Blog Post
'ED FORCE ONE' The Penny Theatre, Canterbury Friday 8th September 2023
Laura DQ • 12 September 2023
Live Review
Tribute bands, though well intentioned, can be problematic. Whilst many are extremely talented and do a wonderful job of recreating beloved tunes to the note, just as many seem to think putting on a wig and playing dress-up will do the trick. Thankfully, Bristol based Iron Maiden tribute Ed Force One fall firmly in the former camp. Looking like fans rather than impersonators in their obligatory Maiden T-shirts, the focus here is clearly on sounding the part. And whilst it can’t be easy to bring to life the complexities of Maiden’s work, with your eyes closed, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine you’re listening to the real deal.
It’s an extremely hot night in Canterbury and the tiny Penny Theatre feels oppressively warm. As more bodies cram into the narrow hall, I’m questioning if I’ll be able to cope with this for very long. My clothes are sticking to me and I’m conscious that my hair is becoming pretty damp at the back. But then the opening chords of ‘Moonchild’ ring out, and I’m hooked. Vocalist Suman Gautam impresses me from the off, a singer who sounds remarkably similar to Bruce Dickinson and shares his incredible range. But just as extraordinary is the musical prowess on show and the energy that radiates from the stage. The bassist in particular seems to have absorbed some of Steve Harris’ aura, wielding his bass like a weapon and giving the songs their distinctive gallop.
As the band blast through ‘The Prisoner’ and the ‘The Wicker Man’, I'm finding it impossible not to get swept up in the excitement of hearing these songs in such an intimate environment. My arms are involuntarily in the air, shouting "your time will come" with the rest. ‘The Trooper’ is greeted with a roar, and, in true Maiden fashion, a huge Union Jack is brandished on the already overcrowded stage. The twin guitar sound is beautifully rendered (no third guitarist here) and there's nobody standing still as we hit that "ohhhhh" refrain.
The classics keep coming, the underrated ‘Revelations’, epic ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ and infectious ‘Wasted Years’. Gautam introduces ‘Fear of the Dark’ as the one we’ve all been waiting for but, the reality is that every song garners as much enthusiasm at the last. Maiden fans are generally loyal, devoted and the know the catalogue inside out. But of course, the real joy of going to see a tribute band is that they inevitably play the crowd pleasers, the songs that get everyone moving and the choruses that everyone knows. And whilst I applaud Iron Maiden for forging forward, playing their new material and deeper cuts on tour, it’s hard to beat the jubilation of singing along to ‘The Number of the Beast’, ‘Run to the Hills’ or ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’, all of which are notably absent from Maiden’s current live offering. ‘Can I Play With Madness’ and ‘Flight of Icarus’ are also received rapturously. My only complaint is that I don’t recall hearing anything from ‘Powerslave’… Maybe next time lads?!
I left the gig with my love for Iron Maiden renewed, a desire to go home and blast the originals at full volume. And really, for £6 a ticket, what more could you ask for?