Monday, November 15, 1999
CONCERT REVIEW
Megadeth won't stray from heavy metal way
BY CHRIS VARIAS
Enquirer contributor
Today it's harder than ever on fans of thrash and speed metal. Their once-favorite band is cranking out a cheesy Bob Seger ballad, and all they can hear on the radio and see on TV are these upstarts who want to rap instead of growl-sing.
Thank the devil for Megadeth, the longstanding Los Angeles metal band who played Bogart's Saturday night. It's a solid lock that lead singer Dave Mustaine won't start bustin' rhymes for fashion's sake, or that the band won't cover Mr. Seger's “Turn the Page” like his former band Metallica.
But Megadeth's steadfast ways won't make them megastars, either. Later-period material the band played was definitely more melodious than the riff-heavy early stuff, but there was no ballad or rap-crossover sellout to be heard.
In fact, the show was moved from the larger Taft Theatre — no doubt a blow to Mr. Mustaine's ego. Yet for metal atmosphere, Bogart's crushes the Taft. Once again the forces of supply and demand make everything right.
The 11/2-hour show began with songs from their mid- to late-'80s catalog, moved into later-period minor radio hits and finished with covers of Black Sabbath's “Paranoid” and the Sex Pistols' “Anarchy in the U.K.”
The early speed-metal material was full of riffs angled every which way. New drummer Jimmy DeGrasso had no problem with all the twists and turns on songs like “Hangar 18,” while Mr. Mustaine and fellow guitarist Marty Friedman switched off on the lightning-fast solos.
Mr. Mustaine promoted Megadeth's new album Risk. Introducing one of the album's songs, “Breadline,” he said the tune was inspired by the drug-buying trips he and bassist David Ellefson would take to the slums of L.A. back before they became sober.
Later came Megadeth's '90s hits and near-hits: “Trust,” “Sweating Bullets,” and “Angry Again” among them, as well as older favorites like “Peace Sells.”
Mr. Mustaine said that Cincinnati was lucky to have a rock radio station, seeing as though neither New York or L.A. do. He was referring to WEBN-FM. It was a sly bit of kissing up, the kind of thing a metalhead who eschews the ballad needs to do if he wants airplay.
Downtown projects angle for state dollars
Hot time tonight for Backstreet Boys fans
Stargazers hope meteor shower will dazzle
Y2K-I-DO: Couples ring in millennium with wedding bells
What's the secret to living to 100?
Youths rally for Ten Commandments
Morality messenger blends old with new
'Nightline' to air historic tapes from Clifton Jewish archives
GET TO IT
Megadeth won't stray from heavy metal way
Democrat Lucas sides with GOP on many votes
Driver arrested after car chase, 2 accidents
Ideas flow for water system
Miss Glasgow crowned Miss Ky. USA
Naiser's restorations often better than new
Put college in your future, Ohio kids told at statehouse
TRISTATE DIGEST
Voinovich cuts own path from GOP line
Volunteers search for hidden homeless
