AUSTIN -- For fans still seething about Iron Maiden's set list from their sold-out June 12 concert at the AT&T Center --  and we know you're out there -- Thursday night's show was for you: Mostly classics, only one 21st century-Maiden song and a nod to the Paul Di'anno days among a blistering 90-minute set that spanned Maiden's entire career.

So, it wasn't the Iron Maiden. But it was the next best thing: The Iron Maidens, the all-female band that has been paying tribute to its favorite heavy metal group worldwide since 2001. Taking the stage at 12:40 a.m. this morning at the eight-band Extreme Metalfest at Republic Live in Austin, The Iron Maidens amazed a curious and mostly-male crowd of about 50 -- yes, only 50 -- with a riveting performance.

Opening with Aces High, then tearing into 2 Minutes 2 Midnight, The Iron Maidens left nothing to chance. San Antonians would be wise to catch them headline the 20-band, three-stage Extreme Metalfest on Sunday at Backstage Live. They were scheduled to go on at 11:30 p.m. in Austin, but the late start forced six songs to be cut from their setlist: Moonchild, Running Free, part of Judas My Guide, The Trooper, Hallowed Be Thy Name and The Evil That Men Do. But considering the songs they did play until 2:05 a.m., well, if you plan on seeing Sunday's show, consider the rest of this article a spoiler alert.

During my recent interview with The Iron Maidens, original drummer Linda (Nikki McBurrain) McDonald) and new singer Kirsten (Bruce Chickinson) Rosenberg, acknowledged that they play songs Iron Maiden rarely, if ever, play live. They didn't disappoint with numbers such as Phantom of the Opera and two songs off my favorite Iron Maiden album Somewhere In Time: A scorching rendition of Sea of Madness plus Alexander The Great. They also tossed in Wasted Years and Heaven Can Wait, meaning they played half of that 1986 album. Those songs alone should be worth the $15 ticket for most.

Also unlike Maiden's show in June, The Iron Maidens brought out mascot Eddie on several occasions. Whereas the robot made a roughly three-minute appearance at the AT&T Center, impersonator Eddie -- a man in various costumes -- came out for four songs, fitting in superbly with the ladies' performance to the delight of the crowd.

From McDonald's thunderous pounding of the drums, Rosenberg's stellar vocals (she even has hair about the same length as Bruce Dickinson had in the '80s), and Wanda Ortiz's steady bass play to the incredibly precise guitar work of Courtney Cox and fill-in Nili Brosh, The Iron Maidens did more than show they are five females who can rock. Having the double duty of properly paying homage to Iron Maiden, they more than succeeded. It would've been nice to see Ortiz attempt the comin'-at-ya pose with her bass that Steve Harris has made famous, even just once. But since that pose is all his own, Ortiz was content with letting her playing do the talking.

Should Maiden ever need to replace one of their three guitarists, they need look no further than Cox. Seriously, the woman can shred and hit every solo on every song note-for-note. But of course, that would require Maiden to swallow their pride and hire a female. Would they be man enough? That's a story for another day.

For San Antonio, judgment day is Sunday at Backstage Live -- where anything short of 500 fans would be an injustice to a group who gives due justice to one of metal's most influential acts.

*WHO: The Iron Maidens

*WHAT: Extreme Metalfest (20 bands on three stages)

*WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 29 (Doors at 6; Iron Maidens scheduled to go on between 10-11 p.m.)

*WHERE: Backstage Live (1305 E. Houston St.)

*TICKETS: $15 pre-sale with limited number of $10 tickets at the door. Call (210) 649-6303 for more info.

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