An Evening With Machine Head – HQ Adelaide 17th July 2018
On a cool Tuesday night in Adelaide the only place to be was HQ spending the evening with Machine Head, it just makes damn good solid sense. The metal gods last graced our shores 3 years ago for a run of sold out shows and we were buzzing for what was to come in the following hours having seen the setlists from recent New Zealand shows.
Weaving through a sea of black clothing with the recorded sounds of Metallica warming us through the speakers we were greeted with a stage set up to impress with Dave McClain’s drum kit raised so high all could see regardless of where you were standing; jumping, moshing, head banging. We were ready and there was time to throw down a drink or few before getting loose, hell yeah.
Fists were pumping the air long before we could see Machine Head through the dark smoke haze and when the familiar voice of Robb Flynn “get your fists in the air motherfuckers” the crowd roared and responded. Dressed in worn torn and patched denim laced with buckles and pure history Flynn demanded a circle pit straight up and powered straight into Volatile. Just like that the night was set and carnage followed.
Flynn reminded us all of why we are all here which bonded us all. “Somewhere inside of us there is a bit of darkness within us and that’s why we are here because we need to feel connected with all these other fucked up people, because doing this shit helps makes sense of this crazy fucked up world out there that doesn’t make any goddam sense… what the fuck is going on? I don’t get it and you don’t get it and that’s why we are all her to erase that shit for the next couple of hours”.
With nearly 3 hrs ahead some paced themselves while others were constantly relentless in the mosh. If you were on the barrier you needed to prove yourself and well in general you had to prove yourself or you would be called out. “We came here to let loose and feel alive.” “You have to be a maniac if you are on the rail.”
“Barcelona girl” was recognized when she stood high on shoulders and chugged a beer with Flynn declaring “every guy in the room just fell in love with you” and told the story of when they first saw each other from stage to crowd. Pretty fucking cool accolade.
With hours of unwavering force, Machine Head really know how it’s done with powerful solos and the perfect balance for us old farts (well the majority of the crowd anyway) allowing us to get some rest time before the next wave imploded. Hair flicks to perfection from Jared MacEchern and fist pumps to the crowd from Phil Demmel there were smiles all round. Machine Head were happy to be on Australian shores again and it showed.
With a setlist including tracks off every 9 studio albums there was something for all fans new or old. It’s hard writing a review and not spoiling the setlist (fyi it is below) but rest assured Machine Head had it covered and Catharsis tracks also go hard.
After countless circle pits, horns and fists pumping into the air we left feeling satisfied that we made the right choice. An evening with Machine Head is like no other and we would do it all over again. Thanks for coming to “Madelaide” mates “Adelaide Fucking Australia” loves you, we look forward to the next time \m/
Words by Kay Cann
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