Judas Priest - Saturday Aug 22, 2009 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD

The 30th anniversary tour of British Steel finally made its way to the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD (which is 1/2 way between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD) and they put on a GREAT show!!!! Unfortunately, Whitesnake had dropped off the tour due to David Coverdale's vocal issues. I was looking forward to seeing Whitesnake, as I have never seen them play live before. At the last minute, Kix was added to the show as the second opening act. Kix put on a GREAT show. I don;t actually have any Kix albums in my CD collection and I was suprised that I knew every song they knew. As Kix is pretty much local to the DC/Baltimore area, they had a lot of fans turn out to see them. The opening act, Pop Evil was OK, but they sounded more Pop than Evil.

Priest seemed to get a low turn out at the show, with the seats in the pavilion not totally sold out and the lawn wasn't sold out either. I am sure part of the reason is that Cure fest was taking place the same night at the Nissan Pavilion which is about an hours drive from Merriweather. I though it was odd that Priest and Crue were playing the DC area on the same night. I had read that crue fest was sold out.

The day finally arrived for the show and I was ready!!!! Unfortunately, it rained and kept raining through the start of the show. Fortunately, I had pit tickets and the pavilion is covered!!!!! After getting soaked walking from car to show, having a beer watered down by mother nature, I was ready for the show.

Priest showed up and rocked the venue!!!! And what a great set list!!!! The set list, in order:

Rapid Fire
Metal Gods
Breaking The Law
Grinder
United
You Don't have to be old to be wise
Living After Midnight
The Rage
Steeler
The Ripper
Prophecy
Hell Patrol
Victim Of Changes

Encore:
Freewheel Burnin'
Diamonds & Rust
You've got another thing comin'

I saw Priest last year on the Metal Masters tour and this year was even better! The band seemed to have a great time playing the old songs. Diamonds & Rust was played the old way, which was GREAT to see, since they had been playing acostically the past few tours. I am looking forward to the DVD of this tour to remember the show!!!!


Pictures:
Kix:


Ready for Priest:




Pounding the world like a battering ram:



United:














A few from my phone:

Cool review & pix, dude... sounds like you had a blast.

P.S. I am jealous as hell. You suck. I hate you.