Bruce Dickinson plus support from Black Smoke Trigger

On first are Black Smoke Trigger who hail from New Zealand and are creating a bit of a buzz down under. And it’s not surprising to see why as they rocked their way through their support slot with an excellent collection of hard rock tunes. Meeting with a big response from the Civic Hall crowd, I’m sure we will be seeing more of this band in the future.

It has been two decades since the Iron Maiden frontman has toured a solo album, but tonight he is in Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall. On a very damp night, inside it’s quite warm, with the gathered fans excitedly waiting for the legend that is Bruce Dickinson. What can you say about him? He’s great at everything, pilot, lead singer of Iron Maiden, writer, solo artist, cancer survivor, bloody hell! We must admit we aren’t big fans of the Maiden, so not seeing him with them, and not really knowing what to expect, although obviously he is good. After all Iron Maiden have been a mega band for donkey’s years, but he is better than good, he is a force of nature. Masses of energy and charisma, and funny, straight from the off it was obvious that he was taking no prisoners and didn’t ram down our throat songs from his new album, ‘The Mandrake Project’. Just the four, but they received the same enthusiastic response as his more well-known tracks from the very vocal crowd and will no doubt feature heavily in any future tours he does.

The crowd, as mentioned earlier, were in fine voice, and didn’t have to wait for Dickinson to ask, nay order them to join in, they did it anyway, and with some very interesting visuals on a large screen. We absolutely loved the black and white horror featuring scenes from Nosferatu to accompany ‘Rain On The Graves’. His songs as you would expect are not three minute chart songs, not that anyone in the numerous Iron Maiden t-shirts minded and to be honest nether did we. The closest he came was a rousing rendition of ‘All The Young Dudes’. His voice is excellent, and I would go as far to say good as ever, and you can bet your bottom dollar that all here tonight will be hoping that they haven’t got to wait another 10 years until next time. What a night, what a gig!

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe