The Kia Forum in Los Angeles was packed Oct 8th for the highly anticipated, sold-out Iron Maiden ‘Future Past’ World Tour 2024.

The crowd’s energy was high as The Hu opened the show. I was looking forward to seeing this band and they did not disappoint. The Mongolian folk metal band stormed the stage and captivated the audience. The band uses traditional Mongolian instruments including the morin khuur, the tovshuur, and throat singing. The lyrics of their songs focus on Mongolian war cries and poetry. The dark, moody lighting on the stage added to the intensity of their six-song set which included their most popular song “Wolf Totem.” As the band closed with the song “This Is Mongol,” the audience erupted with chants of “Hu, Hu, Hu.”

The venue brimmed with excitement as UFO’s “Doctor Doctor” began playing, signaling Iron Maiden was about to hit the stage. The band started with a bang, opening with “Caught Somewhere in Time” from their 1986 album ‘Somewhere in Time’. The stage lighting was full of electric, neon blues, and purples with a massive background screen of colorful, futuristic city streets was striking. Singer Bruce Dickinson prowled the stage and commanded the audience with his signature powerful vocals and high energy.

Multiple versions of Eddie appeared throughout the night causing the fans to go wild. A giant Cowboy Eddie appeared during “A Stranger in A Strange Land” and Cyborg Robot Eddie and Bruce participated in a laser gunfight during the song “Heaven Can Wait.” The last appearance was during the song “Iron Maiden” as Samurai Eddie erupted onto the stage to duel it out with guitarist Janick Gers with flames blazing.

The performance of the popular “Fear of the Dark” was a highlight of the show with Bruce prowling in a cloak at the top of the stage as multiple pits broke out in the audience.

The show ended with a 3-song encore. As the band played “Hell On Earth,” tons of pyrotechnics lit up the stage, and “The Trooper” caused the audience to go wild in the mosh pits. During the last song “Wasted Years,” the video screen flashed on multiple cartoon versions of Eddie’s, including him wearing a Dodger hat. What a fantastic way to end an epic show!

Iron Maiden always puts on impressive and captivating concerts demonstrating why they have such a loyal fanbase. From the impeccable vocals and musicianship to the stunning visuals and lighting, their shows are always an amazing experience.

Photos: I’m Music Magazine Contributing Photographer  © Kevin Estrada / @KevinEstradaPhotography 

Review: I’m Music Magazine Associate Editor/Writer Meesha Walden