Souvenirs from the Garden State

Well, what can I say? After a serious bought of indecision, I decided to leave my camera back at the hotel, only to see that everyone else brought theirs when we got inside. The parking lot was a trip, it was just like that movie "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." People tailgating, drinking beers, the evening air filled with the sounds of Maiden blasting from car stereos, and the smell of meat smoke rising from their grills.

I watched the show from the 3rd row, this time in a much tamer crowd relative to the Montreal show of last year. Not only did they almost every one of my favorites, there were some serious pyrotechnics, the heat was amazing as 15 foot flames shot into the air during Number of the Beast. The epic 13 minute Mariner delivered with a spectacular light and firework display. The infamous feather mask came out for Powerslave. It was mind blowing. Eddy made his appearance in the encore as the "futuristic Eddy" from the Stranger in a Strange Land album cover. I was kicking myself the whole time for not bringing my camera, but still managed to have the time off my life.

And what could be better than 2 hours of up close and personal, in your face, live Iron Maiden? One of your own coming home with a prize. Nat caught one of Nicko's drum sticks. Now that is a souvenir!


To add some more good news (at least for us), Maiden is adding more dates to this incredible tour in the US, including a show in Boston in June.
...hmmm, guess where I'll be?
With my camera this time.