Pop Break Live: Apocalyptica at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA
Words & Photos by Cathy Poulton
Apocalyptica celebrated the 22nd Anniversary of their epic debut Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, released in 1996. Originally formed as a Metallica classical tribute band in 1993, the band has evolved over the years and have released studio albums and have sold millions of records worldwide.
The band played two sets when they came to The Fillmore in Philadelphia on May 24. The first set was just a cello quartet and included some songs from Metallica’s classic self-titled album famously known as The Black Album. These tracks were: ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘Unforgiven,’ ‘Sad But True,’ and ‘Wherever I May Roam.’
When the band returned for the second set they encouraged the audience to get up as it was now a rock show because drummer Mikko Siren was added. Highlights were a beautiful stunning version of ‘Welcome Home (Sanitarium)’ and a rousing rendition of ‘Fight Fire With Fire’ that really got the audience going.
Setlist:
Set #1:
Enter Sandman
Master of Puppets
Harvester of Sorrow
The Unforgiven
Sad but True
Creeping Death
Wherever I May Roam
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Set #2 with Mikko Sirén on drums
Fade to Black
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fight Fire With Fire
Orion
Escape
Battery
Seek & Destroy (with a little AC/DC Thunderstruck)
Encore:
Nothing Else Matters
One
