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Saturday, 27th August 2011
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Kansas City, MO - Fan Reviews

Fan Review - By Curt Taft

I haven't gone to four shows on a single tour since the "X" tour in 2002-2003.

Of course, it was easier back then. There were more shows in more places throughout the entire year.

Not just the same venues in the same big cities during the summer.

And they were cheaper and longer back then...

But this year, I got ambitious and ended up hitting four shows. As we arrived at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, I couldn't believe that my final show of the year had already arrived.

I had never been to this venue before. It's a big, glass, shiny arena near the heart of downtown Kansas City. There was a party atmosphere around the places as radio stations had their vehicles, tents, and speakers set up. Restaurants and bars across the street from the arena were blasting Def Leppard's music. And not just the hits! One place was actually playing "No Matter What."

Of course, I think that same place had a sign outside that said something about mullets and acid washed jeans being welcome and that they loved "Def Lepard." Spelled wrong on both sides of the sign...

But I digress.

My first visit to this venue immediately got off on the wrong foot. I picked up my ILAA tickets at will call and was pleased to find that I had scored sixth row seats. My four star seats in St. Louis were in row 12 so I was pretty pleased to be so close with four star here.

We made our way through the long line into the venue and got to the security check only to be turned away because my girlfriend had her camera in her purse. So we had to walk all the way back out and into the parking garage to leave it in her car.

It was only on our way back to the venue that we saw one tiny sign that said "No Cameras Allowed." Of course, the only reason we could see it this time was because there weren't hundreds of people waiting in lines surrounding the sign to get into the venue.

So for the pictures, I had to settle on my old iPhone 3GS. So the pics for this show won't quite be up to the standard set by the others I attended (specifically Chicago and St. Louis).

We grabbed some overpriced food and headed to our seats. Evan Watson played four songs, one with Viv, and 20 minutes later Heart hit the stage. The good thing was that Nancy's wrist was healed so she was able to play much more guitar than she had been able to the first three times we saw them.

The bad thing was they played the exact same one quarter covers setlist they have been doing since the tour resumed a month ago and it suffered for that fact. I enjoyed it for what it was, especially since this could be the last time I ever see them live. But I have to reiterate the fact that I barely consider myself a casual fan of Heart and their static setlist left me bored.

Take note, Lep. Casual fans DO get bored with the same thing over and over again.

Def Leppard took the stage right around 9:30, again kicking the crowd's ass with "Undefeated." I'm happy to say it has gone down quite well at every show I attended this year and it would be nice for it to actually see life beyond the tour supporting the release it came from.

The set flowed from there as it always does. As "Foolin'" was coming to a close, I was getting anxious and hopeful for "Gods Of War" to make an appearance since it has reportedly been soundchecked several times over the last week and a half. But no luck. "Love Bites" kicked in and the set continued.

As "Rock On" started, my girlfriend looked at me and said "well at least it's short." After just three shows, she's already sick of seeing this song live, and I have been for years. It was nice in 2005 since it was something new. And it was kind of nice in 2006 since they played the entire song live. In 2007... Fine. In a setlist featuring both "Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)" and "Another Hit And Run" (not to mention "Excitable"), who am I to complain? But ever since, "Rock On" has been the biggest dud in the setlist for me. I don't know how it has survived this long. The band seems to believe it was a hit, so that's apparently why it's there. I think the song is more known thanks to the original and Michael Damien's 80's cover than Leppard's. And the fact that this song keeps getting played while the band's last legitimate hit "Promises" has been absent since 2006 is a crime. I must remind people that "Promises" was a number one single for three weeks on Billboard's Rock Chart in 1999.

Yes. Billboard. Not VH1's video countdown on Sunday mornings. Not this 'Mediabase' chart.

Billboard.

Anyway, I had a tiny smidgen of hope that "Gods Of War" would still surface either before "Rocket" or after "Switch 625," but no luck.

On a side note, Phil noticed I was wearing my Man Raze shirt and was quick to point it out a couple of times.

As the string of hits to finish the set kicked in, my brain checked out of the show and I just enjoyed it as my last show of the tour. The band sounded fantastic, but then again, they absolutely should considering they play the exact same stuff each night. Joe's voice was in fine form, probably helped by the fact that the show was in a temperature controlled arena as opposed to a humidity soaked amphitheater.

"Rock Of Ages" went down a storm, as it has on all four of my shows this year, and just like that, the show was over. For what it was, it was great. A safe, predictable, extremely low risk concert. Without front row tickets to save this show, it was easily the least fun one of the tour for me. I can't honestly say that the five hour drive for that 15 song setlist was worth it. I'm not sure what the band has in store for next year, but I just might have to check the setlist before I even think about catching any more than one or two shows. Which sucks because that just means if there is a surprise in the setlist, it'll be spoiled for me before I even get a chance to see it.

But hey... Enough from me. Another successful nostalgia tour in the books!

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