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Sidekick Gets a Sidekick

January 17, 2026

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Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden)

Every good metal band needs a fiddle to keep it real. Right?

One of the most fun things this Christmas was sitting in with Sidekick. Tuned down 1/2 step?! Whatever, man. We’ll begin with coverage of the three violin songs which were, in actuality, widely dispersed in the sets.

First there’s Ozzy’s Crazy Train…


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Then there is Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. 8th grade rides again!


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But honestly, the coup de grace was Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.


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I mean, damn that was fun.

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Lets get chronological.

Romey throws the horns.

Sidekick takes the stage

Oh hell yeah!

Higher by Creed


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Breaking the Law


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A little AC/DC perhaps?

You Shook me All Night Long


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Paradise City by Guns N Roses.


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One of my personal faves, Killing in the Name Of by Rage


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In the End by Linkin Park


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Some ceiling work…


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The opener featured some 16 year olds kicking it.

Nirvana

One hell of a great time.

Metallica in Germany

June 25, 2022

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What do you do when you land in Germany?  The answer involves a Camaro and the Autobahn and Metallica.

Markus’s airport car service

 

After a quick shower to wash off the metal tube, it’s time for the first Radler.  A slippery slope to lots of beer.  It is, after all, Germany.

The download festival.  Here we come.

 

The duck is your co-pilot

 

Cider for the win

 

In the van things are serious

 

The weather GOOD

 

The weather BAD

 

duckface

After a bunch of beers (who is counting?), we wound our way over a 5km spiral into the venue.  Germans are a very orderly bunch.  Bt who thought up this entrance and exit plan?

MOO.

 

Sabaton from Sweden

 

Rock and roll

 

What?!

 

My crowd.  What an unruly, fantastic bunch.

There was beer

 

Did I mention the part about the beer?

 

We pushed off the rain through sheer psychic magic, but it was only delayed.

Nap time for the American

Five Finger Death Punch

You may start with five fingers, but you will end up with four.

Finally, Metallica

Are you feeling good?  Yes, we are.

Some guitar for you.

Rocker

 

Nothing else matters in this crowd of strangers.  Metalheads are a welcoming bunch.

I am not alone.

My first metal show was the best one ever.