Just got back from Chicago. Sorry about not meeting up with you guys yesterday
@MrKnickerbocker, but I hope the pictures I post will give you good reason as to why I couldn't make it. Hah
Drove 6 hours from southern Illinois to Chicago yesterday morning. Arrived around 3 pm and we immediately went to the United Center. Was near the front of the line, maybe between 20-30th for general admission, and they let us in at 6:30pm. I got to stand within about ten feet from the stage, just directly behind some of the guys who had first to the barrier. So I was technically second to the barrier.
The Raven Age was decent, but as the lead singer said perfectly: They're the band who just tries to get us fired up for Maiden; emphasis on "tries". Their entire set, I honestly just couldn't wait for them to be done just to see Maiden. They played from around 7:50-8:25.
It look around twenty five minutes for them to set up for Maiden, as "Doctor Doctor" started at precisely 8:50pm, with Maiden taking the stage around 5-6 minutes later after the intro video.
It was amazing. This was my first time being up so close, and I couldn't believe how deafening it was (noticed a lot of people wearing ear plugs around me... I didn't though, thought never crossed my mind), and the vibrations almost got me off a few times.
Stood closer to the side where Adrian and Dave usually play, but every band member eventually made their way over a few times and stood just ten feet in front of me as they played. Bruce and Steve made eye contact with me specifically on a few different ocassions, mostly because I was one of the consistent ones in my area that was singing and fist pumping.
Highlights definitely were pretty much all of The Book of Souls songs (Red and the Black, Tears of a Clown, Book of Souls), Powerslave, and Hallowed Be Thy Name. Bruce killed the singing on it, along with the rest of the songs. I didn't really care too much for Children of the Damned or Death or Glory, but that's just because I'm not a big fan of either song. Children was still awesome to see live though, and the other classics (Trooper, Number of the Beast, Wasted Years) were expected and worked well in between the newer songs.
Powerslave was the best part of the night, in my opinion.
Bruce did hint at two different times that they would be back in Chicago. He let it slip the first time and then kind of tried to cover it up with something like "I wasn't supposed to say that!". And then at the very end of Wasted Years, he did say to the crowd that they would be back soon.
I ALMOST caught one of Adrian's armbands, but the woman next to me got it. And then I found one of Dave's guitar picks on the ground, but as soon as I went down to pick it up, some guy from several feet away literally dove for it and grabbed it a split second before I did. I could have screamed at him, if I hadn't lost my voice for singing along to every song.
Left the concert with ringing ears, no voice, and a huge adrenaline rush. So I went back to the hotel room and crashed soon after, which is why I didn't end up going to the Bottom Lounge.
With the exception of the guitar pick scenario, it was the greatest night of my life. Eight years of being an Iron Maiden fan, seventh time seeing them, and I finally got to see these metal gods up close and personal.