by Nikki M. MascaliWeekender Editor
When Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott sang “I want to touch you,” a lyric from the band’s hit “Photograph,” Sunday night, it was obvious he already was touching the rabid crowd at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain.
The song came late in the British band’s hour-and-a-half set, but the audience was still on its feet, energized after hearing standout Def Leppard classics like “Animal,” “Foolin’” and “Armageddon It,” plus “C’mon C’mon” from last year’s “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge.”
The musicianship of the band — which also features guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rick Savage and drummer Rick Allen — is incredible, as are its harmonies. It’s safe to say no other band in rock music can deliver multi-part harmonies quite like Def Leppard, a fact driven home during three acoustic offerings: “Love Bites,” “Rock On” and “Bringin' on the Heartbreak.” The latter switched back to electric for the last chorus to pick the show’s tempo back up, which was definitely needed.
Def Leppard’s standouts included the instrumental “Switch 625” from 1981’s “High ‘n’ Dry,” written by its late guitarist Steve Clark, and an incredible drum solo by Allen, who remains a powerhouse drummer despite losing his left arm in a 1984 car accident.
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rock of Ages” explosively closed the set proper before the frenetic crowd and culminated in the encore “Let’s Get Rocked.”
Longtime rockers Cheap Trick opened the evening, and showy guitarist Rick Nielsen — who showed off no less than 10 guitars during its 40 minutes — played off the crowd during “I Want You To Want Me,” “The Flame” and “These Days” off last week’s release “The Latest.” Fans were also treated to “Don’t Be Cruel,” which the band had as a hit some 30 years after Elvis Presley’s version.
Poison followed with a high-energy 50-minute performance. While the setlist was completely unchanged from its five previous shows at the Toyota Pavilion, Poison gave people what they wanted: 10 of its greatest hits, including “I Want Action,” “Something To Believe In” — which singer Bret Michaels dedicated to his Korean War veteran father who was sitting stage left — “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Talk Dirty To Me.”
Highlights included an Eddie Van Halen-esque solo by guitarist C.C. DeVille, which turned into a kick-ass version of “Fallen Angel,” from 1988’s “Open Up and Say … Ahh!” and Michaels poking fun at his recent accident at the Tony Awards. Regardless of its predictability, Poison touts “Nothin’ but a Good Time,” which it encored with — and delivered.
Both openers have their own artillery of hits deserving of headliner status — unless Def Leppard is on the bill. That band truly owned Sunday’s crowd, and not only because of its impressive stage or production, but because it was truly incomparable. w
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