Bruce Dickinson concludes Mandrake Project tour to thunderous LA crowd

Scream for me, Los Angeles! Thunder roared over Los Angeles on Sunday evening as Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson and the House Band From Hell concluded their final date on The Mandrake Project Tour. Starting on August 22nd at the House of Blues Anaheim, Bruce and his band travelled across the United States playing headlining events and making festival appearances before circling back to southern California conclude their tour at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Arriving late to the venue, I was able to hear the excited chatter of the crowd talking about the performance of opening band Combustion 96 and how they rocked the house down. The halls were buzzing with fans exploring the beautiful venue that is The Wiltern, complete with a photobooth that people were lining up for showing off their new merch purchases. From t-shirts to beanies, it seemed like everyone was rocking something representing Bruce and The Mandrake Project.

Walking into the theater section of the venue, the eager crowd grew louder.

I overheard conversations about how many times people have seen Iron Maiden versus seeing Bruce Dickinson alone. For many, this was the first time being able to witness the legend that is Bruce Dickinson as a solo act. I had the pleasure of covering this tour on opening night — a blast on its own — but little did I know how much stronger the closing night would be.

The lights dimmed down as the House Band From Hell took their positions; the Mandrake Project’s visuals glowed on screens behind them. The roar of the crowd can be heard booming through the venue. In an explosion of energy, Bruce jumped out and took his spot front and center.

The band and Bruce were on fire this night.

The synchronized playing between every band member was mesmerizing to see. It was very apparent that they had this show was nailed down. During “Shadow of the Gods”, Bruce’s powerful voice echoed through the venue, leaving everyone stunned.

Later on during the show, Bruce Dickinson joked around with the crowd, asking if anyone had ever listened to his side project — “a little band named Iron Maiden”. He explained to us how he wrote a song only to be confused as to why they never played it live.

“Oh well, I hope you guys are able to recognize this one.”

The intro to Iron Maiden’s “Flash of the Blade” began to play and the crowd lost it. Passionate Iron Maiden fans could be heard singing every lyric, word for word. As the show came to an end, Bruce introduced each member of his band, which was met with a roar from the crowd after every name. When the show concluded, Bruce thanked the crowd again to thunderous applause.

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Bruce Dickinson live, hopefully he decides to tour again soon; any metal fan, especially Iron Maiden fans, will be welcomed with such a treat. It was definitely a tour to remember.

Photography by Guillermo “Memo” Sanchez

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