Bruce Dickinson and his band The House Band Of Hell finally set foot on Brazilian soil, more specifically in the capital of Paraná state. There, the singer received the title of Honorary Citizen of Curitiba, participated in a duel at the Paraná fencing federation, and also took part in the launch of the new beer from the Curitiba-based brewery Bodebrown, featuring jambu, the Mandrake Jambu Ale.
After so many events in the city, the long-awaited moment arrived: the new show. The performance took place at Live Curitiba, with a full house. There were some problems with delays in opening the venue, causing many people to wait in line for over an hour.
Opening with Clash Bulldog's
The opening band, the Brazilian group Clash Bulldog’s, took the stage punctually and, despite being a band of above-average quality, had difficulty energizing the audience. But at the end of the show, they managed a positive reaction with a cover of Metallica epic "Enter Sandman". The last song was also well-received, after all, it was "Anger Grows", which featured Blaze Bayley , formerly of Iron Maiden, on the recordings.
Finally, stage preparations began for Bruce and his band to enter, which, incidentally, proceeded extremely efficiently. Meanwhile, the concert area became practically packed, as many who were in the separate area with food and merchandise moved inside.
Legend Bruce Dickinson and The House Band Of Hell on stage
The first song of the night was “Accident Of Birth,” which drove everyone wild. Moreover, it's impossible to describe the power of the band, comprised of Dave Moreno on drums, Mistheria on keyboards, and Tanya O'Callaghan on bass, along with guitarists Philip Naslund and Chris Declercq .
Next came “Abduction,” from the singer’s last solo album before returning to Iron Maiden, Tyranny of Soul from 2005, and “Laughing In The Hiding Bush” from the classic Balls To Picasso. After the three consecutive hits, the singer chatted with the audience, very animated, saying that he was now a citizen of the city .
Finally, the moment arrives for the song "Afterglow Of Ragnarok," the first single from the new album The Mandrake Project , which was very well received by the public. Bruce Dickinson's energy, in great physical shape and with perfect vocals, is an example of a frontman. Next comes the perfect "Chemical Wedding," which couldn't be missing.
Bassist Tanya and keyboardist Mistheria were a show apart, simply dominating the stage, while Bruce quickly disappeared from the stage. The new guitarists and drummer were also unparalleled. It was a show where the whole band dominated the stage, resulting in a musical power rarely seen in other shows.
Bruce Dickinson was constantly on stage, like a boy running from one side to the other, playing percussion and even a Theremin, a unique moment in the show. After "Many Doors To Hell" came the moment for the beautiful "Tears Of The Dragon," already considered a rock classic, with fans literally crying. "Rain Of The Graves" and "Gods Of War" were also performed, the latter featuring images of the aftermath of war and the suffering of the innocent.
Unfortunately, it goes by quickly, and with "Darkside Of Aquarius" and "Book Of Thel," the band leaves the stage, receiving a standing ovation from everyone, awaiting the famous encore.
The singer surprised fans of his solo career by saying he had never played the song in Brazil and only a few times abroad, so he asked for the audience's understanding. It was a surprise called "Navigate The Seas Of The Sun," which delighted this writer who witnessed the magic live. I believe this song is coming along with "Tears Of The Dragon"; if you don't know it, it's time to find it – no regrets.
The final song was the single from the album Accident Of Birth , “The Tower,” where the whole venue jumped and sang along. It was an indescribable feeling; the tour's debut in Brazil was a resounding success. After thanking the audience and taking a photo, the band left the stage, leaving everyone satisfied. I personally missed the classic “Jerusalem” from the album The Chemical Wedding , but you can't please everyone.
Our contributor Vladimir Silverio was also at the show and captured the evening with exclusive photos. Check out the photo gallery below.
READ ALSO: Bruce Dickinson performs secret shows and sells his own tickets for tour premiere.
