Tour Title: Ed Hunter Tour
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Tour Title: Ed Hunter Tour |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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N/A | |
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5 | |
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5 | |
| Go to Reader Reviews |
Abyss's Review:
An Abyssmal Confession
Hello. My name is Abyss, and I missed an Iron Maiden Concert. Now while I broke no Federal laws, I must say I did break the code, and for this I am truly sorry. The reasons for the chain of events that led me to this low place in my life are unimportant, and look forward to an eternity in Hell atoning for my sins. Anything is better than the feeling I get when I meet the eyes of my Metalhead bretheren, and I feel their disappointment. However, if you are reading this review you are most likely a Metalhead, and if that's true you most likely have seen Iron Maiden before. Of course, this tour was especially important, with the fans picking the setlist, and, obviously, the return of Mr. Dickenson. It is a metal event anyway you look at it, so instead of reading a review, just go and see it. Do as I say, not as I do.
Death's Review (7/25/99, Hammerstein Ballroom NY, NY):
What an amazing show. Not only do they still have it, they rule. Absolutely smoked the last time I saw them with Bruce back in 1992. Last night felt like it was the Powerslave tour in 1985 or something! Incredible. Bruce rules -- he's in amazing shape, running and jumping all around the stage. Huge show. Huge production, everything sounded perfect. Amazing crowd. Flags flying, everyone singing along, the whole place clapping in time, etc. Amazing. One of the best shows I've seen in the 1990s.
With the balance of the scene having gone underground, it's almost refreshing to see a metal band that remains "larger than life" in 1999. These guys aren't the dudes you were drinking with at the end of the bar an hour ago, they're metal icons. They're rock stars. Now, I realize the term "rock star" is generally derisive when applied to heavy metal heroes, but I'm talking about it in a good way. The way that makes you say, "Oh my god, that's IRON MAIDEN up on stage!" These guys have a PRESENCE, which builds on the music and makes the concert an experience. Those of us old enough to remember the old Dio tours or Maiden in their prime know what I'm talking about. The art of the well-executed arena show has been lost. Maiden actually gave it some credibility back with their Ed hunter preformances.
"Iron Maiden are soooo back." In sum, Iron Maiden are seasoned warriors at executing the art of the rock concert. The Ed Hunter tour gave us five trucks of gear, giant Eddie's, explosions, egyptian themed stage settings, and multiple backdrops. Absolutely unreal. Iron Maiden are soooo back. My buddy tells me to expect a new studio album in the spring followed by a full-on, old style, year long world tour arena assault. This is the trend music needs to follow. Up the Irons!
Hel's Review (Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY):
Hammerstein Ballroom is this great venue with a large floor in front of the stage, a large balcony seating area facing the stage and smallish balconies lining the sides three high. A friend was able to hook us with great seats for this event, in the lowest balcony near the stage on the audience's right. What a great spot to watch a great show from. I tell you all this info regarding the venue for 2 reasons: 1) So you can get an idea of how cool it is if you've never been there and 2) so you can more fully appreciate one thing that I've got to get out there before I can get into to show. About 2 songs into Iron Maiden's set, I'm standing there totally awed with the band's performance, and a body plunges past, directly before my eyes. The guy splats right in front of me and three things run through my mind: Holy Shit!; What a buzzkill; and Am I glad I wasn't standing there! The guy got up and walked away, apparently fine.
"The guy splats right in front of me." So why do I tell you this? Partially to explain my mental state, but mostly to illustrate what great showmen the members of Iron Maiden are. Most of the people who went to that show never knew that somebody fell from a balcony. They were so wrapped up in the show that was going on. And the band didn't miss a beat, even though one or more of them MUST have seen this happen.
They were in top form. Although Bruce's hair is short, his energy was not. He dashed around the stage like a teenager, and the others were similarly energetic. Eddie appeared in a few different sizes and each appearance was greeted with huge roars of approval from the audience. Eddie's "life-size" rampage was wonderful, including fencing with a guitar. Props and explosions galore, just as it should be.
The set consisted of old favorites, after all, this is a tour supporting a video game (Ed Hunter - based on the loveable Eddie) so there WASN'T any current material for them to play. The audience seemed just fine with that. The crowd was largely old-school fans, donning the denim and leather for a nostalgia-fest anyway. But the kids present didn't see old fogies playing crap - they saw METAL.
"The kids present didn't see old fogies playing crap - they saw METAL." An impending video game release is not usually supported by a live tour. The notion seems laughable - Japanese Anime characters and a GWAR-like plot? But this 1999 Iron Maiden tour was no laughing matter.
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