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I predicted in my Bravewords Scribes Speak segment at the end of 2021 that Iron Maiden would prove, again, they are the best live band in the World. Nothing I saw at the Nationwide Arena to a full house in Columbus, Ohio on October 7, 2022 changed my opinion. Reading friends’ comments on Facebook, and friends of friends’ comments, confirm there is a consensus that Maiden pretty much rules the live music landscape.

I’ve been going to see Iron Maiden since 1984, have traveled to see them in Detroit and Indianapolis, and every time I see them I leave never feeling like I saw the same show twice. I’m still amazed they bring the same energy and relevance as the band I saw in 1984, and that while Bruce has a little more grey, he brings that same vocal range he has, since, well, forever.

Within Temptation opened the show, and due to the venues rules for photographers, I was only able to see their first two songs. Maiden have always given their opening acts a good portion of the stage and the sound, and this evening was not an exception, allowing vocalist Sharon den Adel room to work the extensive stage. 

Within Temptation’s setlist:

“The Reckoning” 
“Paradise” 
“Faster” 
“Entertain You” 
“Stand My Ground” 
“Supernova” 
“Don’t Pray For Me” 
“Raise Your Banner” 
“Mother Earth”

The lights went down at 8:45 p.m., and soon after came the opening bars of U.F.O.’s “Doctor, Doctor”. Maiden opened the show with the first three cuts off Senjutsu – “Senjutsu”, “Stratego”, and “The Writing On The Wall” – with the stage reflecting the architecture of the samurai. A little surprising to me was Samurai Eddy making his appearance during “Stratego”. The near capacity crowd was on their feet from the beginning of the show no doubt largely because Maiden’s newer material hangs very well with their older material, and Bruce was clearly warmed up before hitting the stage.

The backdrops began changing with “Revelations” off Piece Of Mind, a pleasant surprise. Bruce introduced “Blood Brothers” by reminding us that we are all Blood Brothers, which was met with contributions from the masses of headbangers, and then brandishing a cross for “Sign Of The Cross”, one of two Blaze era songs they would play.

The band charged forward with “Flight Of Icarus”, complete with the huge figure of the young boy himself hanging at the back of the stage. All those seated around me were absorbed in every song, but Icarus kicked it up a notch, and then like a rocket, the set list took off on afterburners.

I’ve always thought “Fear Of The Dark” is a particularly great tune live, beginning as it does a little mellower, and then kicks into high gear. Bruce started singing in a lower register than I can recall at the beginning of the song. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” is similar in that it starts a little slower to give Bruce an opportunity to give us a different vocal delivery, but then kicks in before it really kicks in, and is perhaps the best opportunity for Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers to trade licks. “Number Of The Beast” and “Iron Maiden” close out the first set, which I think was a perfect sequence after Icarus.

We finally saw Nicko McBrain in the flesh as he emerged from behind the drum set, and had some alone time on stage for both encores, doling out free merchandise from the stage. If you find yourself close to the stage, don’t blink.

“The Trooper”, “The Clansman”, and “Run To The Hills” finish out the first encore. Steve Harris sings everything, but something tells me that these three mean a lot to him. They strike me as the underdog struggle trilogy, fighting losing battles for a cause. Nicko again emerges from the kit, and again tosses out more free merchandise. After a short break Winston Churchill makes an appearance, a WWII era fighter jet emerges, and the band cuts into “Aces High”, and ends about two hours after they started.

The band was clearly having a great time on stage, finally being able to play cuts live off Senjutsu, and sounding better than they ever have. Maiden could play for four hours and we would still find songs we wished they had done. I won’t complain. I heard many in attendance comment when leaving that this was the best show they’d ever seen. I hit the merchandise booth for my tour shirt as I leave to add to that growing Maiden tour shirt collection. I’m already looking forward to the next time I can add to the collection.

Iron Maiden setlist: 

“Senjutsu” 
“Stratego” 
“The Writing On The Wall” 
“Revelations” 
“Blood Brothers” 
“Sign Of The Cross” 
“Flight Of Icarus” 
“Fear Of The Dark” 
“Hallowed Be They Name” 
“The Number Of The Beast” 
“Iron Maiden” 
“The Trooper” 
“The Clansman” 
“Run To The Hills” 
“Aces High”