18th October 2006 - Rosemont, Illinois – USA

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Reviews, impressions, photos... and spoiler tags when necessary!
 
Well since no one else is stepping up, I guess I will.  A couple of non-spoiler observations.

1. I thought the acoustics were very bad (typical of the Allstate Arena), especially noticeable when Janik was playing the acoustic guitar.
2. Seemed like a good sized crowd to me, at one point Bruce mentioned something (see spoilers) about playing to 6000-7000 people, but it seemed like there was more there to me, I would guess closer to 8000-9000.
3. I was very annoyed by many of the "stoner" types at the show, who seemed more concerned with passing around their bowl (had to explain to my wife what it was) than watching the show.  My wife even commented that she would love to see Maiden somewhere else in the world and was curious if the crowds in England were the same "type" of people....I doubt it.

I thought the crowd reacted pretty well to the AMOLAD portion of the show, everyone was standing and cheering and seemed to enjoy the new songs though many did not sing along (understandable as the album hasnt been out that long).  I did not hear or see anyone complaining about the setlist.  In fact I believe it worked out perfectly here, the crowd seemed to lose a litte steam near the end of the AMOLAD set, then when FOTD hit the crowd went CRAZY as if they had enjoyed the new stuff but saved lots of energy for the big finish.  Then when Iron Maiden began the crowd went even wilder, followed by 2MTM and TETMD and HBTN which was a perfect finish.  All in all despite the questionable acoustics a great show with a very lively crowd.  Bruce said at one point that they would rather play to 6000 or 7000 people who appreciate the new stuff than to 10000 or 12000 people who only want nostalgia. 

Crowd shot:
 
Just to start out, I have never seen Iron Maiden live before and I have to say it was fucking sweet, besides getting there 3 hrs. before the doors opened and have to wait in line for 3 hrs. in the freezing rain and a short sleeve shirt, but it was totally worth it!  I was happy that I got really close to the stage (about 4 ft. from the front).  The first band was pretty lame, they seemed to be emo with some sort of metal influence because they had metallica and slayer shirts on.  Everyone hated them and booed before they started, in between songs, and at the end.  When maiden finally started it was fucking insane.  As soon as Different Worlds began everyone went crazy and I was pretty much crushed from all the pushing.  I though the crowd was great though.  They all seemed to be enjoying the AMOLAD songs as did I.  When FOTD started everyone just went nuts.  Everyone was screaming, singing along with their horns up and people were even moshing, not something I expected to see (or participate in) at a Maiden concert.  The only thing that i noticed that went wrong was in The Legacy, during the first very high part that Bruce sings.  His voice must have went out because he couldn't reach those high notes and did some of that section an octive lower.  It seemed as though everyone was happy with the set list, although I would've liked to see Number of the Beast, Trooper, and Run to the Hills since I've never seen them before.  One guy I saw was wondering why they didn't play Transylvania and POTO, I was like what??right...
Anyway, that's my experience at my first Maiden concert ever!  One I will NEVER forget!
 
FenceMan said:
3. I was very annoyed by many of the "stoner" types at the show, who seemed more concerned with passing around their bowl (had to explain to my wife what it was) than watching the show.  My wife even commented that she would love to see Maiden somewhere else in the world and was curious if the crowds in England were the same "type" of people....I doubt it.
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Toronto was the same.  Some people come to concerts as an excuse to get stoned/drunk instead of enjoying the show.  I pity them.  This is true in other concerts as well.  My worst "man, that is bad pot stink" experience was during a Black Sabbath reunion concert.  After having played 'Sweet Leaf' and Ozzy remarked something like "if you have it smoke it" and "I wanna get high", it seemed like the whole arena did get high.
 
I thought the show was awesome. I've been to so many maiden shows that I actually welcomed the fresh setlist. And I was pleasantly surprised at how well received it was, both in Detroit and Chicago. In previous tours, there were always people walking out and complaining during songs they didn't consider a "classic." So I expected a riot this time :)
The floor experience was awesome, if you don't mind getting soaked in sweat and the occasional elbow. Some fat guy landed on me because the crowd wasn't strong enough to surf his ass all the way to the front. But it was all good. Too much energy to care!
 
Interesting to see complaints and praise for the setlist.  I've seen every tour since Powerslave, with the exception of X-Factor.  I was thrilled at the balls Maiden has shown with their choice to play the album all the way through.  Yeah, I would have liked to hear some of the classics, but this concert was great.  This was a very different Maiden experience for me.  It really gave me a deeper appreciation for AMOLAD. 

I was in a skybox that my company gets for any shows at Allstate.  I knew all but four of the people in the box.  These four had no idea what the hell the band was playing but they still seemed to get into the show.  I did like Bruce's comments about not being a nostalgia band.  They did that tour a few years ago!  It's about time that they let the U.S. know that they are still cranking out quality new music.
 
