Iron Maiden
Last night was special. My friend Scott and I went to go see Iron Maiden in Montreal. I have been a Maiden fan for the longest time, but this is the first time I have actually gotten to see them live. My very first CD was Live After Death, released in '85.
It was AMAZING.
Especially since we managed to work our way to the second row.
We started our journey around 5, not knowing how "elevated" the security level would be at the border. We didn't even have to show our passports. We also had no clue how to even get to the Bell Centre, but a phone call to the wife helped us. Well, it would have probably been more helpful to actually write the directions down, but we managed to get there with minimal fuss.
We sat in the parking lot of a gas station each drinking a 40oz Black Label, some of the worst liquid that passes as beer out of paper bags, surrounded by all kinds of metal head freaks. It was awesome.
When we finally went in we made it a point to get up as close as we could before the lights went down. I would never have guessed we would have gotten as far up as we did.
The lights went down, and there was rock. My ears are still ringing.
They played the entire new album, and a few classics at the encore. I was a little bummed that they didn't play some of the "standards", but when your body of work spans almost 30 years, you probably get sick of playing The Trooper night after night after night.
The truth is, I hardly remember the show. Being that close, you don't really get to see much other than what is immediately around you. I had my elbow in some poor girl's face for pretty much the whole show.
Sorry.
It's easy to see how people get crushed to death at things like this. But regardless, it was a lot of fun. It was a marathon event, and I am pretty sore from battling to stay upright in the sea of hot sweaty bodies.
We got lost getting out of Montreal, and we ended up crossing the border in New York, but all would work out.
The border guard was stoked that we had gone to see Iron Maiden.
It was AMAZING.
Especially since we managed to work our way to the second row.
We started our journey around 5, not knowing how "elevated" the security level would be at the border. We didn't even have to show our passports. We also had no clue how to even get to the Bell Centre, but a phone call to the wife helped us. Well, it would have probably been more helpful to actually write the directions down, but we managed to get there with minimal fuss.
We sat in the parking lot of a gas station each drinking a 40oz Black Label, some of the worst liquid that passes as beer out of paper bags, surrounded by all kinds of metal head freaks. It was awesome.
When we finally went in we made it a point to get up as close as we could before the lights went down. I would never have guessed we would have gotten as far up as we did.
The lights went down, and there was rock. My ears are still ringing.
They played the entire new album, and a few classics at the encore. I was a little bummed that they didn't play some of the "standards", but when your body of work spans almost 30 years, you probably get sick of playing The Trooper night after night after night.
The truth is, I hardly remember the show. Being that close, you don't really get to see much other than what is immediately around you. I had my elbow in some poor girl's face for pretty much the whole show.
Sorry.
It's easy to see how people get crushed to death at things like this. But regardless, it was a lot of fun. It was a marathon event, and I am pretty sore from battling to stay upright in the sea of hot sweaty bodies.
We got lost getting out of Montreal, and we ended up crossing the border in New York, but all would work out.
The border guard was stoked that we had gone to see Iron Maiden.
posted by mandy at 9:22 AM
2 Comments:
Ha! That takes me back to my concert goin' days in the 80's, thanks! By that description I'd say nothing much has changed since then.
Isn't it great when you finally get to see one of your favorite bands live? It's a hard thing to explain to others.
Thanks for the great write up, G. That brought back a flood of memories for me!
G, I took my Bro-in-law to see Maiden for the begging of their tour in Hartford. We were both bummed out that they only played four of their old songs and their whole new Albumn, which I was only familiar with one song.
Been a Maiden fan since HS when I got their EP, Maiden in Japan!
GT, You are right, though. Seeing them live for the first time is indeed great!
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