Bruce Dickinson @ The Vic, Chicago (US)

BRUCE DICKINSON / MISFIRE

Date: 27th September, 2025
Venue: The Vic Theatre
Ticket Price: $106/€90 - $213/€181
Promoter: Jam Productions

This show was originally scheduled for The Riviera Theater but moved to the smaller Vic Theatre. Given the number of concerts happening in Chicago, sometimes on the same night, this wasn’t a surprise. For me, though, it was great news. Seeing an artist of Bruce Dickinson’s stature in a more intimate venue is a luxury. Of course, “smaller” is relative to IRON MAIDEN’s arena shows drawing tens of thousands. But that wasn’t my only reason to attend; “The Mandrake Project”, released nearly a year ago, proved to be a strong album with an intriguing concept that deserved a proper North American run. Add in the chance to hear songs from Bruce’s impressive solo catalog (especially favorites from “Balls To Picasso”), and we had all the motivation we needed to make the trek downtown on a crisp Chicago evening.

Just like the night before with SYMPHONY X, MISFIRE were tapped to open. With a bigger stage than The Forge and a larger crowd to win over, the Chicago Thrashers wasted no time. As soon as the “Borrowed Time” intro faded, they stormed in with fierce energy. The excitement of opening for Bruce Dickinson was written on their faces, and it translated into a head-on Thrash assault. “Chicago, are you with us?” shouted Tim Jensen, leading the charge into “Day To Day”. Winning over a crowd that leaned more toward classic Heavy Metal wasn’t going to be easy, but MISFIRE pushed the gas pedal to the floor and never let up. “We are here to open for Bruce Dickinson, there’s nothing more to talk about,” Tim added before “All Over The Place”. If they were star-struck, they didn’t show it. Tim roamed the stage, playfully tangling his mic cable around bassist Dan Stapinski, while guitarist Konstandin Kostandinov kept the riffs sharp and tight. Behind them, drummer James Nicademus drove the groove with relentless precision.

Banters were kept short, though Tim made a comment about baseball and the venue’s proximity to Wrigley Field, which earned some scattered boos (my limited baseball knowledge kept me from catching the full joke). Still, none of that mattered when “Twist Of Fate” hit. As the set progressed, the crowd warmed up more and more which was the proper reaction to a Thrash band. “This was the best show of our lives,” Tim said sincerely, before MISFIRE closed with the crushing “We Went Through Hell”. A solid warm-up for what was to come.

MISFIRE setlist:

01. "Day To Day"
02. "All Over Τhe Place"
03. "Red Flag"
04. "Left For Dead"
05. "Twist Of Fate"
06. "Privacy"
07. "Born To Die"
08. "We Went Through Hell"

MISFIRE

It had been far too long since Bruce Dickinson last brought his solo band to Chicago - and unless my research is wrong, this was his first proper solo concert here in decades, without counting his book tours. My excitement was off the charts as the stage crew prepped. A Theremin and a couple of Taiko drums hinted that this was going to an interesting set, to say the least.

At 9pm sharp, the lights dimmed and a recorded intro boomed from the speakers. Five of the six musicians took their places as the audience roared. When “Toltec 7 Arrival” gave way to “Accident Of Birth”, the energy exploded. Instantly, my mind jumped back 28 years to when the album was hailed as Bruce’s “return”. I never fully agreed, since “Balls To Picasso” remains a personal favorite, but regardless, hearing “Accident Of Birth” live was goosebump-inducing, especially when Bruce altered the chorus from “Welcome home, it’s been too long, we’ve missed you” to “I’ve missed you.” That subtle change was magic. From the outset, the band’s chemistry was undeniable, and Bruce looked like he was having the time of his life, teasing his bandmates and engaging with the crowd.

I hadn’t spoiled myself with setlists, so the UFO double strike of “Abduction” and “Starchildren” was a welcome surprise, complete with a flying saucer on the backdrop. Dickinson’s catalog is filled with gems, and hearing them live is a treat. But the biggest shock came with “Laughing In The Hiding Bush”. I honestly can’t remember ever hearing this one live (maybe sometime in 1997?), so this was a true highlight.

After this powerful opening run, Bruce took a breather to address the crowd: “We didn’t get the chance to play this song that has become the most talked-about track from “The Mandrake Project”.” A starry wizard appeared on the screen as he declared, “All of us are living in “Shadow Of The Gods””. Live, the track’s heaviness hit harder than on the album, Bruce delivering each line with theatrical flair that only he can.

“This is from a different time, a different era”, he said before diving into the William Blake-inspired title track “The Chemical Wedding”. The audience’s singalong gave the already massive track even more weight. Bruce’s mood was playful, too: “They haven’t played this song, which I wrote”, he quipped, before guitarist Chris Declercq unveiled the unmistakable riff of “Flash Of The Blade”. Honestly, MAIDEN should have dusted this one off during their nostalgia tours, but hearing it here felt like a gift.

The set’s pacing was perfect. After so much intensity, “Resurrection Men” provided a momentary breather, with Bruce theatrically holding up a “crystal ball” as an eerie effect as graveyard imagery filled the screen. This led naturally into “Rain On The Graves”, prefaced by Bruce recounting a chilling visit to William Wordsworth’s graveyard, complete with a horned figure that “what not evil, just the Devil,” he joked.

Drummer Dave Moreno’s short solo gave everyone a chance to cool down before the band returned for a lively “Frankenstein”, with Bruce himself joining on bongos and Theremin. (“Oh my God, it’s a Theremin”, flashed on the screen for good measure.) More storytelling followed, including Bruce’s dry humor about alchemists, setting the stage for “The Alchemist”. From there, the mood darkened again with “Book Of Thel”, before the band unleashed the ferocious “Road To Hell” against a backdrop of silent horror films. Before wrapping up, Bruce introduced the band and revealed they’re working on a new album (to be released sometime in 2027), which is fantastic news.

The encore was a dream. “Tears Of The Dragon” sent shivers down my spine, with the crowd singing every word. The Taiko drums finally came into play for “Gods Of War”, with Bruce handling the verses while the audience filled in the “oooohs”. Paired with archival footage from both World Wars, the performance reminded me exactly why Bruce was dubbed as a “war siren” when he joined MAIDEN. Finally, Tanya O’Callaghan’s bassline launched “The Tower”, closing the night on a groovy, high-energy note.

Bruce Dickinson and his band delivered more than just a concert; they gave a theatrical, emotional journey through decades of music, leaving Chicago not only sweaty and exhilarated, but also eager for the promised, upcoming album. And yes, a matching tour - please and thank you.

BRUCE DICKINSON setlist:

01. "Accident Of Birth"
02. "Abduction"
03. "Starchildren"
04. "Laughing In The Hiding Bush"
05. "Shadow Of The Gods"
06. "Chemical Wedding"
07. "Flash Of The Blade"
08. "Resurrection Men"
09. "Rain On The Graves
10. Drums Solo
11. "Frankenstein”
12. "The Alchemist"
13. "Book Of Thel"
14. "Road To Hell"
15. "Tears Of The Dragon"
16. "Gods Of War"
17. "The Tower"

BRUCE DICKINSON