July 29, San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

" Me and guy from a tribute band"

This year, my brother Brandon and I had to make a road trip to Ozzfest as the show did not come to our area as in previous years. So that morning we made the three hour trek to the Bay Area (CA) where we found the Shoreline Theater to be a MUCH better venue anyway, great cool weather and a better level of crowd. We plan on going there from now on.

We didn't get there in time for most of the shows, in fact we arrived well after noon. By this time the crowd was huge and we were not able to get too close to the second stage band but held back and listened to the music and watched the crowd (my favorite part anyway). We had planned on digging our way to the front for SlipKnot but I got nervous about doing this after we were nearly slammed by an erupting mosh, crushed by the crowd backing away from another mosh and almost covered in blood by a guy running from yet another. At this point I told my brother that we were not risking getting someone's blood on us to see any band and we moved back.

SlipKnot was amazing as usual, I really enjoy this band, they are both musically talengted as well as aesthetically appealing. A+++

We made another tour though the venue areas, spent enough on food and drinks to have bought an expensive dinner at Red Lobster and purchased a few items including the "Future Endanger" baby shirts I always get for any new babies in my life.

Then we were off to our seats at the Main Stage. I was TOTALLY impressed with this theater, with it's covered outdoor seating which provided shade and most of all the absence of the floor area. Funny thing is that I had been complaining about this since I bought the tickets as I had wanted floor tickets and was feeling very put out that I couldn't have them. As it turns out this moved the reserved seating practically up to the stage and we had GREAT seats which ordinarily in Marysville would have been quite a ways back. (Now that I know how close they are I'll be trying EXTRA hard for them next year haha).

It was my first time seeing Slayer, or even really listening to them to be honest, and I enjoyed the experience. I have always been a fan of Judas Priest and Rob Halford did not disappoint for sure. What a showman he is!!! Zak was Zak (he always kicks ass) and he had his usual following of Hell's Angels in the crowd to see him as well as introducing the "members" in his band. This year there was a Hells Angels Convention in San Franciso and there were several International Members there to enjoy his show and support him. Ozzy came out and was completely on fire. I've not seen him so energetic, healthy, and happy in years. I was able to get within 20 feet of him to take pictures(thanks goes out to two great gals on the Shoreline Security team), unfortunately though, they were taken with a disposable camera which adds a lot of distance to encompass more area....MAJOR BUMMER! I'll be sure to take a better camera next year.

After that it was a two hour, one mile ride back to the motel room to order a 2AM pizza and get some sleep.... to dream of Ozzfest 2005. Rock On!!!!!

BLACK SABBATH

" Amazing, the best Ozzfest I've been to. Ozzy was on FIRE!!!!"

Click to view the Photos (OZZFEST)

Review and Photos : by Gwenna