My buddy and I drove from Denver to see Grave Digger at the Mason Jar in Phoenix two days after their show in Cleveland. 105 plus temperatures aside it was a trip well worth the 12 plus hour drive! We arrived in Phoenix Friday afternoon--the show was Sunday night. Went c.d. shopping Saturday afternoon--and to a couple of clubs Saturday night. My parents live in Chandler so the hotel rates were very cheap! 
We arrived at the Mason Jar around 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon--with the 'heat' still riding high we got a break when the owner came out and saw us waiting--after we talked and told him how far we had come--he invited us in for some air-conditioning and sound check! We weren't inside for more than 10 minutes when in walked Grave Digger!!! It was us, Grave Digger, and about five other people. How frickin' cool was that! We talked, they signed autographs, and took pictures with us--plus, they were impressed with our road trip!! They also mentioned about how much fun and how great the fans in Cleveland were! Unfortunatley, there was no sound check--the 'backline' equipment arrived late. So, with our trip already paying dividends--now we just had to wait for the show. With six bands on bill (three of which should not have been there!) -- we had a while to wait. Band number 4 was a band from the Phoenix area--they were called "Frakenshred" -- as you might imagine--with a name like that--the guitar player 'shredded'--they were pretty good.
Ballistic was up next--with Rikard from Jag Panzer on drums--Tom Gattis from Wardog and Tension on (one) guitar and Tony Taylor from Twisted Tower Dire on vox (picked up "Crest of the Martys" from Tony!) they came out and just kicked ass! With a little more of a thrash sound to their sound--they just came out and 'smoked'--picked up their c.d. also--good stuff!
Then came the almighty Grave Digger!! Even though their 'intro' c.d. started to skip--that did not matter. They just walked onto the stage and proceeded to kick all of our asses!!!! From Rhiengold all the way to Heavy Metal Breakdown it was pure metal heaven! Chris B. thanked my buddy and I during the show for making such a long trip to see them--all I could think was--anytime!!! Stephen Arnold handed me a drumstick backstage after the show--we had them sign their set-list for us and we took a few more pictures. What a night!!!
The only problem with the evening was the small crowd. I was hoping for a better turn out (around 100-125 people) but I guess that just meant more for us--and even though the crowd was small Grave Digger played like and made us all feel like we were in the middle of Wacken!!!! Thanks guys--can't wait till next time!!!
We arrived at the Mason Jar around 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon--with the 'heat' still riding high we got a break when the owner came out and saw us waiting--after we talked and told him how far we had come--he invited us in for some air-conditioning and sound check! We weren't inside for more than 10 minutes when in walked Grave Digger!!! It was us, Grave Digger, and about five other people. How frickin' cool was that! We talked, they signed autographs, and took pictures with us--plus, they were impressed with our road trip!! They also mentioned about how much fun and how great the fans in Cleveland were! Unfortunatley, there was no sound check--the 'backline' equipment arrived late. So, with our trip already paying dividends--now we just had to wait for the show. With six bands on bill (three of which should not have been there!) -- we had a while to wait. Band number 4 was a band from the Phoenix area--they were called "Frakenshred" -- as you might imagine--with a name like that--the guitar player 'shredded'--they were pretty good. Ballistic was up next--with Rikard from Jag Panzer on drums--Tom Gattis from Wardog and Tension on (one) guitar and Tony Taylor from Twisted Tower Dire on vox (picked up "Crest of the Martys" from Tony!) they came out and just kicked ass! With a little more of a thrash sound to their sound--they just came out and 'smoked'--picked up their c.d. also--good stuff!
Then came the almighty Grave Digger!! Even though their 'intro' c.d. started to skip--that did not matter. They just walked onto the stage and proceeded to kick all of our asses!!!! From Rhiengold all the way to Heavy Metal Breakdown it was pure metal heaven! Chris B. thanked my buddy and I during the show for making such a long trip to see them--all I could think was--anytime!!! Stephen Arnold handed me a drumstick backstage after the show--we had them sign their set-list for us and we took a few more pictures. What a night!!!
The only problem with the evening was the small crowd. I was hoping for a better turn out (around 100-125 people) but I guess that just meant more for us--and even though the crowd was small Grave Digger played like and made us all feel like we were in the middle of Wacken!!!! Thanks guys--can't wait till next time!!!