To all my metalhead brothers...

I went to Houston to hang out with a girl. I also saw Fear Factory and Strapping Young Lad while I was there. Other than that I don't drive more than an hour to see a band.

I've flown from Denver to Salt Lake City to see Five Finger Death Punch, Nothing More and Volbeat. I'm considering a trip to Florida or Carolina for one of these mega-metal festivals they have going on this summer.

No, Maiden was a bit before my time. Sabbath is playing tonight. Being born in 1989, I caught the tail end of Metallica and am more into modern hard rock and metal. You can only listen to the classics so many times on the radio before you get tired of them.

I travelled to Osaka to see Deep Purple in 1985. It wasn't that far since I was in the Army stationed in Korea at the time. Seoul to Tokyo is only about 720 miles by air. I used a 3 day pass and flew on military transport planes for free.

I have traveled from Baton Rouge to Houston three separate times for metal festivals and each was worth the trip.

I have considered driving to Dallas for a few performers with few American dates, but nothing has pulled me away yet.

A guy I met from Shreveport drove up to Dallas to watch Mastodon, Opeth, and Ghost B.C. perform together. I would have certainly made the drive for that.

Honestly, if Gojira or Opeth, two of my favorite bands, comes within eight hours of Baton Rouge than I am probably making the trek to see them perform.

I have flown to Red Rocks in Denver for quite a few shows. I saw Tool there (awesome show), A Perfect Circle (one of the worst concerts in my lifetime) and many other bands. This was an annual trip for me until the wifey got knocked up.


Outside of that, I flew to Charlotte for the Jane's Addiction/NIN show a few years back.


Maiden is a band I have never seen and always wanted to. Back in '08 I knew someone whose friend was their tour manager. She had tickets and was going to take me to the show in Houston. I was moving back to NO from Houston with backstage access, and my house closing was that same day. I had to bail, and to this day I am pissed to miss that.

If you have an opportunity, see them while they are still going strong. They never disappoint, but they can't have too many years left. You won't regret it, but it will cause you to travel. I am certain they will never come any closer than possibly Houston again. Actually, can't even remember the last time they played NOLA.

Been to Houston a time or 2 for Buzzfest back in the day. Traveled there for A Perfect Circle years ago and NIN more recently.

Traveled to Shreveport last year for Helmet & then Superjoint.

The rest have mostly been BR/NO area.

Drove to Biloxi a bunch for shows like Pantera, AC/DC, Family Values, etc. Drove to Houston for Dream Theater, Iron Maiden. Memphis for Machine Head/Gojira. Dallas for Ozzfest 2000. I have no problem driving to Laffy or NOLA for shows regularly - matter of fact I just got a ticket for Amon Amarth at the HOB.

Trying to decide if I want to go to Rock on the Range or Louder than Life this year. I heard a shitton of complaints about LtL last year, so I'm iffy on waiting for the lineup.

Drove from Atlanta to Bham to see Mastodon/COC and Atlanta to Columbia to see Queens of the Stone Age. Both worth it. Also, Flew from Atlanta to Denver to see Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at Red Rocks.