Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2015
City: Kansas City, MO
Venue: Starlight Theater
Opening act(s): Tesla, Styx
Headlining act: Def Leppard
Tesla Setlist:
Edison’s Medicine
Gettin’ Better
Hang Tough
Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)
Signs
Love Song
Little Suzi
Modern Day Cowboy
Styx Setlist:
The Grand Illusion
Too Much Time On My Hands
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Miss America
Lady
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
Lawrence Gowan Covers Medley:
–Rocket Man
–Bohemian Rhapsody
–Dock Of The Bay
Come Sail Away
———————
Rockin’ The Paradise
Renegade
Def Leppard Setlist:
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
Animal
Let It Go
Foolin’
Promises
Love Bites
Armageddon It
Rock On
Two Steps Behind
Rocket
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
Switch 625
Hysteria
Let’s Get Rocked
Pour Some Sugar On Me
———————
Rock Of Ages
Photograph
Notes:
- First show of the 2015 tour.
- Def Leppard took the stage to a modified version of “Disintegrate,” similar to what was done on the 2002-2003 X Tour.
- First time seeing “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” since April 10, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV (show #32).
- First time seeing “Promises” since April 10, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV (show #32).
- First time seeing “Rock On” since April 12, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV (show #33).
- Joe Elliott performed “Two Steps Behind” by himself, shortening the song by removing the guitar solo.
- First time seeing the full electric “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” since April 13, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV (show #34).
- Show #1 at this venue.
Videos:
Review:
As mentioned in my review for the Tinley Park, IL show in 2014, I took the conservative route for that tour (buying second level seats for just two shows) in order to save money for 2015’s “proper tour (behind a new album) and the eventual return to Las Vegas.” When this year’s tour was announced, I worked SIX shows into my schedule: Kansas City, Sedalia, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Tinley Park, and Moline.
Well, here we are a year later with no new album and no scheduled return to Las Vegas. As usual in Leppard Land, delays on top of delays on top of delays have occurred and we have ourselves yet another package tour with no new product to promote.
Not yet, anyway.
Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel as we are quite possibly a month or so away from a new single and hopefully a mere 73 days away from the new album being released.
Despite the fact that this tour isn’t yet supporting the new album, I stuck to my plans to catch six shows. My first would be taking place in Kansas City, where I saw the band in 2011 and 2012. Both of those shows took place at the Sprint Center. This year, the show was booked at a venue called Starlight Theater. I had never been there before or even heard of the place before this tour was announced.
After getting duped into paying an extra $3.00 for preferred parking that had no discernible advantage over regular parking, I made my way into the venue. It was a really cool place, as it was basically a castle with a stage at the bottom and 8,000 seats in front of it.
As with most shows this tour, Tesla took the stage first shortly before 7:00. It was a beautiful night, but the sun was blazing to my right, quite possibly giving me awkward sunglasses-shaped tan lines on one side of my face.
The doors had been open for less than an hour (since the doors opened about 15 minutes later than announced), so the crowd was fairly sparse for Tesla’s opener “Edison’s Medicine.” It was immediately apparent that the sound in this venue was quite good, with one problem… The smaller stage area meant the lighting rig and stacks of speakers were lower than normal. So while the sound was clear as day, the low end bass was overwhelming at times. It was a problem that plagued all three acts.
I hadn’t seen Tesla since they opened for Def Leppard in 2005 (my 13th show!), but it seemed like they hadn’t aged a day. Their set varied just a little from that show, as “Gettin’ Better” and “Hang Tough” were played instead of “Into The Now” and “What You Give.” Next up was “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out),” which sounded extra heavy thanks to the excess bass.
The crowd finally sprang to life with “Signs” and remained standing for the rest of the set: “Love Song,” “Little Suzi,” and closer “Modern Day Cowboy.” Tesla sounded as great as I remembered from 10 years ago and I’m excited about seeing them several more times this summer.
The changeover was quite short, and Styx took the stage at 8:00. I had told my girlfriend before they came out that I was going to try my best to enjoy them just to pass the time. Three bands I couldn’t stand as a kid were Journey, Styx, and Poison. Thanks to Def Leppard, I’ve seen each of them multiple times. By the end of this tour, the only two bands I will have seen more than Styx will be my two favorites: Def Leppard and Aerosmith.
Styx opened with “The Grand Illusion,” featuring that creepy Michael Jackson looking face peeking out from behind the stage. Then came “Too Much Time On My Hands” and “Fooling Yourself,” which is what I was trying to do by thinking I could enjoy this band. I made it through the next song, “Miss America,” but lost the battle when they started “Lady.” That song was too much.
I give credit where credit is due, so I must say that Styx performed as well as ever. Their sound is tight and each person in the band is quite good at what he does. The fact that the non-Shaw guitar player was dressed like a Bee Gee didn’t hurt his playing at all.
The band disappeared from the stage, leaving the obnoxious keyboard player alone to woo the crowd with snippets of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” At this point I had to wonder why a band of 40+ years was dedicating a portion of a one hour time slot to snippets of covers.
I zoned out for the rest of the set. Considering I’ll see them at four of my next five Lep shows, I’ll give enjoying them another shot.
With that, the changeover for Def Leppard began. My excitement quickly began to build as I was eager to see them headline a show after last year’s coheadlining slot with KISS that shortened their set more than ever. Since this tour began in April, I didn’t bother trying to avoid seeing Leppard’s setlist for this tour. I knew the basic rotation, I just wasn’t sure where the rotation would fall for this show.
My excitement was bolstered by promotion for the new Def Leppard album on the screens at the each side of the stage. It has been so long since a new Def Leppard studio album was released that my brain has forgotten what it feels like to anticipate one.