Hey, I've got a stupid question... I was at the Chicago concert, and before Maiden hit the stage, it sounded like they were playing Doctor, Doctor... was that live?  And is there anywhere I can find that on cd with Bruce Dickenson singing... found a lot with Di'Anno.
 
wasted155 said:
Hey, I've got a stupid question... I was at the Chicago concert, and before Maiden hit the stage, it sounded like they were playing Doctor, Doctor... was that live?  And is there anywhere I can find that on cd with Bruce Dickenson singing... found a lot with Di'Anno.
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Actually, that would have been Blaze because that song was recorded as a B-side for Lord of the Flies.
To answer your question, no.  You will not find a version of Bruce singing this song because I don't think Maiden have ever recorded such a version and the song was not performed live either ;)
 
Gotcha,  and thanks!  I had found it on "Best of the B-sides", and on "Eddie's Archives" disk 6, and had just assumed it was Di'Anno (thats what I get for ASSuming).  I had just thought the one at the concert sounded like Bruce.  ...learning more each day!
 
wasted155 said:
I had just thought the one at the concert sounded like Bruce.  ...learning more each day!
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I think that at the concert they play the original UFO version.  I'm sorry I didn't make that clear in my original post ;)
 
OK, I think I have a copy of that somewhere, I'll try to find it.  Thanks for the info!
Oh, BTW, I thought the concert rocked!  The first (and only) time I got to see them was in Cedar Rapids IA, on the Seventh Son tour. When I found out they were comming around again, my son wanted to go-- it was the same time as his 13th b-day, so we loaded up and drove 5 hours up to it.  He wanted a shirt to wear to it, so he wore my (18year old) tour shirt.  What a great time--- was really fun to watch Maiden through new eyes, you know?  We both had a great time, and he had some really good stories to tell at school the next afternoon!
 
stonedfree said:
Hey guys, here is a review I saw online that matches NIckos account of events.  Where is the truth, was it good or was it bad? methinks just the few whiners and complainers distort the truht base on this,
http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/con ... MAIDEN.htm
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The reviewer mentioned something that I've noticed before: I have never seen so many young people in a single concert before.  That's good news for a band.  :ok:
 
Genghis Khan said:
The reviewer mentioned something that I've noticed before: I have never seen so many young people in a single concert before.  That's good news for a band.  :ok:
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Yeah, I was at that show myself, and there were quite a few teenage guys there, especially on the floor, more than I've seen at any Maiden show in this region since the 80s, baring Ozzfest. Also more females than i've seen in awhile, of all ages.I was even more surprised about that than anything.some of them were wives and girlfriends or whatever, no doubt, but more than I remembered even in the 80s.
 
That's how I remember it too. I was on the floor up front and everyone was jumping and singing along, hands in the air the whole time. I took my camera and had a hard time shooting without someone's hand in front of me. It was great. Usually, during new songs, people leave, go get a beer, pee, etc. Not this time. Not on the floor, anyway. That may be because of the GA setup, since once you moved you lost your spot. If that's the case, I say keep the GA setup for future tours also. That way, the really dedicated fans will be up front, instead of someone who got free tickets from corporate and keeps getting out of their front row seats because they don't know any songs or would rather be stuffing their faces with nachos.
 
losferwords said:
That's how I remember it too. I was on the floor up front and everyone was jumping and singing along, hands in the air the whole time. I took my camera and had a hard time shooting without someone's hand in front of me. It was great. Usually, during new songs, people leave, go get a beer, pee, etc. Not this time. Not on the floor, anyway. That may be because of the GA setup, since once you moved you lost your spot. If that's the case, I say keep the GA setup for future tours also. That way, the really dedicated fans will be up front, instead of someone who got free tickets from corporate and keeps getting out of their front row seats because they don't know any songs or would rather be stuffing their faces with nachos.
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Yea, I thought the GA setup this time was a fantastic thing. The only times I've seen that with Maiden before was during the early days (just surreal!!) and during the Blaze era, which was kinda sad, because Maiden were playing smaller venues and you just knew they deserved better than that. So great to see the GA and the enthusiastic crowd this tour front and center, that the band feeds off of!
Conor said:
I think that at the concert they play the original UFO version.  I'm sorry I didn't make that clear in my original post ;)
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What Maiden have Always traditionally played as their que is UFO's  "Doctor, Doctor" form the live Chicago album Strangers in the Night.  That album is almost untouchable now, as far as innovation, artistic passion,  and creative genius on display.  Ah, those were truly the days, the era of Michael Schenker et all in their youthful, resplendant passion! So, again, for all doubters, it is not a Maiden cover. It is the version that they have paid homage to for Lo this many (30) years: the live, Chicago, UFO version.
 
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