The summer weekends in Downtown Toronto are generally busy. Lots to see or do. This week was an elevated exception. With Fan Expo, A Blue Jays Baseball game and one of the biggest Touring Metal bands in the world, Iron Maiden, playing three blocks from each other, the energy around Front St was off the charts. Seeing Cosplay costumes heading from the Expo straight to the arena was a beautiful sight. It was a celebration I was grateful to be a part of.
Metal Legends, Iron Maiden, are bringing the first of two sold-out nights of the “Run For Your Lives’ “World Tour” at Scotiabank Arena. With support from Megadeth, on their farewell tour run.This was going to be a night to remember! As crowds lined up outside, of all ages, singing and cheering, most donning the iconic Mascot, Eddie, on their chests, the excitement was building by the minute. When the stage went dark, the arena erupted! The massive backdrop screen lit up with a slow visual walk through the streets of London, guiding us through five decades of the band’s history and ending on a graffiti mural of the band’s “Killers” album cover.
Starting with “ Murder In The Rue Morgue” Maiden blasted into a 17 Song set full of energy, taking us on a musical and visual ride through 8 albums of the bands history. The Beloved, Eddie first crept onto the stage during the track “Killers“ and was trying to be just that. With axe in hand, chasing the Legends around the stage. He’d make several appearances throughout the night, adding to the visual beauty of costume changes, visuals backgrounds and storytelling from each album.
The frontman and Iconic voice of the band, Bruce Dickinson, greeted the crowd with a warm welcome and shared his opinion and support for the country on the political climate of the US/Canada conflict—just one of many beautiful interactions over the two-hour set. The arena was full of the most involved and connected audiences I’ve ever seen. Everyone sang or cheered through every song! Seeing three decades of families enjoying the night together was the most enjoyable part for me. As
someone who started my live music adventures at an early age, it was nostalgic and heartwarming to witness. Personally, this was my first live Iron Maiden experience and seeing the 50 celebration will be cherished. If you’re waiting to go, I suggest you catch the next tour before it ends. It has become one of my all-time favourite concert experiences and the first of many more to come.
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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
