Hi Joe - thought I'd submit my concert review to match my ticket stub pictured at the top (Thanks!).

The show was everything I thought it would be - loud, energetic, and awe-inspiring!  I showed up at 7:15 and only saw Machine Head play their last couple of songs (they finished at 7:30).  I couldn't understand many of the words to their songs, the vocals seemed muddled.

Around 7:45 Megadeth opened their set to an enthusiastic crowd response.  Dave and the guys played a couple of songs from the new release United Abominations during the set.  My favorites were the old standbys Hangar 18, Holy Wars, and Symphony of Destruction.  Before the encore, Dave said he'd kept the stage banter to a minimum, so that we could enjoy Black Sabbath!

Megadeth finished their set around 8:40, and then the crew got to work rearranging the stage for Heaven and Hell.  U.S. Bank Arena seemed to have a pretty good crowd, a lot of the concertgoers had Megadeth and Heaven and Hell t-shirts on.  I also noticed a lot of Iron Maiden and Ozzfest t-shirts.

Just after 9:00 the opening sounds of E5150 filled the arena and it was time for the main event.  Tony Iommi appeared on stage to start After All (The Dead) and from that point forward the crowd was in for an all-out metal onslaught.  The set list was very similar to previous shows, and if memory serves me correctly, went something like this:

SET LIST

   1. E5150
   2. After All (The Dead)
   3. The Mob Rules
   4. Children Of The Sea
   5. Lady Evil
   6. I
   7. Sign Of The Southern Cross
   8. Voodoo
   9. The Devil Cried
  10. Drum Solo
  11. Computer God
  12. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
  13. Shadow Of The Wind
  14. Die Young
  15. Heaven And Hell (Extended)
  16. Neon Knights (Encore)

In my opinion, "Children Of The Sea" was the highlight of the evening - there is just so much energy in that song.  From the Dehumanizer album, the track "I" brought a great vocal performance from Ronnie and some nice drum work by Vinny.  Geezer shone on The Mob Rules track "Sign Of The Southern Cross" - seeing him perform the bassline live in concert was amazing.  Later on, the band gave us a special treat with "Falling Off The Edge Of The World", a track that I never really appreciated on the studio album, but has really grown on me after seeing clips on YouTube and seeing it performed on stage.

The title track to Heaven And Hell was given an extended performance by Tony, Geezer, Ronnie and Vinny.  I'm not sure, but it seemed like the song lasted maybe 12-15 minutes.  The instrumental breakdown in the middle by Tony and Geezer was absolutely magnificent.  Hopefully they played this version in NYC and got it captured live for the DVD.

For the encore, "Lonely Is The Word" was not played (perhaps due to an 11pm curfew? Or the extended "Heaven And Hell"?  I'm not really sure).  However, the energy level of "Neon Knights" was enough to send the crowd home in a frenzy.

In any case, it was an enjoyable two hours led by a band that oozed enthusiasm and excitement.  Tony seemed to be in very good spirits and Geezer and Vinnie brought a solid backbone to the proceedings.  Ronnie really seemed to be enjoying himself, he had a very nice spin move during Children of the Sea (during the line "The world is spinning round and round and round").  His voice was nearly flawless and he flashed the famous "sign" several times throughout the show.  Tony even flashed the "sign" a few times :)

I've been to Ozzfest 97 and 98 as well as the Black Sabbath Reunion tour in 99 and this show topped all of them.  My advice:  If you get a chance, definitely see Heaven and Hell this year!
 

from "tiger23@woh.rr.com" <tiger23@woh.rr.com>
to siegler@black-sabbath.com
date May 9, 2007 1:52 AM
subject may 8th show

Hi...unable to send pic of my ticket stub

from Teddy Crane <holydiver_1@yahoo.com>
to siegler@black-sabbath.com
date May 11, 2007 10:44 AM
subject Heaven and Hell concert review

Okay boys and girls time for my concert review for Heaven and Hell.Cincinnati show lst Tues, May 8.

First off, the boys were in prime condition! I have seen Sabbath with Ozzy, and I have seen Ronnie with his band DIO 5 times. This was their finest preformances that I have seen. When I saw Tony and Geezer when they played with Osbourne, they looked almost bored. Maybe not quite. But they weren't all smiles like they were Tuesday. And Ronnie was in his best vocal condition yet! You could sense that they were all really happy to be playing together again. Vinny Appice's drum solo was absolutely dinamite! He had two sets of bass drums on floating stands on either side of his drum chair. He would grab one of the bass drums and just bash the Hell out of it.

Songs: if course it was all RJD era Sabbath tunes which was great! They did After All (the Dead) from Dehumanizer, then Mob Rules, Children of the Sea (the very first song they ever wrote together), Voodoo from The Mob Rules, Sign of the Southern Cross and Falling off the Edge of the World (awesome track!) both also from The Mob Rules, Lady evil which is from Heaven And Hell (almost wonder if thats about Sharon Osbounre) One of the highlights was the title track from Heaven and Hell. Ronnie did his full performance in the middle section after the guitar solo. "there's a little white shape looking down at me, he says I know where you ought to be." (as a solo white spotlight shines directly down on him.) And then the red spotlight flashing upward directly above him, ("theres a big black shape looking up at me....") Sweet!. They only did two of the new tracks, "The Devil Cried" and "Shadow of the Wind" They both went over real well. Although I wish they had done the other one as well "Ear in the Wall". Alas. Cant have everything. Thwy only did two others from Dehumanizer, "Computer God" and "I" both great tunes. For a single encore they did "Neon Knights" from Heaven and Hell. And I am sure I am forgetting a track or two. But all in all they played almost two hrs. Lot longer than Tony and Geezer have done in years.

Another highlight was toward the end of the show where girls starting taking their bras ad throwing them at the band. Funny, usually that happens at glam metal shows. Geezer I think especially got a kick out of that. The second time it happened Ronnie just held onto it as he was singing and then put squarely right over his microphone stand. And after the song he kept pinching it like a 12 yr old boy copping his first feel haha. Vinny got down from his drum riser and starting pinching it as well. Just for laughs I'm sure.

And on a side note: I missed the first band Machine Head. (Dont know if thats a good thing or not), but I did catch mot of Megadeth! Great performances all around there too. I remember them doing Eye of the tornado plus Hangar 18 and Holy War from Rust in Peace. Dave got into a little rant while introing a couple of new tunes. (which sounded great...they remind of Peace Sells era Megadeth sound wise). Of course they did Peace Sells as well. I was in and out trying to find a good spot when they were doing their set. I cant remember alot of the other tunes. They only played about an hour.

Thats it folks. If you get a chance go see them! Megadeth has United Abominations coming out next week and they will be going on their own tour. And Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath with Dio and Appice) is amazing!! It is worth every penny. And I guarantee you will not be disappointed with their performances! It is a historical tour. And with all the smoke effects and lights, plus the screens in the back behind the drums...it is an absolutely amamzing show. And despite what Osbourne says about their only being one Black Sabbath and that being the original...and even despite the the band calling themselves Heaven and Hell, THIS was Black Sabbath. Everone in the crowd knew and called it Black Sabbath, and even Dave Mustaine introduced them as Black Sabbath. After all, they are playing ALL Black Sabbath material. Just not the usual boring setlist of NIB Paranoid and War Pigs. And lets not forget there are more Black Sabbath albums w/o Osbourne there are with. Sorry to rain on your dilusions there Oz.

Pictures are developed from the show, but I dont have them scanned onto a disc yet. As soon as I do I will post them on my myspace acct. As well as email them to others that are interested in seeing them.