Music Monday: Iron Maiden Live

Bruce on stage

And a band that I’ve been wanting to see for almost 30 years can be marked off my list. Iron Maiden played here in Utah – their first show in this state in 20 years – and I was excited to experience them live.

the great Steve Harris on bass (with Bruce to his right)

After a 45 min opening set by Coheed and Cambria [their best song was a cover – Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell”], Iron Maiden took the stage for almost two hours of solid metal. The focus on this tour is the “Maiden England” tour, which was at the time of the “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” album release. Which just so happens to be my favorite Iron Maiden album. So a perfect setting for a great show. And the band didn’t disappoint, with Bruce making light of Utah’s weak beer [as well as the large amount of weed that was being smoked at this show]. Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers are the triple guitar assault that works for this band, moving about the stage almost as much as Bruce did.

Set List

1. Moonchild
2. Can I Play With Madness?
3. The Prisoner
4. 2 Minutes to Midnight
5. Afraid to Shoot Strangers
6. The Trooper
7. The Number of the Beast
8. Phantom of the Opera
9. Run to the Hills
10. Wasted Years
11. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
12. The Clairvoyant
13. Fear of the Dark
14. Iron Maiden

Encore:

15. Aces High
16. The Evil That Men Do
17. Running Free

Dave Murray caught “In The Flash of the Blade” by Eddie

The appearance of long time mascot Eddie got the crowd going about midway through their 17 song set, waving his sword at Steve Harris and Dave Murray. Nicko McBrain on drums kept the heavy beat throughout all of the songs and never let up.

Bruce with a Seventh Son version of Mount Rushmore

For being 53, Bruce managed to hit many of the mid to high range notes. His vocal range faltered a couple of times, but it was still better than some other aging rock vocalists that can’t even hit those high notes anymore. Let alone the fact that this lead singer was all over the stage, running non-stop in some parts of songs like “Run To The Hills” and “Number Of The Beast”. It wasn’t until “The Evil That Men Do” where Bruce missed his queue on the lyrics – skipping part of a verse. No worries from this Maiden fan as he took thi flub in stride.

The Seventh Son stage prop

The stage set was elaborate in props, including a working replica of the Seventh Son character right from the album cover.

I was plenty pleased with this concert, as was my daughter – which was also her first time seeing Iron Maiden.

If you can catch them on tour, do so. This band is still very strong after 30+ years and they play their songs as if no time has passed since their release. Up The Irons!

All photos taken by my daughter, Tiffany