Photo: Aaron Sammut

While the musically accomplished and yet terminally inconsequential poppy rock performance by Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris’ daughter Lauren Harris’ band that opens tonight’s proceedings proves that musical genius is most definitely not always passed down from generation to generation, it is a magnum opus concerto unparalleled next to the excremental emo purveyed by following act Behind Crimson Eyes, who amusingly have the gall to play a truly ineffectual cover of Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades, raising the ire (and the middle fingers, amusingly) of the already hostile crowd.

The supports mercifully finish and after a raucous, impatient wait by all present, the reverberations of Winston Churchill’s ‘fight them on the beaches’ speech heralds the sound that many among the capacity crowd have been waiting to hear for 15 years now – the opening strains of fast paced, barnstorming Iron Maiden classic Aces High. What follows is surely one of the finest rock & roll performances seen on a Brisbane stage, with the band ripping through a set comprised of most of the tunes from classic release Live After Death, with a few late ‘80s tunes thrown in for good measure. The band performs with matchless musicianship upon a magnificent accoutered stage set featuring a massive (and well utilised by singer Bruce Dickinson) gantry running behind the drums and to each side, clad in lush Egyptian motifs with a stunning light show and very cool back drops hanging behind. It is hard not to feel like an awe struck 12year old at moments like 10’ tall skeletal mascot Eddie’s entry during the band’s eponymous anthem, and moments such as the end of the poetic interlude in set highlight Rime of the Ancient Mariner where Dickinson emerges from within a cloud of mist wearing tattered rags in front of a ship’s deck backdrop, building up his vocals into a long, resounding, high pitched scream are the very image of maximalist, over-the-top, pompous classic rock excess and heavy metal fun and games at its most successful and wryly amusing. The 15-year wait was more than worth it.

SHAUN NANCARROW

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Comments (4)

2. Written by metal head 08, on 17-03-2008 07:23 hey man wats going on i think that u are one kick ass person i love you heps xoxoxox

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