Iron Maiden @ Jiffy Lube Live 6/30/2012

Went to see Iron Maiden (w/ Alice Cooper) @ Jiffy Lube Live with John n my brother. This is on the heels of a huge storm  and massive power outages. Jiffy Lube Live reported that the power was ON and the show was good to go!

Got there around 6, stood in line. Thought doors were at 5:30!? Apparently not. maybe like 6:15 or so the doors opened and we rolled in. Sweating profusely throughout the day. We made our way to the pit an positioned ourselves about 30 feet from the stage (Jaxx/Empire distance) for Alice. We got pushed back for Maiden, of course.

On the way in, I encountered the guys (and gal) from A Sound of Thunder!

Alice sounded great, but he had a smaller stage show than last time I saw him (with Rob Zombie). He still had props and got executed. And he had an Eddie like huge Frankenstein's monster with Alice's face. That was pretty sweet. He had 3 guitarists for some reason, one of them being Orianthi (that blond girl guitarist who almost played with Michael Jackson). Alice sounded as good as ever, and his command on stage was as strong as ever. No real complaints, except I could always use a longer set from Alice.

After Alice's set, the crowd predictably oozed forward and we got a bit smushed and pushed back.  I balanced getting pushed back with getting breathing room and not fainting. Maiden came on at 9PM, sharp- after Doctor Doctor \m/, as is their want.

Bruce and co sounded a bit muddy at first, but maybe that was because we were close. Further back, things actually sounded a bit clearer. At one point we were on the left (near the end) and the sound was still great, too. Yes, the base was still mixed a bit too high, but that was to be expected. I think that Jannick still coulda been cut from the band, with all his prancing and lackadaisical playing.  Highlights for me were Phantom, the Prisoner, and 7th Son. Bruce kinda of can't sing Aces High that well (the high notes), but other than that he sounded strong.

I believe I took a piss/water break during The Clairvoyant. It's a good song, but I'd rather hear other ones. The crowd was packed in the pit and the seat seats. the lawn looked well attended, but not until after the sun went down (as it was hot as a mother that day).

We left at The Evil That Men Do, because I drove and didn't want to get stuck in the parking lot for like half an hour. So we listened to that and Running Free (w/ crowd participation) on the way out. It was probably the shortest that it took me to get out of Jiffy Lube Live ever.

Saw Dorothy, Sascha (from work), A Sound of Thunder, an maybe one more person there LOL.



Photos
(Iron Maiden)
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26430065361/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-xiv-aces-high
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429986543/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-xiii-more
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429873335/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-xii-iron
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429795469/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-xi-iron
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429691085/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-x-eddie-as
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429615332/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-ix-rocking
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429504712/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-viii-iron
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429439019/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-vii-iron

(Alice)
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429265758/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-vi-schools
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429102479/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-v-with-the
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26429036296/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-iv-alice
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26428964597/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-iii
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26428881606/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-ii-alice
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26426455004/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-i-alice

(merch)
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26430666329/stevesnack-6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper

(A Sound of Thunder)
http://metalcowboy.tumblr.com/post/26430776683/6-30-2012-iron-maiden-alice-cooper-xvi-a-sound

Setlists

Alice Cooper

The Black Widow
Brutal Planet
I'm Eighteen
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Hey Stoopid
Guitar Solo
Billion Dollar Babies
Feed My Frankenstein
Poison
Wicked Young Man
I Love the Dead
School's Out


Iron Maiden
Moonchild
Can I Play With Madness
The Prisoner
2 Minutes to Midnight
Afraid to Shoot Strangers
The Trooper
The Number of the Beast
Phantom of the Opera
Run to the Hills
Wasted Years
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The Clairvoyant
Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden
--------------
Churchill's Speech
Aces High
The Evil That Men Do
Running Free