Maiden United Camden Underworld 16-03-16



First up was a 40 minute acoustic set from HeKz a 5 piece who impressed with their arrangements and the excellent vocals of Matt Young.

One song was taken form an 18 minute epic down to 6 minutes by removing all the waffle and their was interesting conversation with the crowd about their promised version of Judas Priest's Painkiller which they now need to practise for future shows.

Their set made me want to check them out in an electric setting and they left to very appreciative applause. 

I was fortunate to see Maiden United last year and as a huge Maiden fan how can you resist hearing classic interpreted so amazingly by quality musicians.

This gig had the following line up.

Vocals: Damian Wilson (Threshold)
Drums: Lee Morris (ex-Paradise Lost)
Guitar: Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation)
Bass: Joey Bruers (Up The Irons)
Piano: Huub van Loon (Dearworld)
Special guest: Dennis Stratton (ex-Iron Maiden)



And for me the added pleasure of seeing Dennis Stratton for the first time who appeared on Maiden's debut album.

For an hour and 40 minutes we were treated to Maiden classics played with passion and with arrangements that in my opinion blow my mind hearing songs I have loved forever played in such a way.

Here is what the played.

Strange World
22 Acacia Avenue
2 Minutes To Midnight
Revelations
Futureal
Prowler(With Dennis)
Charlotte The Harlot(With Dennis)
Children Of The Damned(With Dennis)
The Trooper(With Dennis)
Remember Tomorrow(With Dennis)
Sun And Steel
The Evil That Men Do
Die With Your Boots On
Encore of Wasted Years(With Dennis)


Damian Wilson is in my opinion one of rock's premier frontmen with his work with Threshold,Maiden United and Headspace.He has such an easy going appeal and sees the audience as his friend's and vocally just wow.He takes the songs off to another planet and puts every single ounce of his being into every note with a melodic power and such joy in doing what he loves.

On drums for these few dates was Lee Morris who was phenomenal.Again a sheer joy at playing live and his interaction with the rest of the band was fantastic to see.His playing at the end of 22 Acacia Avenue was mind blowing and brought a power to an acoustic performance you would not expect.

The way the band have taken the songs apart and put them back together takes the magic of the original versions and re implants them back into your mind and I find myself smiling at the wow factor as you hear songs reinvented.

I would love to know how Steve Harris feels hearing what Maiden United have done to the originals?

Dennis Stratton was greeted like a hero.His witty banter of jokes and stories had the crowd in stitches.He did say he had received a text from Steve Harris who was due to be playing a football match and show in Rio!!As you do!!

Prowler and Charlotte The Harlot took us back to the debut cd and again the arrangements shone through as did the lengthy Remember Tomorrow which had a great solo from Dennis too.


The Trooper had Damian in the crowd splitting us into a wall of death as he walked around the venue singing with crowd members.

Sun And Steel was a surprise choice but again the crowd knew all the words and Die With Your Boots On was the set closer.A song torn apart put back together and added too with lengthy instrumentation and crowd participation on the chorus.Fantastic.

Wasted Years saw Dennis return as the crowd and band came together in a mass sing along and ended a night of nostalgia but also a love for Iron Maiden that had band and fans united.

















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