Metallica softens up for a good cause

When the infamous “mosh pit” (the one in the stage intended for the band’s super fans) is replaced by sofas, it is known that the concert of Metallica it’s different. But the comfortable seats of major donors are just one of the details that make the band’s biannual benefit concert, known as “Helping Hands,” which returned to Los Angeles at the YouTube Theater last weekend.

The purpose of this show is an opportunity for Metallica and their fans to give back to charity, in fact all the money raised will be donated to the band’s charity, All Within My Hands.

In its seven years of life, the non-profit association raised over $10 million to aid workforce training, food insecurity and disaster relief.

As singer James Hetfield said: “We’re not celebrities tonight. We’re just kids doing the right thing.”

It was also a rare opportunity to see the band at their best in stadiums in a more intimate 6,000 seat setting and enjoy a softer (for them) acoustic performance. “The acoustic set is a completely different mindset,” guitarist Kirk Hammett said before the black, not red, carpet event. He added: “We’re like cavemen on stage, so going from caveman mode to delicate mode is a challenge for us. But it’s also a beautiful thing. It’s good for us.”

In their acoustic set Metallica were joined by musicians from the Bay Area Avi Vinocur And Henry Sage to play rarities (“Low Man’s Lyric“, making his first live appearance since 1998), cover (come on Diamond Head to the Bachman Turner Overdrive) and iconic songs like “Nothing Else Matters”. However, these have also been reimagined, as the SistaStrings have been added to the band, a duo of cello and violin that blend classical music with R&B.

Hetfield concluded the set by saying, “We’ll be back with louder guitars.” After a short intermission – in which host Kimmel (in a metallic black Santa hat) and special guests RZA, Billie Eilish And Finneas they highlighted the charity work of Homeboy Industries and Support And Feed – the Metallica superfan the actor and model Jason Momoa brought the band back on stage with a heartfelt personal introduction.

If the first set highlighted Metallica’s emotional soul, the second set reminded the audience that they are still gods rock powerhouses.

The setlist also had some surprises in store, starting with fan favorites “Orion” And “The Shortest Straw” to the “rediscovery” of “The Unforgiven II“, which Hetfield said he hadn’t played “in 134 years” (or, more accurately, since 2015). The furiosa “Fuel” of the Reload received new life thanks to a bluesy, dirty arrangement, while Pearl Jam bassist and activist Jeff Ament joined the band for an intense rendition of Kill ‘Em All’s iconic opening track, “Hit the Lights“.

At the beginning of the evening, the openers SistaStrings (the woodwind duo who later joined Metallica) played an instrumental set, followed by the supergroup consisting of: Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony of Van Halen, the guitar wizard Joe Satriani and the drum virtuoso Kenny Aronoff. The band played a raging collection of songs from Hagar’s career. The veteran frontman also shared hilarious anecdotes from his lifelong friendship with Metallica, dating back to the 1988 Monsters of Rock tour where he “bet me a hundred bucks each that their next album would go platinum.” I won, but only Kirk Hammet paid.”

This is the complete lineup of the evening

Acoustic

Low Man’s Lyric (with Avi Vinocur and Henry Salvia; first performance since September 13, 1998)
Helpless (Diamond Head cover, with Henry Salvia and Avi Vinocur; first performance since April 7, 2018)
Away From Home (Bachman–Turner Overdrive cover with Avi Vinocur and Henry Salvia; live debut)
If Darkness Had a Son (with SistaStrings, Avi Vinocur and Henry Salvia; live debut of an acoustic version)
Nothing Else Matters (with SistaStrings, Avi Vinocur and Henry Salvia)

Electric

Orion
The Shortest Straw
Until It Sleeps
Screaming Suicide
The Unforgiven II (with Avi Vinocur first performance since September 16, 2015)
Fuel (with Avi Vinocur and Henry Salvia; new arrangement)
Hit the Lights (with Jeff Ament)
Master of Puppets