The Future Past tour 2023

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Sitting here with a tea trying to piece together my thoughts from last night.

Sound: I did have a few issues, one being that I kept hearing Nicko's kit echoing off the opposite side of the arena, but that's an issue with the venue. Also thought things got a bit muddy during the instrumental section of Death of the Celts and I couldn't make out any of the riffs very clearly. Backing vocals were too high, but used sparingly so not too distracting. Bruce did seem a little low in the mix, and when he was speaking to the crowd I thought his voice sounded a bit "boxy", but I could hear him clearly enough.

Performance: Absolutely bloody nailed it, all of them. One or two slightly rough transitions, but I think I only noticed them because there's been so much talk about Nicko's drumming on here. Bruce is an absolute powerhouse, I'll admit I thought he was past performing Caught Somewhere in Time, but he came out of the gate and stormed it and never let up for the rest of the set.

Crowd: Weak af from where I was. I've had seats at Maiden gigs before, but everyone's always stood up as soon as the band started. Last night a few people stood, then realised nobody else was and they were getting in the way so sat down again. Strange vibe, but all the material seemed to go down well, I was expecting a mass exodus during some of the Senjutsu material but everyone stayed put. We all stood for the encore though.

Set: Might be a personal best. Nine new songs for me, two I haven't heard since I first saw Maiden in 2013, three I thought I'd never get to witness live and most of my favourites from Senjutsu.
 
Yesterday was probably my best ever Maiden concert! Sound was great, I was right in front of Bruce on the 2nd line, performances were MUCH tighter than Ljubljana, Bruce was in very good spirits and the crowd was fucking great as well (very much alive but not to the point where I almost passed out next to the barrier and had to go to the end of the pit as a 16yo in Brazil haha). The experience of Ljubljana I think is still unbeatable for the surprises, but seeing Maiden in their hometown with a performance like that is a dream come true. It’s what I always hoped I could experience live as a child in a not very known city in Brazil. And I caught a pick from Davey!
 
Was there last night, great show, decent FC seats near the front of the stage but a bit behind the stage so about 5 seats to the right of being perfect.

Again good view of the crowd, the crowd goes off for that Black Rose section of Death of the Celts, but another song that internet fans hate Can I Play with Madness tore the roof off.

Itching for a live album from this tour
 
srfc said:
--another song that internet fans hate Can I Play with Madness tore the roof off.
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Oh yes! It's an amazing live song. The fact that just about every other song on Seventh Son is superior doesn't really take anything away from it, especially on a live setting.

It just rocks and is super fun to sing along.
 
srfc said:
Was there last night, great show, decent FC seats near the front of the stage but a bit behind the stage so about 5 seats to the right of being perfect.

Again good view of the crowd, the crowd goes off for that Black Rose section of Death of the Celts, but another song that internet fans hate Can I Play with Madness tore the roof off.

Itching for a live album from this tour
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The band were superb and the setlist worked pretty well. Death of the Celts and Hell on Earth got a better reaction than on the first night (I had a great view from my seats up in the gods in section 416). The Prisoner and Can I Play With Madness got the audience in a state of euphoria.

It was my daughter’s first Maiden show and she absolutely loved it. Here’s hoping she’ll have more opportunities to see the band in the future.

I am glad I drove to the O2 for the second night. The band were 15 minutes late (apparently Davey being stuck in traffic was the reason) and finished the gig at 23:05. The queue outside the tube station when we finally got out of the O2 arena was humongous!
 
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Aggelos said:
WOW looks like I am the only one not happy about yesterday.
All those people talking about the crowd and how great it was, you have obviously never attended a gig in the south of Europe.
Sound was a bit screechy, guitars in particular.
Backing vocals were too high, there were times they were overshadowing Bruce.
Band was fine and in good form, but honestly I've seen much better Maiden gigs.
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I was there both nights and thought the gigs were great. I also enjoyed the fact that the people in attendance were showing their enthusiasm without the need to spoil the fun for others. I got fed up with being crushed at gigs in Spain decades ago…
 
The_7th_one said:

I've seen people smoking in the pit. Is it legal?

