Iron Maiden – Dream Theater – at San Manuel Amphitheatre – Devore, CA

If you’ve ever been out to Devore California it’s probably been for a gigantic festival concert like the KROQ Inland Invasion (02’ was their Punk year) or the metal tour OZZFEST. Well last Saturday I found myself in Devore to catch the legendary Iron Maiden on their only local stop this summer on the Final Frontier Tour. I don’t like driving that far out unless I’m en route to Vegas, but for Maiden, it’s totally worth it. :Horns:
Unfortunately me and my car full of headbanger buddies would arrive just as the opening band Dream Theater were exiting the stage, We probably shouldn’t have stopped at Denny’s in Pomona to pee, oops, in all fairness I’m sure Dream Theater did a great job at rocking the crowd because everyone was full of energy and there wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

20 minutes of loud changeover music played over the house speakers before Iron Maiden’s manager took the stage to announce that the band would be on shortly, but were gonna be a little while more because of the huge amount of fans still arriving in the parking lot/ box office area on their way in. Another 10 minutes passed before the lights dimmed down low (which sent the crowd into a frenzy) as the stage projection screen became illuminated with a scene from outer space. Loud orchestral music (think star wars) blared out at a deafening volume right into Maidens opening number “The Wicker man”. As the lights shined over the leather jacket and denim vest clad crowd I could see circle pits and head banging galore in every area of the floor and well out in the back over the lawn section where huge bon fires were starting to ignite!

Iron Maiden would deliver 2 more songs from their album Brave New World (2000) before launching into their newly released single “El Dorado” much to the crowds liking. A few more heavy tracks were played from their 06’ release A Matter Of Life And Death before they took a moment to dedicate the song “Blood Brothers” to the recently deceased king of Metal, an old friend and mentor of theirs ; Ronnie James Dio. At this time every one in the crowd began to chant “DIO” “DIO” “DIO” at the top of their collective lungs.

The majority of songs played up to this point were from Maidens latest 3 albums (Brave New World, Dance of Death & A Matter of Life And Death) and went over pretty well with the crowd. That is not something many bands can get away with, because as we all know the fans usually want to hear and see the classics performed live over new material. (If you didn’t catch Maiden on their Somewhere Back In Time Tour 2008, where it was an all 80’s classic set list, then you missed out).

The last 30 minutes of the show were by far the most explosive and energetic parts of the set, from then on out it was all classic Maiden! As the lights went out and the guitar intro to Fear Of The Dark started, literally thousands of lighters and cell phones began to wave side to side, it was a sight to be seen!
After the awesomeness that is Fear Of The Dark, the band went straight into their oldest hit, the self titled Iron Maiden, and believe me if you’d thought the crowd were insane before, well Iron Maiden took it to the next level. At this time the bands infamous 12 ft tall mascot EDDIE came out and paraded about the stage much to everyone’s delight, he even was given a guitar by lead guitarist Adrian Smith and began to play along to the song during the ends solo.
As the lights turned down low the band would exit the stage to rest before the encore. A few minutes had gone by with constant chanting of “MAIDEN, MAIDEN, MAIDEN!!” before the band would heroically get back on stage in time to play the cult classic “Number Of The Beast”. The crowd was loving every second of the song and embracing every moment to head bang, never in your life have you heard the numbers 6-6-6 sung so loud and proud.

No Iron Maiden concert is complete without the cult epic that is “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, it’s the one song and total fan favorite that always gives me goose bumps no matter how many times I’ve seen it performed live. This was surely the climax of the show and it was definitely the hugest sing along of the night. The crowd was a 35,000 strong in Devore that night and everyone in attendance was singing their heart out to the chorus of “Hallowed Be Thy Name” The dueling guitar solos got much approval that evening, but especially during “Hallowed“. Singer/pilot Bruce Dickinson’s vocal performance was top notch as well and not hoarse despite singing metal anthems night after night to huge crowds since 1980.

After such a dramatic sing along the band would come out for one last song of the night, that being “Running Free” which was a great way to end one hell of a performance. 35 years in the game and on the scene hasn’t slowed down Iron Maiden one bit, they’re still pumping out hits all these years later and still delivering their timeless classics better than any other metal band on the planet. From the people in the pit area to the fans in the stands and to even those in the lawn area, fun was had by all, Iron Maiden know how to connect with everyone in the house and it definitely showed Saturday night. Iron Maiden draw thousands of Hessian Metal Heads, Punk Rockers, and classic rockers who are your parents age to their shows like no body else, the unity was felt by all and that’s something I think is really special about what they bring out live as a whole.

Do yourself a favor and make sure to catch Iron Maiden live in concert before you die, it’s one of the best shows on earth. And that is a guarantee.

Set list from Saturday:
01. The Wicker Man
02. Ghost Of The Navigator
03. Wrathchild
04. El Dorado
05. Paschendale
06. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
07. These Colours Don't Run
08. Blood Brothers
09. Wildest Dreams
10. No More Lies
11. Brave New World
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden
Encore
14. The Number of the Beast
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name
16. Running Free
 
 
Till next show... ROCK ON !

Louie Bones
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews