Review: Def Leppard and friends

Above: C.C. DeVille and Bobby Dall execute a compulsory move from the book of rock-star poses.  Photos by Chuck France, Special to The Star

The theme this evening was power: power pop, power ballads and how a sturdy old song can generate enough power to shake a nearly full arena.

Above: Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, who headlined Tuesday's trip down memory lane.

Tuesday's three-band rock platter at Sprint Center comprised bands from different locales or eras in rock music, but all three aroused the same kinds of responses from a crowd that was in the mood for some sweet nostalgia and raw reverie.

Cheap Trick opened the show, slightly before the clock ticked 7 p.m. They would play before the smallest crowd of the night -- about 6,000 fans were in their seats when they started. To many of them (us), their opening-slot status was a letdown, considering who followed. Nonetheless, they delivered a jaunty 45-minute set that included at least four songs everyone came to hear: "I Want You To Want Me," "Dream Police," "The Flame" (primo power ballad) and a jail-break rendition of "Surrender," a song that has sustained traction into another generation of young music fans who appreciate its 160-proof mix of energy, melody and rebellious lyrics. They also tossed in some tunes off the new album that fit in nicely with the old stuff.

Rick Nielsen was his usual pick-pitching machine, but I've seen him more animated than he was Tuesday night (he can be the rock version of John Cleese when he's in the mood). Robin Zander, though, never sounded better. Great set. Too short.

Tuesday night, the Sprint Center was Bret's House.

Poison followed, and it was evident from the start that this would be something of a rough go, mostly because Bret Michaels' voice was shot. The rest of the band did the usual hair-band, rock-star mugging and posing, and they sounded tight, but their lead singer's voice wasn't up to the task, even when talking/shouting between songs. (Although he came in loud and clear when he plugged his VH1 show, "Rock of Love.") 

Their fans helped a lot, singing along to tunes they've heard 12 dozen times: "Look What The Cat Dragged In," "Fallen Angel," "Unskinny Bop" and their member in the Power Ballad Hall of Fame, "Every Rose Has Its Thorns." About half way through Poison's set, the place was as full as it would be all night -- at least 13,000 people, many of them up in the rafters. And the crowd was ravenous througout the set. Poison is still a big, big draw, at least around here.

Def Leppard came out at 9:30 p.m. and opened its 90-minute set with "Rock, Rock Till You Drop." There were lots of "rocks" in its set list: "Rock of Ages," "Let's Get Rocked," a cover of "Rock On" and "Rocket."

And they rocked. They inserted a short acoustic set into the middle of the show, which included "Two Steps Behind" and "Bringin' On the Heartbreak." On that one, they blew up the ending into the full-band, electric rendition. Nice. The show peaked with the one-two haymaker of "Photograph" and then "Pour Some Sugar On Me"; each was as taut and glossy as Phil Collen's six-pack. By the end of the night, Viv Campbell was shirtless, too. Let's just say this band as aged as well as some of its songs. 

The crowd was pretty nuts all night, and the sustained singing and roaring had an affect on the band, which returned the applause and appreciation. Joe Elliot delivered an earnest post-show benediction, thanking the fans for the big, loud showing, and he promised to return. Whether they do or not, their music isn't going anywhere. These songs were built to last.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

SETLISTS

Cheap Trick: Way of the World, I Want You to Want Me, These Days, She’s Tight, Southern Girls, Sick Man of Europe, Dream Police, The Flame, Surrender, Auf Wiedersehen

Poison: Look What the Cat Dragged In, Ride the Wind, Your Mama Don't Dance, Fallen Angel, Unskinny Bop, Every Rose Has Its Thorns, Talk Dirty To Me, Nothin' But A Good Time


Def Leppard: Rock, Rock Till You Drop; Rocket; Animal; Too Late For Love; Nine Lives; Love Bites; Rock On; Two Steps Behind; Bringing' On the Heartbreak; Hysteria; Armageddon It; Photograph; Pour Some Sugar On Me; Rock of Ages; Let's Get Rocked

Comments

[Clint]

Def Leppard did not allow people to take cameras into the Sprint Center. Great marketing! I talked to our usher and they wanted the ushers to remove people from taking pictures with their phones...at the SPRINT CENTER! I never saw them doing anything but ask people to stop but it seems like a bad move on their part.

Is a new version of Pour Some Sugar on Me on YouTube really going to hurt their image? Thank you for alienating a long time fan.

[Gary Dean]

Great Review, Awesome pictures
What kind of camera does that guy use ?

[steve wilson]

cheap trick - good.
poison - silly, one or two okay songs.
def leppard - as a mott the hoople fan i always cringe when joe elliott has his arm around ian hunter as they're 'biggest' fan.

[steve wilson]

that's as THEIR biggest fan. sheesh.

[KevRocket!]

Side note - The new Cheap Trick CD, "The Latest" was released yesterday as well. It's probably the best thing they've released in 20 years. It has a little bit of everything - and it's all really great.
Hat's off to Cheap Trick! Hopefully they'll swing through town another day in a smaller venue (much smaller).

