Des Moines, IA - Media Reviews
Classic rock hysteria invaded Wells Fargo Arena on Monday night.
There’s no reason to panic, though. It was a regularly scheduled dose of guitar-driven nostalgia, courtesy of two of rock radio’s favorite 1970s and ‘80s groups: Journey and Def Leppard.
A total 12,122 concertgoers took to downtown Des Moines for the show — a co-headlining effort that saw each act play a 90-minute set of fan favorites. Here’s a look at the show’s highlights.
The hits, the hit … the hits!
Blast each and every fan with a hearty dose of nostalgia. Fast songs? Sure. Slow songs? Yes, please. Just give ‘em what they know.
That’s the formula of a classic rock arena show in 2018 and that’s what Journey and Def Leppard delivered.
For pond-hopping British import Def Leppard, those hits included “Love Bites,” “Photograph,” “Armageddon It,” “Let’s Get Rocked” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
"Des Moines, Iowa, holy crap,” said Leppard frontman Joe Elliott. “It's nice to keep coming back year after year after year — because look at it — it never gets old.”
For classic rock fans: A Des Moines radio station is celebrating 40 years of classic rock. Wait. What?
For Journey, this means hitting the stage with “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” before filling the set with “Wheel in the Sky,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Lovin’, Touchin’ Squeezin’” and “Open Arms.”
And, yes, of course ... “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
“So happy to be with you again ... it’s been awhile," said Journey frontman Arnel Pineda, who joined the band in 2007. Journey last played the arena in 2016.
Plus, the ballads.
Neither band is immune to a show-slowing hip-sawyer.
Leppard brought the squeeze-your-loved-one-tight moments with “When Love and Hate Collide,” “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” and “Two Steps Behind," the latter coming acoustic with Elliott and company walking the catwalk.
More: 'One of the greatest career highlights': Meet the new voice of mornings on Des Moines station KIOA
“Let’s light this place up,” Elliott jested at one point, signaling a slower moment. “Cell phones, everybody get your (expletive) cell phones out. Lights down, cell phones out."
It’s with “Faithfully” and “Open Arms” that Journey took home top ballad prize Monday night, though. Plus, It’s tough to complete with a band that penned “Lights,” a power ballad that pleads for attention from your iPhone flashlight. The stage.
The show’s a co-headliner — meaning each band plays the same time (90 minutes), roughly the same number of songs (16 songs from each, with more interlude jamming from Journey) and each band shares the same stage setup.
This means both bands worked the catwalk and used the same screens to boast in-show visuals.
How’d that look? Each offered a little something different.
Def Leppard felt like the cleaner show of the two — a bit more visual flash. Each song felt defined in its lighting and graphics, such as the strobe effect during “Switch 625” or the analog television filter in “Rocket.”
The group also offered a proper, two-song encore, which Journey didn’t.
Journey felt a bit more improvised, offering interlude guitar and drum solos from Neal Schon and Steve Smith, respectively. The group also displayed a bit more energy, with Pineda jump kicking to conclude songs. And a little history.
Both sprinkled a bit of history into the night.
Journey took the personal route, with Schon discussing “Lights,” the previously-mentioned power ballad he said he composed with former Journey frontman Steve Perry, who left the band in 1998.
”This is the second song I ever wrote with Steve Perry,” he said. “We wrote it in San Francisco. This is about a city by the bay.”
Leppard offered a more reflective approach, jesting with fans about exactly how long the band’s been playing America.
“You know we’ve been coming here since 1980,” Elliott said. “Thirty-eight (expletive) years. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s all we ever wanted to do.”
And, as Elliott said when the band exited the stage, they don’t plan to stop any time soon. A reassuring statement in a world where rock’s biggest stars continue to show mortality.
“As always, until next time,” Elliott said. “And there will be a next time. Don’t forget us and we won’t forget you.”
By Des Moines Register 2018.
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