Volume & Velocity

Iron Maiden @ Molson Amphitheatre/Toronto

An amazing metal throwdown! Tonight’s concert was just one of little more than a handful of Canadian shows, and one of a small number of North American tour dates to promote the new album, ‘The Final Frontier’ due out August 17th/18th. The band was in top form, ripping thru 90’s nuggets like ‘Brave New World’, and new millenium Maiden fist-bumpers like ‘These Colors Don’t Run’ & ‘Dance Of Death’. My favorite moments included the dedication of ‘Blood Brothers’ to Ronnie James Dio, ‘No More Lies’ which made me think of an old girlfriend, and ‘Running Free’, the final encore…Bruce raced back & forth across the stage, left to right, top to bottom, back to front, a man possessed with giving the band’s fans every effort. Steve Harris pogo-ing and laying down the signature Maiden gallop. Dave, Adrian, & Janick mesmerizing with triple harmonized lead guitars. Nikko bringing the thunder & pushing the whole band & entire crowd to a head-banging frenzy…

A friend of mine quipped yesterday that they should rename the band ‘Iron Spinster’ because they’re so old…Bruce alone would kick all of your asses, not to mention World Cup-ready Steve…If you don’t believe me, rent ‘Flight 666’

Brilliant lights, staging, Eddie is a sort-of ‘Blade Runner’, sci-fi murederous bastard on stilts…My God it was great fun! Toronto was on fire for the band. And then there were fireworks after the show…Kids and 40-somethings loved it! Oh and a guy behind me lit up a joint the size of a hot dog bun…

Don’t miss ‘em, they won’t be back until 2011…F**king fantastic!