Def Leppard and Bryan
Adams: Rock ‘N Roll Doubleheader
Tour June 8, 2005 - Mesa, Arizona
– Hohokam Park
Live Review by Zane Ewton
The Rock ‘N Roll Double Header tour is
an opportunity for Def Leppard and Bryan Adams to zigzag through minor
league baseball stadiums and bash out all their big hits to an appreciative
crowd. For this stop on the tour Hohokam Park in Mesa, Arizona is the destination.
The park serves as the spring training home for the Chicago Cubs, tucked
away in a quiet neighborhood.
The band will be alternating who opens
and closes throughout the tour. Bryan Adams opened the show to a smaller
crowd. Parking became a major issue for the ballpark and the bulk of rock
and roll devotees spent most of Adam’s set line for a place to park.
Bryan Adams’ solo career came after a few
years of working with longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance and busted
open with the release of Cuts like a Knife in 1982. Adams fueled
the success of the album by touring extensively and releasing several top
40 hits. While still writing hits with Vallance for other artists, Adams
released Reckless that produced five Top 20 singles.
Adams retained his success through the
80’s but with the help of Robert “Mutt” Lange fashioned his biggest hit
with “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”. The following album provided
three more hits. He spent most of the 90’s churning out hit songs for movie
soundtracks. Now in 2005 he has released a new studio album, Room Service.
In keeping with the “all the hits” theme,
Adams brought out all of his better known hits. “Cuts like a Knife”, “Summer
of ‘69” and many others were delivered in a no-frills method that was steady
but never got too excited. The crowd was quite varied but mostly family
oriented. When Adams pulled a fan out of the crowd to sing with him it
was a 12-year-old girl who jumped at the chance. This capped off an enjoyable,
if not altogether memorable set by the Canadian songwriter.
Darkness fell on the crowd as the infield
became awash with the fans not content to just sit in the stands. Def Leppard
can be credited for creating the blueprint of rock in the 1980’s. Both
Pyromania and Hysteria broke into the stratosphere of rock
success. The following decade wasn’t quite as successful but found Def
Leppard staying true to their core audience. Touring in support of their
new greatest hits collection, the band still sounds fresh and excited to
be playing music.
Def Leppard took the stage and delivered
amped up versions of some of their biggest hits, jumping right into “Action”
from the Retro Active album. Not letting up at all, the band surged
through “Let’s Get Rocked”, “Women” and “Foolin’”. Even “Hysteria” received
a heavier treatment that really gave the song an exciting energy.
Singer Joe Elliott introduced their new
single, a cover of Badfinger’s “No Matter What” and tipped the crowd in
on a possible September release date for the full covers album.
The twin guitars of Phil Collen and Vivian
Campbell traded riffs and solos left and right up to a duel during “Rocket”
that was flashy without hitting live solo cliché’s. The two Rick’s,
Allen and Savage, kept the tight Def Leppard beat that is the trademark
of so many of their songs. Elliott’s job may seem pretty easy when a couple
thousand people are singing every word to every song but he’s still got
his voice and can hit those high notes, performing well in his role as
master of ceremonies. 25 years of touring has ensured Def Leppard knows
how to put on a rock and roll show.
Despite the label of an 80’s band, Def
Leppard’s music has aged gracefully and in a live setting is given a bite
and energy that is lacking from the glossy album cuts. This mixture creates
a great rock and roll experience that is all about having fun and singing
along to ridiculous lyrics.
Ballads were kept to a minimum which meant
the tempo was always high and the crowd ate up every sweaty minute of it.
Songs like “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” were exuberant celebrations
of rock and roll and the encore choices of “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak”
and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” copped the biggest ovation of the night.
The Rock ‘N Roll Double Header tour is
definitely fun for all ages, even kids under 12 can get in free. Just watch
out for some misguided tube-tops.
Posted by carolyn vuk:
def leppard is the best band ever when i found out they'll be with bryan i went gaga. well i ended up getting main grass seats it was great i loved it do it again
Posted by skamper81:
Bryan is timeless. Goes to show true talent never gets boring. Unlike Leppard he felt approachable and human. (Just like the rest of us.) On the other hand Leppard let us know that THEY ARE ROCK STARS and we are NOT. Leppard is very polished and rehearsed. And despite the fact that I could barely move my arms due to a crush of sweaty beer stinkin' and fartin' bodies I managed to enjoy their show. The only negative was the too frequent video clips of women in their usual rock and roll role...half naked and steamy hot. I've never been a fan of political correctness but I was disapointed that women were reduced to such a base value in Def Leppard's eyes. Unfortunetly many of their songs have now been reprogrammed in my head with a slutty byline. Bryan Adams is a legend in his own time and fans who actually know a bit about music would agree I think.
Posted by Morality's Dictator:
Hmmm..whered the Patriat act when you need it?
Posted by Morality's Dictator:
Hmmm..whered the Patriat act when you need it?
Posted by GTD:
Note to Osama: if you want to blow up more American ish, this concert would be a good target. Talk to me bin man, we can coordinate the destruction of the MTV buildings. I'll bring the ANFO, you can smother Jessica Simpson with your stinking unbathed Arabian ballsack. This will rule.
