They abandoned analog equipment for this tour (or since the previous one, I don't remember). Now everything is digital, you just have to press a button on the soundboard and the sound of a specific instrument goes to a previously configured volume. The variations in equalization that will occur during the show are also previously configured. That's why everything seems to be well mixed.
Nicko isn't playing as hard as he used to pre stroke so if I were to speculate, there's probably an element of compression involved to boost his hits. This might be the reason for the muffled sound.
Agreed. 2 or 3 more tours are possible, with less dates. They want it. Fingers crossed. They have some options...
We can't compare ofc, Celts is probably the better live song because it's more lively for an epic, but Parchment has singalong melodies and the fast part is a perfect build-up for concerts. Agreed about the latter though. A special song. I'm a fan of Celts, it works live nicely, but they should have swapped them between the legs and it would have been perfect. Why? Nicko said they made the right choice, but I want to know why Parchment was omitted. The votes within the band were even, iirc. They only time they changed longer songs between legs or shows was in 2010, right?
Parchment over Death of the Celts would be an improvement, but not a massive one for most of the audience, I think. Hardcore fans, yes, but for the casuals or the "play the hits" crowd, it would probably be an equal lull. I like Parchment, but kind of find it a bit overrated. I get it, it's a slow burn buildup to the big crescendo what--nine/ten minutes in? And who knows? Maybe it might've worked big time.
I think you are right, like for all Reunion epics methinks. I think they would have used a temple/sand backdrop and that would have clashed with the Hell On Earth backdrop. That's why I also think they didn't use the new (cool) tour poster with Cyborg Eddie as a backdrop for the current leg - they want the imagery of the aforementioned song to be unique live. It's a highlight (Celts backdrop too).
Greater Good is a better live song because it's faster and has an anthemic chorus. Steve had added it, but there were votes between Celts and Parchment.
I think there is a thematic clash between Alexander and the Parchment. I just feel that both have similar vibes (about similar parts of the world). Death of the Celts is just totally different to Alexander. I would have preferred The Parchment but Celts was fun.Parchment over Death of the Celts would be an improvement, but not a massive one for most of the audience, I think. Hardcore fans, yes, but for the casuals or the "play the hits" crowd, it would probably be an equal lull. I like Parchment, but kind of find it a bit overrated. I get it, it's a slow burn buildup to the big crescendo what--nine/ten minutes in? And who knows? Maybe it might've worked big time.
Celts was the one song I was hoping might get switched out for something else between legs, but I imagine Steve (and maybe Steve alone) has a boner for it, so it's staying put. Legacy had FTGGOG as its low point as far as crowd enthusiasm was concerned, and I guess Celts is that for Future Past (except FTGGOG is a far better song).
Reminds me of my first Maiden gig on the VXI tour. They were at the Glasgow Barrowlands, a club sized venue with a very low ceiling. Far too low to accommodate Maiden's backdrops or stage set.
Was the A4 printout even needed?
No, it wasn't but it was there nonetheless.
It's a good bit of humor that shows they were still capable of laughing at themselves and the situation they're in, so I'd say yeah. A lesser band would've been making passive aggressive comments about the venue or refused to play altogether in that sort of situation.
I’ve just got this image of Blaze sitting next to a printer in 1998 waiting for it to come out.
Not that it's impossible ofc, but I doubt they would have used just a big parchment as a backdrop. The current backdrops are more detailed than ever.
