Harping on It

Metallica is a magnet for performers dedicated to covering the band's music in a manner 180 degrees removed from its noisy, aggressive origins. Consider Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica and Rockabye Baby!: Lullaby Renditions of Metallica, two discs so dopey and ear-wrecking that they're capable of making Metallica guitarists Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield hang up their six-strings in shame. In contrast, the axmen might actually find some appeal in Harptallica, which performs today. The central conceit — harpists Ashley Toman and Patricia Kline gently caress rather than bludgeon Metallica's melodies — is pure gimmickry. And yet the classically oriented arrangements applied to numbers such as "The Unforgiven" are comparatively thoughtful, allowing Toman and Kline to delve into the compositions' inherent drama. It's still a stunt, but one delivered with plenty of pluck.

Related Content

• Barry Fey on that time that he held a gun to Axl Rose's head and how the business has changed
  November 18, 2011
• A few words for a Sonic marriage's end
  October 27, 2011
• Tonight: Death Angel at the Larimer
  April 18, 2011
• Ten best Beavis and Butt-head music-video riffs
  August 2, 2011
• Top five Headbanger's Ball videos
  August 3, 2011

More About

• Metallica
• Patricia Kline
• Ashley Toman
• Metal and Hardcore
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Harptallica appears at 3 p.m. at Quixote's True Blue Cafe, 2637 Welton Street; admission is $10. Learn more at 303-297-1772 or www.quixotes.com.
Sat., May 3, 3 p.m., 2008