Bruce Dickinson / Rock City / Nottingham

May 26

May 26 Bruce Dickinson / Rock City / Nottingham

Back at my musical, spiritual home Rock City, for a highly anticipated show, from local born rock royalty Bruce Dickinson. Apparently the show sold out within minutes of going on sale !

In support tonight we have Black Smoke Trigger, a hard rock/alt- rock band from Napier in New Zealand. Founded in 2018, they released their first EP “Set It Off” the following year. Charlie Wallace (guitar), Josh Te Maro (drums), Dan Fulton (bass) and Josh "Baldrick" Rasmussen (vocals).

With the bands name simply projected on to the back screen, they launch into opening track The Way I’m Wired from their debut EP. The drums drive the track on with some tasty riffs from Charlie. It seemed to me, that Josh’s vocals seemed quiet in the opener, a mixing imbalance maybe, but by Proof of Life any issues were fixed and his powerful vocals were in full evidence.

The Way Down is from their new album “Horizons” and has power and authority to it, with a great solo from Charlie and some ferocious drumming from Te Maro. With his holey jumper and long scarf Josh commands his stage effortlessly throughout.

The set ends with K.M.T.L. released earlier this year as a single, another powerful track with some lush riffs and deep toned, heavy bass. A cracker to end on, full of power and energy. Black Smoke Trigger delivered a thoroughly enjoyable set.

Setlist

The Way I’m Wired

Proof Of Life

The Way Down

Blindfolds & Rattlesnakes

Phantom Pain

Caught In The Undertow

K.M.T.L.

Rock City was packed to the rafters tonight, and sticky hot as a result. You could almost feel the anticipation in the air. Let’s face it, there aren’t many greater rock/metal legends about.

A local lad, born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Bruce was in Samson from 1979-1981 before joining Iron Maiden. Bruce left in 1993 to concentrate on his solo career but returned again in 1999 and has been ever present since.

Interestingly, when Rock City opened in 1980, the very ﬁrst band that was booked to play were Iron Maiden!!!! But fate got in the way, the show had to be postponed and instead The Undertones were the first band to perform at Rock City. Iron Maiden finally made their debut in 1996 (without Bruce).

Bruce has enjoyed a long and successful solo career alongside Iron Maiden, from the release of “Tattooed Millionaire” in 1990, through the iconic “The Chemical Wedding” (released in 1998) to his most recent album “The Mandrake Project” released earlier this year.

Bruce is supported tonight by Chris Declercq and Philip Naslund (guitar), Tanya O’Callaghan (bass), Mistheria (keyboards) and Dave Moreno (drums).

The lights dimmed and the rear screen projects the spinning coin motif for the album and the hall erupts in cheers, shouts and screams as Bruce walks along the back and then forwards to the middle of the stage. Dressed in denim jacket t-shirt and beanie (in this heat ?!) all resplendent in Mandrake Project logos, Bruce is grinning from ear to ear as we start with Accident of Birth from the 2005 album of the same name. Bruce is pacing round the stage and doesn’t stand still for the duration of the set, and that voice…… Is there a more iconic sound in metal than those long held notes ?

The crowd is moving as one and it’s incredible to see the connection between audience and artist.

Credit to the rest of the group, Chris and Philip on guitar and ripping out some powerful riffs, and Tanya with her long dreadlocked hair swirling is a demon on bass, while Dave Moreno delivers so me fast and powerful beats.

Highlights of the set included Afterglow of Ragnarok from the latest album, Jerusalem from 1998’s “The Chemical Wedding” and Darkside of Aquarius 2005’s “Accident of Birth”.

Maybe the best example of Bruce’s vocal skills in on Chemical Wedding (title track from the 1998 album) which has mellow, controlled elements, before it explodes in the chorus with that iconic high, held note range – incredible stuff ! Another one that has the crowd all singing along.

The pace is unrelenting and Bruce is just a bundle of energy as we race through hit after hit. Bruce seems to have an invisible connection to his audience. He has incredible stage presence and interacts with the audience, but almost doesn’t have to… the connection is real and electric and he holds the whole audiences attention in the palm of his hand all night long.

As the set comes to it’s inevitable end, we end on a rousing rendition of The Tower (again from “The Chemical Wedding”. Everyone is at fever pitch now and Bruce is clearly loving every second. Part way through Bruce pulls off the beanie hat (about time lol) and throws it into the audience. Unfortunately it gets stuck in the lighting rig ! So close and so tempting, a brilliant souvenir, but just out of reach !

The crowd cheer and Bruce thanks the crow before they leave the stage for the last time. It’s been a whirlwind of a night, and gone far far to quickly, but oh boy…. What a night !

Move used to playing huge arena’s, it’s great to see Bruce in a smaller venue, a more intimate venue, and he clearly loves it still. Rock as it should be !

Stunning….

Setlist

Accident of Birth

Abduction

Laughing in the Hiding Bush

Afterglow of Ragnarök

Chemical Wedding

Many Doors to Hell

Jerusalem

Resurrection Men

Rain on the Graves

Frankenstein