Metallica Energizes Twin Cities Music Scene

Metallica energized both the Twin Cities music scene and the local community. During an unprecedented weekend of massive rock shows in Minneapolis, Metallica played host to two sold out nights at US Bank Stadium, and stewarded events across the metro. 

As a longtime fan of the group, one thing that has always stood out about the band is their fanbase. Or as frontman James Hetfield calls them: the Metallica Family.

With over 40-years of history behind them, Metallica has amassed millions of incredibly loyal fans from all walks of life. Whether it’s dads showing their kids the music they loved growing up, brothers bonding over the love of the band, and more – cheesy as it is to say, the friendships formed at Metallica shows are long lasting. Shows like this are like church to these fans.

With a weekend of Metallica themed events across the metro, fans got more than they could’ve ever asked for. It all began Thursday night with support act Pantera doing a popup show at First Avenue with special appearances from Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett of Metallica. Other events included an art show at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and a headlining show from Metallica’s kids Castor Hetfield and Tye Trujillo at Varsity Theater. 

The highlight, of course, came from two nights featuring unique setlists. Dubbing it their “no repeat weekend”, the band essentially split a 30 song setlist over the course of two nights. Concerns of one setlist being better than the other were valid from fans, however I believe they were perfectly balanced each night. 

Night one kicked off with “Creeping Death” and included the title track off their latest album “72 Seasons.” They had an incredible 5 song run of “Sad But True,” “Blackened,” “Fuel,” “Seek and Destroy,” and “Master of Puppets” to close out the night. 

Night two kicked off with a bang with “Whiplash,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “Ride the Lightning.” The end was supreme with “One” and “Enter Sandman” being chosen to close out the weekend. 

The group left no stone unturned as they ensured fans went home happy regardless of which night they attended. That said, a majority of fans opted to attend both nights. 

Each night saw unique opening acts. Along for the ride was Pantera and Mammoth WVH for night one, and Ice Nine Kills and Five Finger Death Punch for night two.

Pantera’s storied history and lineup changes did not stop them from giving it their all. Following an iconic First Avenue performance, they absolutely owned the stage in the round at US Bank Stadium. The audience was fully behind them. 

Mammoth WVH on the other hand proved to be on the weaker side of the opening acts. While I appreciate the challenge of opening for a show this huge, I felt their stage presence left much to be desired. 

Ice Nine Kills were so cool. Performing with a theatrical horror gimmick, they caught my eye and left me smiling. Although it was a bit cheesy, and would’ve looked way cooler in a dark venue and not in broad daylight at a football stadium, Ice Nine Kills was fun and memorable. 

For me, Pantera by far had the best opening set of the weekend. Click here to read more about their pop up show at First Avenue.

Additionally, Five Finger Death Punch was also a great standout. I felt they had a really strong vocal performance, and they honestly made a fan out of me by the end of their set. 

Metallica was the steward of an amazing run of shows in the cities. From their amazing two night run at US Bank Stadium, to Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Journey, and Def Leppard at Target Field, the scene truly felt alive this weekend. 

Not only did Metallica give the music community something to be proud of, they also gave back to the Twin Cities in a big way. The group made a donation to People Serving People, a local nonprofit that works to end homelessness. As someone who also works for housing justice nonprofits, I am so happy to see them contributing like that. 

Metallica left their mark with an unforgettable and once in a lifetime run of shows. I’ve now seen the group live a total of five times, and I gotta say their shows from this last weekend top the list for me.