The curtain was dropped over the stage, and the final countdown began. A mere nine days ago, this stage was host to none other than Mary Poppins… And now here I was, waiting to see my favorite band for the 37th time.
In a slightly different version than what we saw in 2002-2003 on the “X” tour, “Disintegrate” played over the PA as the band took their places behind the curtain. When the song ended, the curtain was pulled as Def Leppard kicked off their show with “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” a song I hadn’t seen live since the mystical Viva Hysteria shows in Vegas in 2013.
“Animal” followed before Phil made his way down the catwalk to introduce “Let It Go.” Since it has featured in many shows over the last couple of years, I decided to film it with my phone. I’ve filmed songs at many different shows, and the extra bass in this venue was apparent in that recording.
I had wondered how Joe would sound after the difficulties he had over the preceding weekend due to a mix of a cold and excessive exhaust thanks to Sturgis, but Joe’s high and long note at the end of “Let It Go” put all fears to bed. He nailed it.
“Foolin’” came next and was followed by the moment of truth… “Let It Go” was played, meaning either “Promises” or “Paper Sun” would come next. I handed my phone to my girlfriend to film in case it was “Paper Sun,” as I wanted footage of it but wanted to be able to enjoy it as much as possible. I gave her two stipulations for filming: “Don’t fuck it up and don’t film me rocking out like an idiot.”
But… “Promises” was played. I didn’t mind, as I love “Promises” and it never should have been dropped from the set in my opinion. Again, it was my first time seeing that song since the Vegas shows in 2013.
The set was fairly standard from there. “Love Bites” and an earlier than usual “Armageddon It,” which a great introduction and crowd reception for Vivian.
These days, I’m taking every show for what it is and enjoying it as much as possible. Having said that, if I have any complaints about this tour (aside from the album not being out in time for it and the inclusion of Styx), it’s the return of “Rock On.” If the band is only playing 90-95 minutes per night, including a cover is a buzzkill. Especially one so overdone. I would have been happier seeing “Helen Wheels,” at least it’s a ‘new’ track.
Joe took center stage for a solo performance of “Two Steps Behind” before the band came back on stage for “Rocket,” perhaps my favorite of all the big hits.
Next up was the welcome return of the full electric version of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” and the always amazing “Switch 625.” I go into every tour thinking it could use a break, but it blows me away every time I actually see it.
“Hysteria” retained its usual spot before “Let’s Get Rocked” was played in a fairly new spot. The slight mix up of moving “Armageddon It” up and “Let’s Get Rocked” down helps keep things a little fresh.
The crowd went crazy for “Pour Some Sugar On Me” before the encore break.
Def Leppard returned to the stage for “Rock Of Ages” and “Photograph,” both of which Joe nailed, and the show came to an end at 10:54. It made me wish they would squeeze another song into the set, but it is what it is.
With that, the sold out show came to an end and it was a blast.
Media Review:
Def Leppard headlines a familiar classic-rock revue at Starlight
As much as it loves its sports teams, Kansas City loves its classic rock.
Tuesday night, more than 7,500 fans nearly filled Starlight Theatre to hear three vintage rock bands that have been frequent visitors to Kansas City: headliner Def Leppard, playing its fourth show here since 2009; Styx, playing Kansas City for the ninth year in a row; and Tesla, which headlined a show at the Midland in February.
Nonetheless, for almost four hours, all three bands kept the big crowd stirred and stoked by feeding it a steady diet of classic rock hits.
Def Leppard’s set was the longest and loudest of the night. The band opened with “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” the opening track from “Pyromania,” its breakthrough 1983 album, then “Animal,” one from its blockbuster follow-up, “Hysteria.” Those two albums would contribute eight songs to set list.
Lead singer Joe Elliott, one of two founding members still in the band, turned 56 this month, and though his voice is a bit lower and rough around the edges, it sounded sturdy and suitable, whether unleashing brash pop-metal anthems like “Let It Go” and “Foolin’” or a buttery power ballad like “Two Steps Behind,” which he performed solo/acoustic.
He shared the spotlight generously with his bandmates, giving solo time to drummer Rick Allen and his shirtless bassist Phil Collen, who had either bathed in baby oil or was sweating profusely on a crisp summer evening. The crowd indulged heartily in each of the 18 songs, including the cover of David Essex’s “Rock On,” but most vocally during the mega-hits, like “Bringing on the Heartache,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Photograph,” one of the most durable and indelible pop-metal anthems of its time.
Styx preceded Def Leppard with a one-hour set that pretty much revived its previous eight shows in Kansas City. Guitarist Tommy Shaw shared lead vocals with keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, whose stage antics often recalled the Bill Murray’s smarmy lounge singer Nick Ocean. Shaw was a cheerleader in constant motion, skipping and bopping from one side of the stage to the other, keeping the crowd aroused and rowdy. Gowan made good use of his small rotating stage.
The set list was filled with greatest hits: “The Grand Illusion,” which opened the show, “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Miss America” and “Lady.” Gowan performed a brief medley of covers that included Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” in a tribute to NASA’s naming the fifth Plutonian moon Styx. The band then joined him on “Come Sail Away,” which ignited one of the loudest sing-alongs of the night.
The night began with a set from Tesla. These days, lead singer Jeff Keith sings in a ragged bobcat yowl, but it gets the point across. The best part of its 40-minute set was the one-two punch of “Love Song,” another classic power ballad, and the cover of “Signs.” Both were songs almost everyone in the place had heard dozens of times, including six months ago at the Midland, but that was the point on a night where familiarity and nostalgia were the prime destinations.
By Timothy Finn @ The Kansas City Star, 2015
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