Front Row Fury: Up Close with Legends as Testament Shreds The Machine Shop in Flint
- Mickey Miller
- May 10, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
There’s something about live music that never gets old—no matter how many shows you’ve seen or how many years you’ve spent chasing the thrill of stage lights and the roar of a crowd. But this night? This one hit different.
After decades of concerts and thousands of miles, I finally made it to one of Michigan’s most iconic venues: The Machine Shop in Flint. Somehow, despite having been to nearly every major venue in the state—Saint Andrew’s, The Fillmore, Pine Knob, Harpos, The Intersection, The Majestic, The Shelter—this legendary little place had always escaped me. But now, finally, I was here. And who better to break it in than the thrash legends themselves—Testament.
I’ve been a Testament fan since the ’80s. I saw them back in 2012 in Traverse City when Greg Christian was still with the band. That show still lives vividly in my memory. I had the rare chance to go into the green room and meet Greg and Chuck Billy. I didn’t get to meet the rest of the band, but even that moment felt like a huge line checked off the bucket list. As for Greg and I… let’s just say that night led to something unexpected and cool. A friendship I never expected to have. But that’s a story for another time.
One of the few things still on my bucket list? Meeting Alex Skolnick. I’ve followed his work for decades—not just in Testament, but through his jazz fusion with the Alex Skolnick Trio, his work with Metal Allegiance, and his new experimental work with PAKT. His versatility and brilliance as a guitarist blows me away. But beyond that, I also admire his photography—he has an incredible eye, capturing moments both on stage and off with raw clarity and beauty. There’s a depth to how he experiences the world, through both music and imagery, that speaks to me.
The trip from Kalkaska to Flint was long, but the excitement was building the entire way. This wasn’t just another show—it was going to be a milestone. When we pulled into The Machine Shop, we saw the tour bus parked outside, and then Damien pointed and said, “There’s Alex!” Sure enough, it was him—and yes, I completely fan-girled. Seeing Alex Skolnick, my favorite guitarist, just casually walking to the bus before the show? It was already shaping up to be an unforgettable night.
We got in line early and managed to score a great spot minus the tall guys in front of me, but I was on the side where Alex plays. I made a quick run to the merch booth for a shirt before it got too packed, then returned to claim my place, throwing my shirt on instantly. I didn’t have the meet and greet this time—honestly, I just couldn’t afford the extra cost—but that didn’t stop the night from being special.
A couple of days before the show, I posted the SOLD OUT flyer on my Instagram story, tagging Alex Skolnick and Testament to share how excited I was. And that same day—he shared it to his story. I couldn’t believe it. Alex Skolnick, my favorite guitarist, saw my story and reposted it. It felt like the universe reached out and gave me a high five.
At the show, I posted again—this time a picture from my spot in the crowd with the caption: “It sucks being short, but at least I’m on Alex Skolnick’s side!” I was standing behind a tall guy, hoping I could see. As the house lights dropped and the intro rolled, I had my phone raised high, recording blindly over the shoulders in front of me, screaming my head off as the band took the stage. The adrenaline was through the roof—I was trying to take it all in, even if I could barely see. Then, after the first two songs, something amazing happened. The guy in front of me turned around, tapped my arm, and said, “Take my spot?” Just like that, I was front row—right in front of Alex Skolnick, the guitarist I’ve idolized since I was 18 years old. I have been a fan for 38 years
They opened with “Practice What You Preach”, and from that moment on, the night was a blur of thrash power, nostalgia, and raw emotion. The setlist was a dream—deep cuts, fan favorites, acoustic surprises, and a rhythm section that sounded like a freight train barreling through Flint.
Testament’s Full Setlist at The Machine Shop:
Practice What You Preach, Perilous Nation, Envy Life, Time Is Coming,
Blessed in Contempt, Greenhouse Effect, Sins of Omission, The Ballad,
Nightmare (Coming Back to You), Confusion Fusion, Musical Death (A Dirge)(Acoustic), The Legacy (Acoustic)(one of my favorites), Rise Up
Native Blood, Trail of Tears, Low (my favorite Testament song), City of Angels, Drum Solo, First Strike Is Deadly, Return to Serenity, and they closed it out hard with Into the Pit.
