I had never been to this venue before, and it was hard as hell to find, so we were a little late. When we got inside, there was already quite a few people gathering around the front...and we didn't feel like standing, so we went to the bleachers in the back and got seats a couple rows back (about 100 or so feet away from the stage), and we had a pretty good view.

The first band up was Skunk Anansie. I'm sorry, but metal bands with female lead singers just don't do it for me....and it seems for everyone else who was there too, because they got absolutely no reaction from the audience. They weren't bad, but it was nothing special. The word blah comes to mind. Luckily they only played for about a half hour.

The next band wasn't originally on the bill, but when they moved the venue, they added Mushroomhead. You probably haven't heard of them, cause they're a local metal band. Picture Slipknot (they've got the 9 members, masks, etc. as well) if they were better at their instruments and you'd have Mushroomhead. In fact, Slipknot was Roadrunner records second choice...because Mushroomhead turned them down. But they've got an amazing following around here....they outsell national acts at every one of their shows. Anyway...I had never actually heard them before now....damn I was missing out. Not only is their live show fucking amazing visually....but their music is so damn heavy, yet so moving. They have a mix of industrial, trance-core, hardcore, rap, and classical metal....all blended beautifully. The whole time they were on stage, I was just sitting there in awe. If they had signed with Roadrunner, you can bet they'd be stars by now...but for some admirable reason, they'd rather keep it real and stay small. I've got no complaints. Oh, I almost forgot about the pit....god damn I'm glad we didn't go down in front cause I would have gotten my ass stomped into the ground...it was fucking intense. Anyway....it only seemed like about 10 minutes, but they were out there for a solid 40 minutes.

Soulfly was the next band up. You'd have thought they were headlining with the reaction they got. It's no wonder, since Max is a fucking legend...and other than Ozzfest, I think this is the first time he's toured in the US with Soulfly. They were pretty good, nothing real spectacular....except in the middle of Umbabarauma, Max, the guitarist, and the bassist went backstage while the drummer played a kickass solo....and then the other came back out, all with different kinds of tribal-esque drums, and they proceeded to do a 2 or 3 minute long drum piece. Damn I wish I could find an mp3 of that or something....it was fucking amazing. It was really the only extraordinary thing about their performance....otherwise they were rather par. Although they did play a few Sepultura songs, which rocked.

After Soulfly, it seemed like alot of people left....but it was so packed, there was still alot of people there. It took them forever to set up for Rammstein though, because of all the pyro and props they use. When the lights went off, two fuses went off down the side of the curtain covering the stage...and when they got to the bottom, the curtain drops, and the flames and fireworks go off and the crowd fucking goes nuts.....it was one of those moments I tell ya. I'm sure you've heard about how good Rammstein is live, and it's all true....there wasn't anything overly great about the music, but the theatrics they use...like simulated sodomy...all the pyro....damn can they put on a show. If you have a chance to see them, and you don't go...you need smacked. At least go buy the live video they have out...that's the least you can do for yourself. I counted at least 17 or 18 instances of fireworks/pyro....for example, Till (the lead singer) lit himself on fire....he had these boots on that shot sparks straight out about 20 feet....he had this huge fucking flamethrower that he was shooting over the crowd..I could feel the heat 100 feet away....the mic stand caught on fire....and that's just a few. You gotta love bands who put on an amazing live show visually...it adds so much more to the show. Rating: 9.