Woe to you all Lads and Lasses! For Doctor Tardis sends a message with joy! Because I know that you will rejoice in this short lecture. Let him who hath understand reckon Iron Maiden live was awesome in Ottawa!
Before I get to Maiden there was some temptation, some strong temptation. I’m talking about Within Temptation. If there was a nice surprise that night was seeing Within Temptation live for the third time. I actually only found out a few days before that they were opening for them. For some reason I never bothered checking, boy was I happy!
Within Temptation has been around for a while, I’ve been a fan since they started, And yes I love symphonic metal and I thank W.T. for it. Sharon Den Adel has a phenomenal voice. When she hits those high notes it’s like touching heaven, you get goosebumps.
The band got on stage and delivered. The sound at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa was great! way better than the Bell Center in Montreal. There’s a lesson to learn there!
Within Temptation had a very short set, unfortunately, but they did the best of it. Delivering a solid performance on every song. These guys deserved a much longer time slot on stage. They have quite an extensive catalogue. W.T. rocked the house and warmed up the crowd for Iron Maiden.
The lights in the Canadian Tire Center went out! Then the music to “Doctor Doctor” came on over, of course, this was a recording while last-minute preparations were done on stage. Then the top lights with sounds filled the arena then the stage lit up on fire and Iron Maiden opened up with “Senjutsu“! The crowd went wild cheering to show their love of Maiden. The stage setup was impressive with an old setting with minkas as a stage set. They kept that stage setup for the songs “Stratego” and “The Writing on the Wall“. After the song, the stage went dark and you could hear motorcycles riding at full throttle as they changed the stage.
When the song “Revelations” came on it was a completely different stage. It looked like something out of a cathedral.
I swear to you on every song there was something different! What was even more impressive is the energy of the band members. These guys are not young, Bruce Dickinson is 64 years old with the heart of a 12-year-old in a candy store. He ran around nonstop. He never skipped a note or anything. Iron Maiden‘s performance was unbelievable!
Do you remember when I told you guys that any show I see after Rammstein will seem mediocre? Boy was I wrong! Iron Maiden kicked ass that night it was too good! When you factor in the constant change on the stage with these master performers, the ambiance was electric. Wide-eyed and fully immersed in the show the crowd was in awe! Eddie walking on the stage numerous times in different outfits was spectacular.
I have to say on a personal note that I didn’t know what to expect from Iron Maiden, I had seen them live in 2010 and I thought it was an ok show. Thanks to Iron Maiden Beer Canada and since I am involved with CGCM I was lucky enough to have tickets. CGCM also had a contest going to win tickets to the show in Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa. I had the honour of giving the tickets away for the Ottawa show on behalf of Iron Maiden Beer Canada and CGCM Rock Radio to the lucky winners Krystal MacNeil and Ryan MacNeil that flew down from Nova Scotia to witness this spectacle. Believe me, they absolutely loved the show
Iron Maiden went on with 16 songs in all. Every set was performed perfectly along with some rather humorous moments. My personal favourite song is and always will be “Number of the Beast“, and when that came on I lost it! I sang along with it (rather badly) and I was not the only one. “Flight of Icarus” stage set was wonderful with a giant angel and Bruce with flame-throwing gauntlets (a la Rammstein hhmm hhmm). During “Sign of the Cross“, Bruce was in a black robe walking with a cross, “Number of the Beast” the flames came up and lit up the stage. During the self-titled song, there was a giant demon head rotating behind Nico McBrain who by the way was amazing. During “The Trooper“, Bruce was waving the flag then fencing against Eddie! Finally on the last song of the night “Aces High” there was a life-size Spitfire hovering over the band as they played. Now that was something else. The song ended and the band bowed to the audience and left the stage. The show was over and left everyone mesmerized. It was a spectacular show I really enjoyed it! wait I’m repeating myself!
Ladies and Gentlemen there you have it.
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Until next time my dear Metalites, keep on rockin!
Dr. Tardis OUT!
