Def Leppard
Poison
Cheap Trick
Fiddler's Green Ampitheatre
August 24, 2009
I was pretty excited for this show this time even though I have seen them all several times (especially Poison who I have seen too many times over the years to even count). I think every time I get to see Cheap Trick I am thankful. It was raining lightly all night, which was a welcome change from the heat we have had to endure at some of the shows this summer. Cheap Trick started the show, and I only wish they could have played longer. It is always amazing to me that a band as great as Cheap Trick is opening for other bands like Poison. They played the favorites like "Dream Police," "I Want You To Want Me," and "Surrender" but I missed out on hearing some older tunes like "She's Tight" and "I Can't Take It." I was waiting for those, but they only had so much time I suppose. Guitarist Rick Nielsen is always entertaining and vocalist Robin Zander sounded great, as usual.
When Poison came on, I have to admit I was a bit bored at this point. Don't get me wrong, I really like some of their songs, and I think CC, Bobby, and Rikki are great. I just think Bret is a little overexposed these days. With his Rock of Love 1, 2 and 3 (Rock of Love Bus), I had seen just about enough of him in the past couple of years that I ever needed or wanted to see. I will give them props for their always entertaining stage presence though, and their ability to rev up the crowd. By this point in the show, the ladies' shirts started coming off too so it was full on booby cam for the rest of us concertgoers. Amazing how these chicks still do this kind of thing. It doesn't really bother me, I guess I just don't get it. The set list included "Ride The Wind," "Talk Dirty To Me," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," and "Nothin' But a Good Time."
Def Leppard was GREAT! Not just because I love Joe Elliott, and I really thought I was going to marry him when I was 12 years old (and yes, I still think it could happen!), but because they are always amazing in concert, and I really dig their songs. Again, I just wished they would have played more of their older stuff, as many of the songs they played were off the Hysteria and Pyromania albums. They only played an acoustic version of "Bringing On the Heartbreak" and nothing else off the High n' Dry album. The set list included "Animal," "Love Bites," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Foolin'," and "Hysteria."
Phil Collen looks amazing! He must have been working out to get ready for this show because he is really in good shape and his body is really ripped. As always, he had his shirt off the entire time. Joe Elliott has gained a bit over the years, but he still looks relatively well and his vocals were spot on. Vivian Campbell and Rick Savage did not disappoint with their guitar skills. Rick Allen is always amazing to watch as a drummer, not only because of the severe challenges he has had to overcome as a drummer with the loss of his arm, etc. but because I really think he is one of the best drummers of all time.
Oh yes, the boobies were flying during Def Leppard's entire show too. I probably could have done without seeing any more of this nonsense, but overall it was a good time to be had by all.
SL
