St. Louis, MO - Media Review Quotes

By Mick Lite

Busch Stadium got a blast from the past on Friday night when Def Leppard and Journey rocked the night with special guest, Cheap Trick. The diverse crowd created a dynamic atmosphere that carried through the entire night.

Soon after, the screens were lit up with Def Leppard’s countdown clock. The band captured the crowd from the moment they took the stage, performing “Rocket” with 1960s NASA imagery reflected across the stage. The band continued to dominate the night with a set that included classics like “Let’s Get Rocked” and “Armageddon It.” These English rockers have made their mark and this was evident as fans all around the stadium wore wigs and apparel adorned with the British flag. Fans headbanged along as the set marched on with hit after hit, only allowing frontman, Joe Elliott, to take a breath as drummer, Rick Allen, annihilated a drum solo during “Switch 625.” By the time the band finished with “Hysteria,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” and “Rock of Ages” the stadium had erupted. They had taken the crowd back to the 80’s and the night was only getting started.

By Arch City Media 2018.

By Sean Derrick

Def Leppard had probably the most challenging position of all; starting the show in the sun but finishing in the dark. For most of their set they killed it. Blasting off with “Rocket”, “Animal” and “Foolin'” the Leps seemed to be hitting on all cylinders. Then, just as the crowd was really getting into it they hit the brakes with “When Love and Hate Collide”. It seemed an odd place to put that song, only four songs in, after three rocking songs, only to get back rocking the very next song on “Let’s Get Rocked”.

It didn’t flow too well, and was sort of like putting a speed bump on the Autobahn just as you started cruising fast. Four songs later was the creeper song, er I mean “Two Steps Behind” and that started a string of three ballads, in a nicely timed spot in the set. Perfect for taking a breather before hitting hard on the final run, which ended with an encore of “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph”.

Throughout most of there set the band sounded great and rocked as hard as I have seen them (which has been many, many times). If they just would have chosen a better song for that slot (Maybe “Too Late For Love” if they wanted to slow it down a bit, but still rock?) their set would have been perfect. As it was they still scorched the place.

By Midwest Rewind 2018.

Read the full review/30+ photos at - midwestrewind.com

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