Wait a minute - you mean they held a combined speed metal and rap concert to promote peace?!
Contrary to some naysayers' beliefs, neither musical style is about promoting violence, especially at concerts. Also contrary to those beliefs, both musical styles are here to stay and are actually growing more popular by the day.Case in point: Wednesday night's Anthrax and Public Enemy show. At one time, Salt Lake City would have seemed unlikely to host either band (especially since rap shows have been linked with violence in L.A. and since the AC/DC nightmare in the Salt Palace). Time has changed that, though.
Some of that may be due to Public Enemy's Chuck D and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, who has long held the other band in high esteem. After the two bands blended for a cover of P.E.'s "Bring the Noise," the two men nurtured the idea of a small tour, which then blossomed into a full-scale touring event.
Best of all, the two have been using the tour to promote a peaceful message, especially among both white and black teenagers. If the Salt Palace tour stop was any indication, the message is coming through loud and clear and audiences seem to be very receptive.
As for the music, the three-hour plus show was easily the highlight of Salt Lake City's 1991 rock calendar. What may be surprising is how spectacular Public Enemy is live.
Despite what people may think of the band's strong political stances, its music has the power to move people - both physically and mentally. DJ Terminator X's bass-heavy scratchings set the tone perfectly for Chuck D's and Flavor Flav's rap-guerrilla tactics, especially on "Fight the Power" and "Can't Truss It," which is a damnation of authoritarianism and pseudo-rap star MC Hammer.
Public Enemy's was a very loose set, too, as documented by the fact that Flav actually let his hair down - exposing some very natty dreadlocks under his trademark askew baseball cap - and by their very stage presentation, which had their support dancers dressed like guerrilla bodyguards.
Anthrax was also very, very loose, as the band mixed early speed-metal material like "Air" and "Tribal Indian" with driving later-period songs like "Parasite," a cover of Joe Jackson's "Got the Time" and "Keep It In the Family." What separates this great metal band from its counterparts is the fact that the music blends hardcore punk with powerful metal. It helps, too, that singer Joey Belladonna refuses to melodramatically bawl like others of the metal ilk.
Definitely the show stoppers were the rap/metal fusion "I'm the Man '91," in which Ian and drummer Charlie Benante got to share the vocal spotlight, and "Bring the Noise," during which the band practically invited patrons to run from their chairs to the stage. The latter would be noteworthy if for nothing else but the fact that the two bands shared the stage like old friends. Fortunately, it was also a spectacular glimpse of possible future musical fusions to come.
Opening the show was Bay area trio Primus, who always play to large audiences every time they visit Salt Lake City. It's not too surprising since the band's odd musical stylings include slices of punk, funk and even jazz in bassist Les Claypool's twisted dementia.
By the way, rumor has it that the ironically titled rap group Young Black Teenagers played a 15-minute stint. I couldn't tell you, however, since I like other patrons was still outside in long admission lines during that time.