SLCene Suggests: Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus at The Saltair

SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES AND EXODUS, THE SALTAIR, Friday, May 9, 7:30  p.m., $33

Looking at the lineup for this ear-shattering show, and a few questions come to mind. For long-running thrash pioneers Slayer, will the absence of guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died almost exactly a year ago, significantly alter the band’s sound–or the fans’ allegiance to the quartet that now includes drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt in addition to original members Tom Araya and Kerry King? (I’m guessing fans stoked to hear songs from Reign In Blood and South of Heaven will be fine). For Suicidal Tendencies, will the band’s older punk fans want to deal with distinctly metal crowds of the bands playing before and after them (Ya, probably, since Suicidal veered into metal territory after its early years as skate-punk heroes)? And for Exodus, I guess the big question is who is in the band these days, considering the insane number of lineup changes, band member deaths and breakups the San Fran thrash icons have endured through the years. (My guess? Doesn’t really matter, the band will get the pit swirling early for this gig). Put the three bands together, and you have a screaming deal for metal fans for this one.