16
SOUND CHECK
AUGUST 25�SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
Music of Metallica
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
B
AKER CITY — Blistered
Earth is bringing the music
Your
One Stop
Music Shop
of Metallica to Baker City — a
chance, said Jared Kiess, to
hear the songs if you can’t at-
tend an actual Metallica con-
cert.
“Metallica isn’t playing Baker
City anytime soon,” he said. “We
make it more accessible in the
short term.”
Kiess plays rhythm guitar and
provides vocals for Blistered
Earth, a Metallica tribute band
based in Spokane, Washington.
Shawn Murphy plays drums,
Jesse Jensen is the lead guitar-
ist, and Cody Davis plays bass.
Blistered Earth will take
the stage outside at The Ison
House, 1790 Washington, on
Friday, Sept. 3. Gates open at
5 p.m., and local band Trailer
Hitch plays at 6 p.m. Blistered
Earth goes on at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and avail-
able at www.theisonhouse.com/
upcoming-events. The event
is for ages 21 and older. Food
and beverages are available to
purchase.
Blistered Earth formed more
than 10 years ago when Mur-
phy’s band branched out on
their music.
“Those guys started jamming
Metallica songs in practice,”
Kiess said.
The band plays all over the
western United States, mainly
in Washington, Idaho, Montana
and Oregon. Although Metallica
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
is still touring, Kiess said Blis-
tered Earth emulates the band
from about 1986.
“We’re trying to be a tribute
to them in the 1980s,” he said.
“If you’re a fan of Metallica now,
you’ll love all their eras.”
They’ve met Metallica —
twice.
The fi rst time came after a
disaster. The band played a gig
in Portland, then parked their
truck and locked trailer in front
of the hotel. The next morning,
they saw only the truck.
“The truck is there, but the
trailer is gone,” Kiess said. “It
was devastating.”
They submitted claims to
insurance and posted the story
on Facebook.
“The word really spread.
Eventually it got back to Metal-
Mike Jones/Contributed photo
Metallica tribute band Blistered Earth
plays at Baker City’s Ison House
Friday, Sept. 3.
lica. Lars Ulrich called us up,”
Kiess said.
Ulrich, Metallica’s drummer,
said the band wanted to help.
“They sent a truckload of
brand-new gear, plus amps
they’d used on their last tour,”
Kiess said. “It was ridiculously
cool. Super nice guys.”
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