Lessons from a Metallica Concert

Taken right in front of US Bank Stadium

I’ve been listening to Metallica since I was twelve years old, and I’ve been a loyal fan of theirs since.

I try to see Metallica when I can, and when money allows. On August 18, I was able to take up the opportunity to see one of the most famous metal bands in history, just fifteen minutes from where I live.

Here’s what that experience reminded me:

1. Never Park At The Stadium — You’ll Thank Yourself Later

This is, of course, not applicable to people with mobility issues. However, I’ve seen Metallica twice now, and multiple concerts in-between, so I have some experience for comparison.

The first time I saw Metallica was at Target Center in Minneapolis. I parked at one of TC’s ramps and spent what probably was a good hour waiting to just get out. Concerts in large venues have tens of thousands of people going, and they’re all getting out at the same time.

Meanwhile, any time I’ve parked away from the venue — say, at a paid lot along the Mississippi River, like I did on August 18 — I’ve been able to get out quicker and save myself a lot of cash.

After Cousins went to Atlanta, a NEW Kirk came to US Bank Stadium.

For big events, nearby parking will hike up their prices. Parking near US Bank Stadium to see Metallica was upwards of $60. Absolutely not worth it. I paid $12 for the night and had to sacrifice just a little extra walking.

Another thing to note is that no matter where you go, getting out onto the main drag is always going to be a pain in the ass. You’re going to get a surge of cars at one time piling onto the street. However, parking a little away from the stadium and being strategic about how close you are to where you need to leave will save you a lot of time and energy.

And please God, stay the course. Don’t do what a couple of cars in front of me getting out did and turn around in the middle of the street to find a road that is “moving.” No one’s moving — not quickly, anyway. You’re just getting yourself further in the back of the line. Stay. The. Course.

2. Getting Shitfaced Drunk Is Not The Fun Time You Think It Will Be

When you go out clubbing, or hanging out with friends — sure, get hammered. I don’t care. I prefer you be safe, but do you.

However, at a concert, drinking yourself to oblivion is absolutely the stupidest thing you can do there for a number of reasons. Where I was seated, I was far enough away to get a bird’s-eye view of things yet close enough to see the goings-on of the general admission crowd below me. GREAT seats — more on that later.

I saw a guy get violently arrested. I saw people get sick. I saw a team of orange-vested medical staff carrying a guy out Weekend-At-Bernie’s style. I saw a poor woman get carried out on a stretcher. All of this happened before the halfway point of Metallica’s setlist. Were these all directly attributed to alcohol? Not necessarily — but read the room. You’re at a Metallica concert.

Look at me, having a great time.

This isn’t even to mention that the one beer I got at the place was $20. That’s enough as it is — imagine blowing $100 or more on Michelob Golden or Bud Light of all things.

Getting beer at a concert is fun. I get it. It’s like going to a baseball game. But you really don’t want to ruin your concert, have issues getting home after, get sick before the halfway, and…be that guy.

What a crock of idiocy. Don’t be dumb, for everyone’s sake. Please and thank you.

3. Finding Seats Is An Art Easily Mastered

Especially depending on who you see, ticket prices can really hike up there. Coupled with the fact that your disposable income may vary, I completely understand how finding seats at a concert is daunting to some.

That said, for those who have the cash, let me use my experience to say what it’s like at different tiers of concert seating, and why my seating at the recent Metallica concert made it one of the best shows I’ve been to in years.

At my first Metallica concert, I bought the tickets for around $160 or so in the nosebleeds. I could have waited for prices to fluctuate down, but I was in panic mode and wanted to see Metallica no matter what. My experience at that concert was, however, very disappointing because of the crowd around me. Metallica themselves were awesome, but no one was getting up. There was a family in front of me who brought their elementary-aged kids, both of whom fell asleep during the concert anyway (making Metallica the most expensive babysitter in the world). The woman next to me kept checking her phone. No one was standing up. No one was getting into it. The energy was not it. I left that concert knowing that I needed a do-over when they came back to town.

If that’s your thing — if you want to spend the rest of the concert staying seated — then absolutely get a nosebleed seat. There will be a hearing disadvantage from being so far away, but it’ll be a less intense experience.

Meanwhile, I’ve been to two shows in General Admission — Iron Maiden and Rammstein. Again, both of those shows were absolutely fantastic, but the disadvantages of GA is the fact that you don’t get as great of a view of the stage (compared to actual seating) and you’re at the mercy of how everyone around you acts. I remember shoving myself around drunk guys and being worried about groping (which luckily didn’t happen). If I needed to go to the bathroom, it was hard to get around people. And God forbid if I brought someone with me to the show — I saw so many parties in GA drift apart only to have to find each other later. General Admission is for people who want to mosh (if allowed), to feel the height of energy, and to be “in it.” It’s also not as expensive as one would think.

I was CLOSE. But I could still see the whole stage.

However, my Goldilocks zone is the lower-tiered seating. I was very close to the stage but had enough breathing room to sit, move as needed, and most importantly — be around die-hard Metallica fans. We were all standing up. We were singing along. We were getting into it. We were part of the moment. And if you would believe it — I actually paid significantly less for my newest Metallica tickets than for my nosebleed seats years prior.

That’s going to depend on the act, the day you buy, and the particular seat. But seating absolutely makes a difference for the kind of show you’ll have.

4. Be Respectful, But Be In The Moment

This is just good life advice.

Don’t stand up when people behind you are seated. Don’t touch people. Don’t be the guy yelling the loudest around you.

But do engage with people around you. Make friends. Bond with each other. You are all there because you are fans of this band.

This Metallica concert is going to stick in my memory for years because of how I approached the experience. I went with the flow and enjoyed my time. Whatever you do, know your surroundings and let yourself go. Where else are you allowed to yell at the top of your lungs? Where else are you going to dance in place with people sharing a common experience? Concerts are awesome, so allow yourself to have fun.

But again, it’s not fun to be a jerk.

I’m really glad I went to see Metallica when I did. Concerts last for several hours — almost as long as a full-day’s work. When I did, I had a full arsenal of experiences from past shows to help me make it the best show experience in recent times.

Shows are what you make of them. Being safe, being respectful, treating yourself to quality, and letting yourself enjoy the moment all need to be considered.

Remember that whoever you see, and however many concerts you’ve already been to, you’re making a lasting memory whenever you go to a show. Make the memory a good one — for the memory remains.

Thank you for reading! If you wish to support me, you can buy me a coffee here.