall got to play the main stage. But since they didn’t ask me to plan the setlist, there ya go.

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Drowning Pool once again proved that no matter the venue, they can step up and knock everybody else into the dirt with their hard driving music and stirring patriotism. They had the crowd’s enthusiasm despite the botched introduction by Ozzfest frontman “Big Dave.”

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Sevendust is one of our favorite bands, but their performance on the Jagermeister stage just wasn’t up to their usual standards.

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This was part of the tribute to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, featuring a moving version of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”

HellYeah and Jonathan Davis from Korn also rocked the stadium, but were not as impressive as we hoped they’d be. We did, however, really get into Serj Tankian (although judging by some other reviews, I think we may have been two of the only people who enjoyed his set). Even outside of his work on System of a Down, he gives an spirited live performance and his musical skills are truly admirable.

Ozzy, the bloody Prince of Darkness himself, displayed his sense of humor in a hilarious, self-deprecating way; his set featured an video introduction where he was edited into several pop culture references:
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Here he’s dressed as Amy Winehouse singing “Rehab” in front of the judges on American Idol.

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In this scene, he was dressed as a liquor-swilling Hillary Clinton campaigning on stage with Barack Obama.

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This was a scene from the recent Will Ferrell movie, “Step Brothers.”

Ozzy’s set was high energy and featured songs spanning his entire career such as “I Don’t Wanna Stop”, “Crazy Train”, “No More Tears”, and “Iron Man”. As much as I enjoyed them all, my favorite part of his performance was Zakk Wylde’s hardcore guitar rendition of “Star-Spangled Banner.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Ozzman. But I was really there to see Metallica. And judging by the capacity crowd, I wasn’t alone. By the time Ozzy finished his set (he ran over time by about 35 minutes), the previously mostly-full stadium was bursting at the seams with sweaty metal fans.

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Metallica played thunderous versions of “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Harvester of Sorrow” and “Sanitarium” that really got the crowd going. Then they cut loose with a new song called “Cyanide” from their upcoming album “Death Magnetic.” To me, it sounded way better than the stuff they put out on the “St. Anger” album and I’m definitely looking forward to the September 12th release. Hey, judge for yourself…

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It was great to see the kings of metal back in the Lone Star State. We also got to hear them rip through “And Justice for All” and “No Remorse.” But by then, the full day of heat had really gotten to traci and we had to leave. She really wanted to stay for the rest of Metallica’s performance; after all, they were the band we wanted to see most of all. But when I saw how bad she was feeling, and I knew it would be better to get out before the full crowds filled the walkways again.

After we made it all the way back around the stadium and into the parking lot, we heard the opening notes of “Nothing Else Matters,” a song which holds a lot of personal meaning for both of us. It made a sad moment even more poignant. But at least we had gotten to see what we came to see. And on the upside, we beat the crush of traffic!

In all, it was a most excellent day. We hope Ozzfest comes back to Texas next year, and if so, we especially hope they’ll have the good sense to return to Starplex.

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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