A Reflection on Metallica’s Unforgettable Anniversary Shows

If you listened to me Sunday afternoon or checked out this review, you know that I made a quick trek to the West Coast to see Metallica's first 40th anniversary show on Friday night. And even though I couldn't be there in-person for the second and final celebration Sunday night, thanks to modern technology, I was able to catch the livestream in its entirety via Amazon Prime.

Yeah, that meant the show was live from midnight-2AM on the East Coast, but it's a small sacrifice to make to watch one of the biggest bands in the world play for two straight hours. And to make sure I didn't fall asleep—hey, I'm still human!—I committed to live tweeting the entire show (which was actually quite a lot of fun).

This morning I woke up feeling invigorated by my favorite band and all they did to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Sure, the shows didn't include any special guests or unique surprises, but in two nights, they played 32 tracks without a single repeat, covering their entire studio output—including the astonishing live debut of Reload's "Fixxxer" on Friday night.

There were plenty of other rarities in the two shows, like "Orion" and "Trapped Under Ice" on Friday and "Wasting My Hate" and "Dirty Window" on Sunday. But whether they were playing a deep cut or a fan favorite, Mighty Metallica commanded the stage both nights.

I'm hoping that we see a massive release of these shows in 2022; maybe a four-LP box set or something like that. But whatever Metallica decide to do with these concerts, I know we'll all be in for a massive treat.

Check out the full setlists for both nights below and then join me in crossing all your fingers for Metallica to return to Maine for the first time in more than three decades. We have to will this into existence, CYY Family!!

Friday, Dec. 17, 20201 — #Metallica40 Setlist

"Hit the Lights"
"Creeping Death"
"Trapped Under Ice"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"Orion"
"The Shortest Straw"
"One"
"Sad But True"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"King Nothing"
"Fixxxer"
"Breadfan"
"No Leaf Clover"
"Frantic"
"The Day That Never Comes"
"Spit Out the Bone"

Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 — #Metallica40 Setlist

"Hardwired"
"The End of the Line"
"Dirty Window"
"I Disappear"
"Am I Evil?"
"The Memory Remains"
"Fuel"
"Bleeding Me"
"Wasting My Hate"
"The Unforgiven"
"Enter Sandman"
"Harvester of Sorrow"
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"Whiplash"
"Seek and Destroy"

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