[Gary]

The more exposure to Ian Hunter/Mott the Hoople/Mick Ronson the better.

[Chuck France]

Clint.....the photog here: To answer your question.

Camera: Olympus E-3
Lenses: Olympus 35-100mm f2
and Olympus 14-35mm f2

Thanks for the kind words..was a great show!

[Vandelay]

Chuck, I agree. Your photos are a real highlight of this site. The Sonic Youth photos were fantastic too. Keep 'em coming!

[Chuck France]

Ack..sorry...read wrong post...meant "Gary" not Clint...wow I'm blog challenged!

[Metalmomma]

I was looking for a review of Rockstar Mayhem Festival at Sandstone yesterday - Go to Mandatory Metallica blog.

[Chuck France]

Vendelay....thanks much for the kind words. Have a good one.

[mankvill]

If anyone would like a review/setlists of the Rockstar Mayhem Fest, click my name. It's all there!

I think Def Leppard seem kinda boring live. Poison would definitely be fun, but do Def Leppard have that many hits?

[Bubba]

Heard about a friend that called at 4 pm and was told that DEF LEPPARD did allow non-pro cameras to their show. When he arrived at 6:30 he was told the policy change at 6pm. NICE MOVE! Trying to be fair, it's likely not Sprint Center's fault. Know that CHEAP TRICK was the opener but in the last few years, they've been REAL strict about such. As for myself, I like seeing / viewing fan's photos better most of the time anyway. Tickets co$t so DANG much these days, we fans like creating own OWN scrap book of a concert we attend. I say - ha-ha on DEF LEPPARD - 6,000 people? Thought it would have EASILY drawn around 10,000.

[Tim Finn]

show drew more than 13,000. Only about half that were in the place when cheap trick started.

[punkyjunk]

Metalmomma, the Star did review the Mayhem show:

http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2009/07/review-mayhem-festival.html

[Chuck France]

Bubba...yeah not Sprint Centers fault on pro camera use policy...totally up to band/management.

[Young Whipper Snapper]

These old farts don't mind if 10,000-12,000 people in an arena see that they're shadows of their former selves, but videos uploaded to YouTube would show hundreds of thousands if not millions of people.

The Grandpa Patrol needs to get over itself.

[Tom]

Most striking are Bobby Dahl's second and third chins, and Rikki Rocket's ridiculous haircut. Oh, and apparently Brett Micheal's voice is shot. When you appeal is based on surface-level attraction, it fades with age...

[Eric Melin]

Anyone else find it funny that Cheap Trick is older than any of these other bands and they (especially their singer Robin Zander) sound twice as good?

[drjfan1]

The concert was great. Brett's voice was slightly hoarse but you can't beat 80's bands for talented guitarists and drummers-much better than many of today's bands with digitally enhanced soundtracks. I have seen Poison recently when Brett wasn't as hoarse and you can tell the difference. Say what you want but it was still a very good concert with a great atmosphere. The poster that commented about age is probably upset he has 5 chins, 80 extra lbs and a "girlfriend" he found in a chat room.

[Steve]

13K more the I would have expected. Funny I saw DL at Sandstone in 1988, and it's just about the same set list.

[Bubba]

Oh! I get it - 6,000 showed up for CHEAP TRICK and the rest of the 13,000 crowd arrived there after. Makes perfect sense. I have respect for bands that after twenty or more years, they have all 'original' members.

I saw LEPPARD last two times they were at Sandstone. Sure they put on an amazing live performance.

[Wildflowerchild]

Anyone else think Joe Elliott bares a striking resemblance Patti Smith in that shot? (No offense to Her Punk Majesty...)

[WhatUp]

Tim Finn makes me smile and feel happy, we are lucky to have him "around here";).

Thx Tim, you are the man:)

[Travis]

Just wondering if the professional photographer has all the copies of the pictures he took at this show. I was real close to the stage and just wanted to see them and maybe purchase some of these.

[Shocko]

I had a 10 minute conversation with CC Deville at The Uptown a year or so ago. I there seeing Crowded House and Poison (minus Bret) had a overnight in KC. CC expressed to me that the crap they (Poison) plays sells well but what Crowded House is doing is real music.

I agree!

[Dale]

Maybe it's been said before somewhere else. If not, this seems like the place to let folks know that ACDC tickets go on sale Aug.1 at 10am for the Sprint Center in October.
Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of Highway to Hell.

[Betye Crockett]

I hadn't heard anything about this, but you're right--I just saw it on their official site. I'm surprised they're coming back, but I'll take it. Great news. Thanks for posting this.

https://tickets.acdc.com/

[neighbor]

It's not that surprising they are coming back - I think they base their tour schedule on the per capita number of 1980's model Camaros in everyday use in the city and surrounding area.

[Susan]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan

http://mariahcareylyrics.net