Btw . I've never seen Adrian play wrong a note until today during the Stranger in a Strange Land Solo. Could be monitoring thing I don't know…
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Smoking indoors has been forbidden in the UK since 2006/2007 (different dates in different countries) and long may it remain that way.

I saw some people vaping on Friday (not sure if that is allowed at the O2 though) and there could well have been some people smoking too. Sadly you still get pricks doing that indoors at big events, but they are a tiny minority.
 
The_7th_one said:
Great!! Did she like the Eddie's inflatable cushion?
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:lol: I think she preferred the walk-on Eddies and the lights.

She loved the show and was impressed by the energy of the band members, some of them being the age of her grandparents. Caught Somewhere in Time, The Writing on the Wall, Fear of the Dark, and Wasted Years were her highlights, although she liked everything they played (Hell on Earth was another favourite, even though she thought they “overdid it with the fire”).

I am glad she came to the show; she will probably remember it quite fondly when I am gone.
 
I can concur with the other posters that the two London shows were fantastic, I think the band sounded as good as I've ever heard them. First night I went with my dad and we were in the thick of it quite near the front, second night I went with a friend who has never been to a heavy metal show before, he was absolutely blown away! Bruce did say they would be back 'sooner than you think', when they're on this kind of form then as far as I'm concerned they can't come back soon enough.

Also, Alexander the Great is so excellent live that it really would have been a travesty if it had never been played.
 
GhostofCain said:
they “overdid it with the fire”
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Yeah, it's a non-sense. I hope members of the band don't fart on stage playing this song. They're old you know…

It would be a great point if she tells you…You know dad? I think they would have sit down on The Clansman 2 and play The Parchment instead of so you looks like… thinking Damn…she's one of these Maiden fans who always think that it would be better change that song or another… :lol:
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…or a hardcore Maiden fan who will ask you…dad, when will they play Wrathchild? :cool:
 
UpTheIrons said:
I can concur with the other posters that the two London shows were fantastic, I think the band sounded as good as I've ever heard them. First night I went with my dad and we were in the thick of it quite near the front, second night I went with a friend who has never been to a heavy metal show before, he was absolutely blown away! Bruce did say they would be back 'sooner than you think', when they're on this kind of form then as far as I'm concerned they can't come back soon enough.

Also, Alexander the Great is so excellent live that it really would have been a travesty if it had never been played.
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I was pleasantly surprised with Alexander the Great. I like the song but have never had a problem with it not being played live… It was definitely one of the highlights of the show! Adrian :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
 
I am with you, but I doubt they'll do an arena tour 2 years in a row. I think the pattern is festival - arena tour - festival - arena tour... etc.
Which means I better get my passport renewed!
 
Yep given the time frame, i.e. festivals looking to book next years acts now, then that's what I suspect. I don't mind traveling for a festival but risk of rain is too likely at Donington.
 
GhostofCain said:
I'd love to see them live again soon, but I hope that if they return to the UK in 2024 is not to play at Download Festival!
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Whilst they are certainly regulars, I think returning after just two years would be quite uninspired on the part of the Download bookers, especially as they are claiming that they are looking at putting together fresher lineups these days. I can't imagine Maiden fitting the bill at any of the other UK festivals that have the means to book them. Having said that, the Download appearance in 2022 was deferred from 2020, and the setlist and show is very different on this run, so they could crop up there after all!

They may go for a one-off standalone show in a Stadium or one of the London parks though. The BST shows at Hyde Park usually have a couple of rock days each year (GNR played this year for example, Black Sabbath have done it in the past) but I distinctly remember reading an interview where Bruce slagged off Hyde Park as a gig venue for being too quiet - something that I would agree with having seen acts there in the past.

Perhaps they will do a one-off at the Olympic Stadium? Surely it would be Steve's dream to play the West Ham ground.
 
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