Maiden
Back at the Maiden show, Bullet for My Valentine — a British foursome whose claim to fame is inclusion on the soundtrack to Madden ’06 — is finishing up their opening set to the sounds of mild applause and a few drunken chants for the headliners. The lead singer name drops Maiden a few times during the set to get a rise from the crowd, even dedicating a tune to the legendary band, a lovely little ditty called “Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow.”
Barbra
Streisand’s guests, international pop amalgam Il Divo, also take time out of their set to recognize and dedicate a song to their headliner. It’s Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” and the four-piece group, whose members are all from different countries, proceed to rob it of its meaning by turning it into a miniature Opening Ceremonies for an Olympics Boston didn’t know it was hosting. They introduce themselves, revealing their respective countries of origin, and complete the image of a U.N. security council comprised of the members of 98 Degrees. I look around to see if anyone has glaucoma medication I can use to make this stop.
After the support acts are through at both concerts, there is a tangible sense of anticipation in the air. Everyone’s been waiting months for this day to arrive. And when the headliners hit the stage, there’s an undeniable catharsis.
Maiden
The members of Iron Maiden leap out onto a stage that is made up like a WWII-era bunker, and launch into the first track on their new album A Matter of Life and Death. It’s a song both simultaneously new and familiar and stirs the already anxious crowd into a frenzy. Everyone is instantly united in a communal headbang that feels more satisfying than a thousand lead pipe strikes to the bridge of Paris Hilton’s nose.
Barbra
Streisand’s entrance is a bit more subdued, but elicits an epic response. The entire arena is on its feet, as she rises from the center of the stage on a hydraulic lift to thunderous applause. Somehow, they’ve forgotten about their selfish children, their bladder control issues, and the $750 they just paid for floor seats. Now, there is only Barbara.
But both shows are not without their low points.
Maiden
During the Maiden show, frontman Bruce Dickinson utters those toxic words that could’ve brought down the Beatles on a reunion tour. “If you haven’t noticed,” Dickinson says, “we’ll be playing our new album for you start to finish.” As fanatical as the crowd is, people still start to sit, hoping that sooner or later there will be a word or guitar riff they can sing along to.
Barbra
The lull in Barbra’s set comes, of course, during her extended riff on the country’s current political climate. Disguised as a dialogue between her and Steve Bridges, a George W. Bush impersonator, all of the scripted yuks fall flat and the audience seems to pay attention out of courtesy. The one major applause break comes when Barbara asks the “President” how he expects us to afford our prescription drugs.
