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I was so excited about seeing Machine Head again and so worried that I was going to forget to pack something (like the ticket!) because when I left the house on Friday I was not only packing for a vacation on the west coast of FL with my family, but for the concert too, since I'd be cutting our planned long weekend short to drive to Orlando for the show. I already knew what the setlist was supposed to be and since they'd be playing "Old" I decided to bring my MH banner from 1995 of "Jesus Wept"...camera...batteries...map to the venue...

We arrived in Orlando at about 1am Monday morning, I tried to get some sleep because I made up my mind that I was going to hang out after the show no matter how long it took so that I could meet Robb & the rest of the guys (except Adam of course...since he was missing out on the tour because of a broken leg). The anticipation kept me awake, but that was nothing a couple gallons of caffiene couldn't fix!

Because of the whole Disney/House of Blues bullshit (see story here: http://www.machinehead1.com/news.html if you've been living under a rock and don't know what I'm talking about) I was nervous about it being my first time at Club Firestone, the new venue that the show had been moved to. But as is always the case, I met up with some cool people right away. I was shocked and thrilled to be able to walk right in with my camera. That would NEVER have happened at House of Blues! I got a rail spot immediately and had no problem keeping it the whole night.

Sanctity
started it off-I was looking forward to them since seeing them at Gigantour last year. They did great as expected. They got a laugh when they dedicated The Road To Bloodshed to all of the women in the audience during that "special time". I wish I'd have gotten some video of them. Zeppo was awesome...and if I remember right, it was thier last song.

Here's a few photos:

Throwdown
was next. I love these guys-high energy and great, positive lyrics. This was my 3rd time seeing them and they just keep getting better. I was disappointed that they didn't play Burn, but I got a video of Americana-their last song of the night:

and some photos:

ARCH ENEMY
hit the stage next. They were really good. Angela is just amazing onstage-a vary rare thing for me to say about a female singer! But by that time I was so psyched up for Machine Head coming up next, I couldn't get into them as much as they deserved like I otherwise would have. I managed to get Blood On Your Hands (their opening song):

and some photos:

"It's time to headbang until you break your fucking neck" Robb Flynn

from the very begining of Clenching The Fists Of Dissent to the very end of Davidian with Imperium, Aesthetics of Hate, Halo, Old, Take My Scars and Decsend The Shades of Night in between they totally kicked ass. Only 8 songs, but OMFG what a great performance of those songs! During Old, I held up (with help from the only other female on the frontlines besides me....) the Jesus Wept banner

Robb & Phil couldn't help but notice it. During the intro to Aesthetics of Hate where Robb usually talks about Dimebag, he added to it this time with some jabs at Disney. I wish I had caught the whole thing with my camera, but here's part of it:

The lighting fucked up part way through their set but they played on in the near darkness. The audience sang along to all of the songs, but Halo and Descend were especially nice.

Here's Halo:

and Descend The Shades Of Night:

Davidian brought this perfect concert to a close all too soon:

Here's a few photos:

After Machine Head's set, I turned around to find an online friend (hi April!) who I had talked to for months and never met in person. We compared notes on the show, promised to meet for another Orlando show and I headed outside to try to meet the band. A bunch of us stood around talking for quite a while, being moved from one place to another by security. Weird thing for me...I always try to get pics with band members to add to my collection, but for some reason I just wasn't into it. I could have met most of the members of all of the bands, but all I could think about that night was Machine Head. (ok, I would have liked to meet Dave from Throwdown or Angela from Arch Enemy if I had the chance...). Robb finally came out and was very down to earth, talking various kinds of alcohol with some fans. Another guy came up to him and showed him a tattoo (looked like part of the design for The Blackening) he went on to tell Robb what the music meant to him and how it had changed his life. Very sincere, very touching...I bet those assholes at Disney have no clue that REAL (metal) music can mean so much.

I asked him to sign my banner and he laughed at how old it was. "Old school satanic shit" I believe he said. I also asked him to sign my lower back so that I could have it tattooed the next day. He said "awwww, you don't want to do that" and I replied with a firm "YES I do!" I had figured out beforehand where I wanted him to sign and what lyrics I would use. I told him I was getting Imperium lyrics with it. He did the sig and then I got a photo with him. I thanked him and got a hug.

I saw that Dave McClain was out there too. Really nice guy as well. He signed my banner and I got a photo with him. We saw Phil head to the bus much earlier...not sure if he wasn't feeling good or what, but he didn't come back out.

I had thought for a while about a Machine Head tattoo. I like a lot of the lyrics, but none stick out more to me than those from Imperium. And what better way to add to it than with his sig? Machine Head is the band I credit with getting me into REAL metal and I totally admire him as a musician and vocalist. His lyrics are pure poetry to me. Even those I can't identify with personally, I can see the beauty in because they are written so perfectly. It was truly an honor to meet Robb finally.

I ended up with a setlist from Throwdown (thanks Danny), a pick of Phil Demmel's (thanks random fan)...

...ringing ears, a sore throat, some new friends and great memories, including the tattoo that I had done the next day when I got back to South Florida (thanks Ian @ Big Brain2 in Pompano Beach!)

This is definitely a concert I'll never forget-way up near the top on my list of best ever!