British icons, the mighty Iron Maiden, came to Dickies Arena on The Future Past World Tour. As most Maiden fans know, the band often alternates between promoting new albums and greatest hits tours. Their 25th tour, however, focused on something old, the classic 1986 album, Somewhere In Time, and something new, the band's most recent offering, 2021’s Senjutsu. Their 15-song setlist was comprised of five songs from each of those albums, and five more from five of their other 17 studio albums.

Dickies Arena was packed to the rafters and the general admission floor area was a sea of humanity. Many fans stood in line since 5:30am to get that coveted front-row-at-the-barricade spot. The crowd roared as the band's traditional intro, UFO's classic "Doctor Doctor" began, going wild as anticipation switched to sing along participation. Drummer Nicko McBrain appeared behind the kit and hyped the crowd as the theme from Blade Runner played. A burst of pyro followed as the rest of the band charged onto the stage and opened with "Caught Somewhere In Time" and "Stranger In A Strange Land." This was where fans got the first brief glimpse of the band's mascot “Eddie,” complete in cyborg form with trench coat and Cowboy hat as he appeared on the single.

Three songs from Senjutsu came next, the lead single "The Writing on the Wall," followed by "Days Of Future Past" and "Time Machine." The Grammy Award winners continued with a cool deep cut from The Number of the Beast, "The Prisoner." Another track from Senjutsu, the epic "Death Of The Celts" featuring bassist/songwriter Steve Harris came next.

The sold-out show continued with fan favorites "Can I Play With Madness" and "Heaven Can Wait," featuring a gun battle between Eddie with his blaster and Dickinson, who was high atop a walkway with a Gatling gun-style rocket launcher. Then came the epic "Alexander the Great,"a song they never played live before this tour. Loyal fans, as defined by the 130 million albums sold,testified there was absolutely nothing that compared to hearing Iron Maiden play the next song, "Fear of the Dark" live as they sang along. The set then came to an end with the band's signature song, "Iron Maiden" and an appearance by Samurai Eddie.

The band returned for three more encores, another epic track from Senjutsu, "Hell on Earth," where the stage lit up with flames, and favorites "The Trooper" and "Wasted Years” to finish the great night.

After nearly 50 years, their new material stands up so well to the classics, a testament to the staying power of this legendary, Metal Hall of Fame band . Vocalist Bruce Dickinson still sounds incredible as he hits every note to perfection. His energy is boundless as he crisscrosses the stage. The classic guitar team of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith line up together, while fellow guitarist, the charismatic Janick Gers, dances across the stage and twirls his guitar like a baton. Not to be left out, Steve Harris strikes the classic machine gun pose.

After what was easily one of the best concerts of the year, Dickinson promised the band would return to Texas for Iron Maiden's upcoming 50th Anniversary tour, the 2025 Run For Your Love World Tour. Until then, Up the Irons!

Special thanks to the staff of Dickies Arena and Laura Kring of Live Nation.

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