Chuck Billy’s vocals were thunderous. He commanded the stage like only someone with decades of thrash under his belt could. But it wasn’t just his voice—it was his energy. He engaged with the crowd like a conductor guiding chaos, throwing invisible curveballs into the pit with every air-guitar. His presence is massive, and his growls were as fierce as ever. Watching him perform that night reminded me why he’s one of metal’s most iconic front men. He hasn’t slowed down—if anything, he’s sharper, stronger, and even more dialed into the fire that makes Testament what it is. Eric Peterson was in absolute beast mode—his rhythm work was tight, heavy, and relentless. He’s the backbone of Testament’s sound, and that night, he delivered crushing riffs with the kind of precision and power that only comes from decades of owning the stage. Whether anchoring the classic songs or ripping through newer material, Eric’s playing was fierce, focused, and full of energy. He made it impossible not to bang your head. He and Alex had that unmistakable chemistry that drives the heart of Testament. Steve Di Giorgio’s bass was otherworldly—fluid, fast, like watching someone speak an entirely different language through strings. Chris Dovas is A beast. His drumming was ferocious, relentless, and absolutely electric.
Alex Skolnick? His playing that night was nothing short of transcendent. Watching him up close, I was floored all over again by his precision, feel, and sheer emotion in every note. He doesn’t just play guitar—he communicates through it. Whether he was tearing through the fast, surgical thrash solos or laying into the more melodic, haunting passages during the acoustic segments, he played with the kind of soul and mastery that reminds you why he’s one of the greats. The way his fingers moved across the fretboard was effortless, but the impact was deep. It was a masterclass in musicianship, and being right in front of him to witness it made it all the more powerful.
This lineup is pure magic. The energy, the skill, the chemistry—it’s rare to see a band this tight and this alive after 42 years of being a band first as Legacy (1983) before becoming Testament in 1986.
And me? I did something I hadn’t done in decades. I headbanged. Full-on, no-care, hair-flying, soul-freeing headbanging. For a few hours, I wasn’t thinking about middle age or health issues or responsibilities. I was just me. The real me. The one who lives and breathes music. The one who disappears into a riff and remembers exactly who she was before life got heavy.
When they played “The Legacy”, chills ran down my spine. That song has always meant something personal to me. It’s one of my all-time favorites—one I even learned to play on guitar when I was 20-21 years old. Hearing it live, right in front of the man who made me want to keep playing guitar, (I did eventually stop playing) was surreal. It unlocked something deep in me—something raw and real. For a moment, I wasn’t just a fan at a show—I was me, in the truest sense. Testament didn’t just put on a performance that night. They made me remember who I am. They made me feel whole.
Then came the moment that sealed it all.
Alex Skolnick bent down, made eye contact with me, smiled, and didn’t toss his guitar pick into the crowd—he reached out and gently placed it in my hand. I clutched it tight, instantly holding onto it like it was something sacred. It didn’t feel random. It felt intentional. Like he somehow knew it was me. Maybe he’d seen the post, maybe it was just the universe doing its thing—but in that moment, I felt seen. Completely, genuinely seen.
That one gesture made everything—every mile driven, every dollar spent, every show I’ve ever gone to—completely worth it. It wasn’t just a pick. It was a moment of connection. A validation of the passion I’ve carried for decades.
Testament reminded me why I do this—why I chase music and drive for hours and stand in lines and lose myself in the sound. Because sometimes, you don’t just go to a show. Sometimes, you get front row. Sometimes, you get seen. And sometimes, you walk away holding a piece of the night in your hand.
As someone who’s been a DIY promoter, who’s thrown shows and booked bands and poured their heart into helping keep live music alive—there’s something about being in the crowd that hits on a whole different level. Don’t get me wrong—I love putting together shows. There’s nothing like seeing a night you’ve built come to life, watching the crowd respond, knowing you helped make that moment possible. Knowing you may be giving a fan their dream come true.
But being there, face to face with the music, surrounded by the people who live and breathe it just like I do—that fills my heart in a way nothing else does. Being around bands, watching them pour everything into the stage, feeling the vibration of every note—it makes me feel whole. It brings me back to who I’ve always been at the core. I’ve felt it since I was 14—that electric, unshakable feeling that music gives me life.
And this night? It reminded me all over again: the music is still in me. It never left.
I’ll be back next month with another blog—this time, diving deeper into my longtime admiration for my guitar hero, Alex Skolnick. From the first riffs that hooked me as a teenager to the inspiration he still gives me today, there’s a lot more to share. Because this night at The Machine Shop wasn’t the end of the story—it was just the beginning. Stay tuned.
Peace, Love and Loud Music,
Mickey
Here is a few small video clips from my view.
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