Saw Maiden and Megadeth last night. Somehow I missed seeing them back in the 80s, so I couldn't say no this time.<\/p>\n
It was at the local big music venue, outdoors, hot as fuck, filled with tens of thousands of men in black T-shirts and a handful of the women who love them.<\/p>\n
I was worried that they'd do a set of all new stuff, as happened to a friend who saw them a couple of years back. But, they did a set list that was (according to Bruce Dickinson) mostly based on a set list from their \"Seventh Son...\" tour (1988). So, they did mostly oldies<\/strike> classics: at least three from Number Of The Beast<\/i>, three from their first album, a lot from Seventh Son..><\/i>, etc.. Perfect! The band was in fine form: tight but happy to clown around from time to time. Dickinson was spry and charmingly hammy. 15' Eddie came out and waved his sword around. Giant background Eddie held his Eddie-as-mandala seal. Flags were waved, sacred chants were praised. Three<\/i> guitar players played leads either solo, or in pairs, or all at once. Steve Harris galloped along while Nico thundered away in his cage.<\/p>\n
It was the loudest outdoor show I've ever been to - laid awake hoping the ringing would subside (hasn't yet). And the crowd was even louder. Metalheads love them some Maiden. Shirts were $40, and everybody had one.<\/p>\n
The sound was the basic big venue mud. But at least they turned the vocals up so we could all gape at how well Dickinson could still sing.<\/p>\n