Corpus Christi, TX - Media Reviews

Def Leppard plays stripped-down rock By Paige Ross

No props, backdrops, lighting gimmicks at Texas State Aquarium concert. The drummer from Def Leppard's only got three feet - or at least it seemed that way Wednesday night when the British band started kicking it up at the Texas State Aquarium.

Tearing into "Rock Rock (Till You Drop)" Def Leppard shook the stage on the aquarium grounds, where about 4,000 people gathered to rock the otters.

Within 10 minutes of taking the stage, singer Joe Elliott had turned the song "Women" into an event, working the crowd and leading it through the lyrics after a wonderfully spacey musical introduction.

Straight-ahead rock 'n' roll was the focus of the show, which was well-staged and well-paced throughout, without relying on lighting tricks, props, backdrops or gimmicks.

Drummer Rick Allen, who lost his left arm in a car accident in 1984, kicked some solid grooves on an electro-acoustic drum kit on hits like "Rock of Ages" and "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad." The hard-rocking band performed an especially effective version of "Love Bites," which ended with guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell creating the most interesting music of the evening.

Elliott, his voice sounding fatigued about 45 minutes into their set, was generous, inviting crowd involvement on the band's biggest hits from the 1980s. He maintained his poise as he slowed things down with "Too Late for Love," his stance more a matter of droll disenchantment than rock 'n' rebellion. It worked well.

The guys traded lines on "Slang," the vocals reflecting the secure ensemble work that held throughout the evening. Elliott found some reserve of energy to barrel through the rest of the show, including a particularly energetic rendition of "Let's Get Rocked."

Soul Motor turned in a solid opening set, but failed to ignite the crowd, even with its bearded lead singer slinging hip-length hair through a well-performed, slightly sludgy rendition of "Live Up to Life." The crowd was slightly older than the average local rock audience - more sedate than sedated - and somewhat slow in its response. Soul Motor just didn't move 'em.

Def Leppard definitely did. Couples out for the evening stepped slightly apart and belted out lyrics when the band launched into disaffected love songs such as "Fa-fa-fa-Fooling" and "Love Bites." The crowd responded just as enthusiastically on the band's happy sex songs, many singing ecstatically and shimmying with arms extended as they danced under the palm trees outside the aquarium. Who would have thought that so many people in Corpus Christi knew all the lyrics to "Pour Some Sugar on Me?"

By Caller Times 1999.

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