May 2010 Concert Review of Living Legends-- Iron Maiden's THE FINAL FRONTIER TOUR (with extra special guests, Dream Theater)

The venue was in Phoenix, AZ., 2010:
compiled and reviewed by Stsven M. Duarte

Iron Maiden has been one of those bands on my list that I have not seen live. I have an all inclusive list of acts I need to see before I perish this wicked Earth and Maiden was high up there. Thus I set out on a 2 hour drive to neighboring Phoenix to see the might Maiden. Our trek was long and sweaty but well worth the pain and anguish that is the Arizona heat. Dream Theater opened up their set with As I am and finished with their classic Pull Me Under. Considering that each Dream Theater song is about 9+min they only played 6 songs. While not a large number of songs they played for about 50 min.
Then it was time for Maiden. They took the stage around 9pm. Their new stage setup had a space vibe and started with a background of glaring stars. Bruce Dickenson popped up along with the rest of the band into a wicked rendition of the Wicker Man. This was my first time seeing Iron Maiden live and I have to say Bruce can really sing. There’s no studio trickery here, the man’s got some lungs on him. They treated the audience with their new song El Dorado, off their soon to be released album The Final Frontier. The song sounded good and I actually was into it considering it was my first time hearing it. They then went into a couple of songs off their Matter of Life and Death album. One of the highlights of the night was Fear of the Dark, which had everyone chanting along with Bruce. They bid farewell to the crowd after singing the track Iron Maiden. Everyone stayed out chanting their name when all the lights dimmed and we heard the beginning spoken voice that begins before The Number of the Beast. The crowd went wild, as the band ran back on stage. They finished their encore set with Hallowed be thy name and Running free.
Overall my first Iron Maiden concert was a very positive one. I do have to say that I was a bit let down that some of my favorite Maiden songs were left off the set lest. Classics such as Run to the Hills, Minutes to Midnight and The Trooper were noticeably absent from their set. They played some of their newer songs within the last 10 years along with a couple older classics. I can’t help but feel that I need to see them again to get the full complete package. Regardless you can be mad when the show that was presented was still kickass, Irons up!!!!



1. The Wicker Man
2. Ghost Of The Navigator
3. Wrathchild
4. El Dorado
5. Dance Of Death
6. The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg
7. These Colours Don't Run
8. Blood Brothers
9. Wildest Dreams
10. No More Lies
11. Brave New World
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden
14. Encore:
14. The Number of the Beast
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name
16. Running Free

Dream Theater's preceding set was muc different than these titans of old school metal.  As an opening act,their stage set was much more subdued, even if their music was NOT.
Anyone who has yet to learn the dark mathematical beauty of Dream Theater, this was a venue in which to do so with ease and comfort.
They took the stage without their much well known and worshipped bandmates' explosive entrance, or even the ear splitting sound levels. They also took the stage with less well known fare, but that did not slow then down as they gave it allfor their allotted time, playing such classics in their repetoire. as well as select few cover tunes from bands which these still consider great musicians and influences on their growing discography. Each song is lovingly crafted into different progressions and soundscapes, giving the listener the sense he hay found the Ox-ian road of golden bricks which will lead to some new unknown place.

Various shared Setlist with Iron Maiden throughout this tout:
(June 9, 2010 - July 20, 2010)

As I Am
A Rite of Passage
Home
Constant Motion
Panic Attack
Pull Me Under
Pull Me Under/Metropolis pt. 1 (added only on July 9, 2010 in Quebec City)


(Setlists without Iron Maiden (June 21, July 2, July 5, and July 10, 2010)

(Setlists on June 21 and July 2, 2010)

A Nightmare to Remember
Constant Motion
Hollow Years
The Mirror
Lie
A Rite of Passage
Home
Panic Attack
As I Am
Pull Me Under/Metropolis pt. 1
Encore: The Count of Tuscany

(Setlists on July 5 and July 10, 2010)

A Nightmare to Remember
Constant Motion
A Rite of Passage
Home
Hollow Years
The Mirror
Lie
Wither
Panic Attack
As I Am
Pull Me Under/Metropolis pt. 1
Encore: The Count of Tuscany



--Steven M. Duarte.