It is not often that one gets to witness a performance from a true musical legend in person. The mightiest ones grace us with their presence in arenas and stadiums, letting us near, but never too close. But sometimes in rare moments we get lucky, and a Metal God will come down from the mountain to walk among us mortals.
On a quiet Sunday night in the Washington, DC suburbs, the Fillmore Silver Spring was the setting for such a divine moment, when legendary Bruce Dickinson, frontman of metal giants Iron Maiden, made a stop on his Mandrake Project tour. The Mandrake Project is Dickinson’s seventh solo album, but it’s been nearly 20 years since his last release; this tour is indeed a blessing from the metal gods.
It was 9:00 pm, after a short DJ set, when the house lights of the Fillmore darkened and audio from The Invaders (a short lived, late 1960s sci-fi series) filled the room. One by one the band (Chris Declerq and Philip Naslund on guitars, Tanya O’Callaghan on bass, Dave Moreno on drums, and Maestro Mistheria on keyboards) took the stage, with Dickinson entering the stage last, welcomed by the adoring, roaring audience.
Dickinson at once hit the crowd with “Accident of Birth,” from the 1997 album of the same name. The sci-fi continued with “Abduction” from the 2005 album Tyranny of Souls. “Laughing in the Hiding Bush,” from 1994, was in the cleanup spot.
What hit me immediately was Dickinson’s energy. After decades in the metal world, at age 67, Dickinson moves on stage like the Tasmanian Devil, thrashing about and throwing hands while belting out songs. He sounds amazing and still hits all the notes. In the photo pit, I ran back and forth trying to keep up with his energy. It was tough!
While Dickinson is obviously most known for his role as the lead singer of Iron Maiden, his solo work spans decades. The Mandrake Project tour’s setlist reflects that. Over a performance of over 90 minutes, only three new songs were featured— “Rain on the Graves,” “Resurrection Men,” and “Shadow of the Gods.” This despite the glowing reviews the new album—again, the first in almost two decades—has received. Indeed, it ranked #5 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 20 best metal albums of 2024 and it topped the album charts in Germany and Sweden.
Later in the show, after a brief drum solo, the crowd was treated to a fun cover of Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein.” Here Dickinson was able to give his pipes a rest while he banged on a stand-up drum kit and played a Theremin.
Of course, Iron Maiden was not completely omitted from the show. “Flash of the Blade” from 1984’s Powerslave was welcomed by the fans at the Fillmore with massive cheers. Without the stage theatrics of a Maiden gig, the skills and cohesion of the band and continued power of Dickinson’s voice and stage presence are the focus of the the show. The night wrapped up with a three-song encore before the exhilarated crowd spilled out into the night.
Even stripped of the usual heavy metal accoutrements, it is clear why Bruce Dickinson is a giant. The Mandrake Project tour wraps up at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on October 5.
