Metallica, Stubb’s
They sought. They destroyed. Metallica’s “hush-hush” performance was the worst-kept secret of SXSW (and one of the best promotional efforts of the week—they were there to pimp Guitar Hero: Metallica) but some attendees still didn’t believe the real four horsemen were going to play such an intimate show. Both guitar-wielding metal icons came with a purpose, to literally blow the BBQ sauce off Stubb’s famous beef brisket. That mission was accomplished with thrash-guitar favorites like “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Master of Puppets,” “Seek and Destroy” (Hetfield broke out “Rusty” his black satin 1976 Explorer) and even the lethargically haunting “Creeping Death.” Hammett used his signature ESPs including his black KH-2 and KH-2 Ouija White loaded with EMG 81/60 pickups (bridge/ neck) and an original Floyd Rose bridge and trem. Hetfield stuck with his battered and bruised signature mahogany body and set-neck ESP Truckster, but also went to his trusted assortment of Flying Vs. The Bay Area metal crew proved once again they are the masters of dual-guitar metal.