Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2005
City: Peoria, IL
Venue: Peoria Civic Center Arena
Opening act(s): Tesla
Headlining act: Def Leppard
Preview:
Here I am, about 2 years, one month, and 6 days from the last time I saw Def Leppard in Rockford, IL on June 21, 2003. When it comes to time between seeing Def Leppard on tour, that’s relatively short. There was 3+ years between when I saw them on the Slang tour in July of 1996, then the next time being in August of 1999. From the last time I saw them on the Euphoria tour (August 2000) to the next time, on the X tour (December 2002), even that was longer than the current wait I’ve dealt with. No complaints! I had other concerts in between (Aerosmith, Fuel twice) to help hold me over…
Still, nothing compares to a Def Leppard concert. For this one, I return to where I saw them with a broken ankle on December 29, 1999. At that time, it was general admission on the floor, which was really fun with a broken ankle I hadn’t walked on for over a week. Still, I somehow hobbled my way down front and was about 3 people back from the stage, right in front of Sav. It was an awesome show that gave me my first glimpses of songs like “Action” and “Make Love Like A Man” live for the first time, as well as a nice little snippet of “Back In Your Face.”
At that show, Dokken opened. I did not enjoy them.
For the show tonight, my 13th Def Leppard show and 19th concert overall, Tesla will be opening. I’ve picked up their Best Of CD and given it a few spins. And I’ve already seen “Signs” performed live before a Def Leppard show; Moon Dog Mane, featuring (at the time) former members of Tesla, did it when they opened for Leppard on August 17, 1999. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Tesla live, so it should be an enjoyable time.
Still, the anxiety for Leppard to come on will overpower anything. As far as the setlist goes, I’m expecting an “Action” opening, which would even be somewhat appropriate since this is the same venue that I first heard the song done live, and haven’t heard it since the last show I went to of the Euphoria tour. I miss this one. “Let It Go” is a possible opener as well. Even though it’s one of my favorite live songs, I’d rather have “Action” since I haven’t seen it since the Euphoria tour and “Let It Go” opened all six shows I saw on the X tour. I expect “Gods Of War” to remain in the setlist, and I’m hoping “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” returns, since I haven’t seen it since my first show nearly 9 years ago. The new tunes, “No Matter What” and “Rock On” are things to look forward to as well, especially with how awesome everyone has been saying “Rock On” is. Hopefully they’ll even pull out “Rock Brigade” or some other On Through The Night track for me, since I’ve been dying to see something from that album played live since they busted out “Wasted” on the Euphoria tour. Any new surprises are welcome, of course…
Tesla Setlist:
Cumin’ Atcha Live
Into The Now
Signs
Love Song
What You Give
Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)
Little Suzi
Modern Day Cowboy
Def Leppard Setlist:
Action
Let’s Get Rocked
Women
Foolin’
Hysteria
Promises
No Matter What
Love Bites
Armageddon It
Two Steps Behind
Gods Of War
Rock On
Rocket
Photograph
Animal
Rock Of Ages
———————
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Notes:
- First show of the 2005 Rock Of Ages tour.
- First time seeing “No Matter What” and “Rock On” live.
- First time seeing “Action” open a show. Third opener total.
- First time seeing “Action” since August 19, 2000 in Springfield, IL (show #6).
- First time seeing “Gods Of War” since August 6, 2000 in St. Louis, MO (show #5).
- First time seeing the album version of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” without “Switch 625.”
- First encore performances of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
- First time seeing “Pour Some Sugar On Me” close a show. Fourth closer total.
- First time seeing a song performed live before it has been released as a studio version (“Rock On”).
- Tied with the August 19, 2000 Springfield, IL show for shortest show to date with 18 songs.
- Show #3 at this venue; first since May 8, 2004.
- First Def Leppard show at this venue since December 29, 1999.
Review:
Media Review:
Hard-Rock Band Is Getting Soft
Has Def Leppard become forgetful with advancing age? Does the band have Alzheimer’s? Or maybe amnesia? Granted, the quintet hasn’t forgotten how to crank out a crowd-pleasing revue of chart-toppers, as witnessed Wednesday night by 4,300 fans at the Peoria Civic Center.
But Def Leppard has forgotten that it once was a wall-shaking, hard-rock band.
Though most fans eagerly stood throughout Wednesday’s show, many faces began to slack into catatonia as endless power ballads and pop metal slid into one another: “Foolin’,” “Hysteria,” “Rocket,” “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” – you know the drill. By the time the show ended with “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” long-time fans longed for a little less treacle and something with a bit more bite.
Wither “Rock Brigade,” “Wasted” or any other rocking tune? It’s as if Def Leppard refused to acknowledge life before the super-slick, mega-hit era of “Pyromania” and “Hysteria.” The thing is, the band tried to inject some rock into the set list, via covers of David Essex’s “Rock On” and Badfinger’s “No Matter What” – both of which apparently will show up on Def Leppard’s upcoming CD paying homage to British classic rock.
Indeed, inspired can shake up a concert, and Def Leppard handled both tunes well. But if the band wants to play some oldies, can’t it delve into its own discography? The show ran only 90 minutes; it’s not as if they didn’t have time for a a bit of old-school guitar shredding.
Regardless, as for the musical performance, the band (as usual) eschewed theatrics and delivered note-for-note perfection. A couple of times, guitarists Viv Campbell and Phil Collen were allowed to cut loose with brief, searing solos.
But mostly the songs focused on singer Joe Elliot. He’s never been much of a frontman; his stage presence is pretty much limited to a few token twirls of his stand-up mike. Still, Elliot (who still can squeeze into leather pants) did offer a bit of friendly banter to the crowd. He garnered a loud ovation when he held up the Union Jack and declared, “It’s nice to know we’re on the same side, and we thank you for it.”
His layered melodies with bassist Sav Savage and the rest sounded on-target. But Elliot’s vocals got fuzzy and thin at points. Granted, he’s never had the strongest of pipes, but the problem seemed not from his throat but his mike or sound system. Toward the end, he sounded somewhat distorted and gravely, as if he were channeling Ernest Borgnine.
Opener Tesla had no such sonic difficulties. The outfit’s blues-based rock filled the arena well, and wild-eyed singer Jeff Keith’s wail never sounded more piercing. Tesla, which still has all five original members, pounded through rockers like “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Heaven’s Trail” plus a handful of power ballads like “What U Give.” Tommy Skeoch and Frankie Hannon repeatedly (and delightfully) smoked through guitar solos – electric as well as acoustic.
The only downside: Tesla played for a mere 50 minutes, leaving no time for head-bangers like “Edison’s Medicine.” Pity.
By Phil Luciano @ Peoria Journal Star, 2005
Links:
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