Los Angeles has always been a city of music. In the early ’80s, while the Sunset Strip was drowning in spandex and hairspray, a darker, more visceral trend was being forged in the suburbs. This wasn’t just a scene; it was a kiln that hardened what would become the Metal scene—music so complex it’s now being reimagined for string quartets at Candlelight concerts.
Metallica
While San Francisco claims them, Metallica’s DNA is pure L.A. angst. Formed in 1981 after Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield connected through a Recycler classified ad, the band was an immediate antibody to the glam scene. They were too fast, too dirty, and too loud for the local clubs. Their move north wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was a tactical retreat that gave us songs like ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Fade to Black’ and ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’.
Candlelight Burbank: Tribute to Metallica
17 April 2026 18:15 + more dates
Tool
If Metallica was a wildfire that moved on to new pastures, Tool was the slow-burning ember that stayed to scorch the city. Arriving in the ’90s, they brought a cinematic, industrial discipline to the scene. This was hardly surprising given that Adam Jones was busy crafting monsters for Jurassic Park. They didn’t just play shows; they performed confrontational art pieces in Hollywood lofts, forever linking the city’s film-industry grit with progressive metal. They gave us songs like ‘Schism’ and ‘Sober’ and they’re still touring today, coming to Sacramento in October.
Candlelight Koreatown: Tribute to TOOL
24 April 2026 18:30
Experience the Magic of Metal
This spring, you can hear the soaring thrash of Metallica or the mathematical polyrhythms of Tool performed by a string quartet under the glow of thousands of candles.
- Tribute to Tool: Catch this hypnotic, transcendental experience at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown on April 24.
- Tribute to Metallica: Head to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank on May 9 or June 6 to hear “Master of Puppets” like never before.