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Monday, 20th July 2009
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St. Louis/Maryland Heights, MO - Fan Reviews

Fan Review - By Shana

It was an unseasonably cool night for St. Louis in July; perfect for an outdoor event! Cheap Trick was wonderful as always getting the crowd started up the right way. Poison put on an electrifying set, as usual, getting everyone on their feet and dancing.

As AC/DC's For Those About to Rock began, the crowd rushed back to their seats, and grew impatient. The intro to the Sparkle Lounge builds excitement in your tummy and then you see Rick come up to his kit. The beginning of Pyromania comes on and Sav appears above the drum kit! Then--BAM! Rock! Rock! pounds finto your ears! The boys launch into a rockin set that was spectacular throughout! Good mix of new and classic material, although I would have liked to have heard Nine Lives too but, I really was excited for anything!

We were lucky enough to be in the front row near the Thrust on Sav and Viv's side. I received plenty of attention from the guys--Joe sang "I suppose a rock's outta the question?" to me, Viv gave me a pick and shook my hand, Phil tossed me a pick and stuck his tongue out at me, and Sav came over to give me a pick after I excitedly waved him to me! Ahhh, what more could a girl ask for? Sorry pics weren't better, had to use my phone as cameras were turned away depending on who searched you. Overall, a perfect evening! Thank you to all who made it possible! I will be there next time!


Fan Review - By Amy

This concert was full of firsts for me: first time sitting on the lawn (booked tickets too late!) and first time I could not take a camera in the venue - boo to the gits at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre for that senseless rule. That said, I have no pictures to prove it, but had Nothin' But a Good Time anyway.

Right, that's the end of the cheesy Poison puns. They and Cheap Trick were covered adequately in the media reviews, so I'll limit my raves to my faves, the Mighty Lep. After watching a very dodgy performance on VH1 Friday night when they featured Lep a week earlier, in Connecticut, I wasn't sure what to expect. Only Joe and Sav were interviewed, Joe sounding mighty hoarse, especially when singing Rocket; and Sav sounding, well, uncharacteristically talkative. The others were only shown walking on stage and performing briefly. Phil shone brightly as usual, but I was more than a bit distracted by his gum chewing.

Never fear, the Leppards were all back in fine form by the time they arrived in Maryland Heights. Apparently they were in St. Louis Sunday, or at least Rick was, earning a mention on KSHE radio's "Lunch with Def Leppard" noontime programme. The Missouri fans were delighted to spot him in the stands at Busch Stadium at Sunday's Cardinals game, prompting a shot of Rick on the jumbotron for which Joe took the p!ss outta him on stage Monday night: "now he's a famous wanker or something." Decked out in Cardinals jersey and a baseball cap, which he tossed out to some lucky fan near the stage, Rick was all smiles and thunder on the drums.

Phil was also all smiles, no shirt, lotsa bling, and a mouthful of GUM. For any ladies who haven’t already guessed, he’s apparently lost the shirt altogether and doesn't even bother to wear it for the first 2-3 songs any more! Sporting two new Jackson guitars - a groovy green and white psychedelic which glowed in the dark like Bela and a classic maple colour reading "London 1957" (hmmm, I wonder wot that means?) Phil was a joy to watch even from the back 40 in the lawn. We were on our feet the whole time. Despite the jumbotrons not working during Poison and Cheap Trick's set, thank God they were in order by the time the Leps hit the stage. New features this time were camera shots of Rick's thunderous feet pounding the drums during ROA and Phil's fast fingers flying up and down the fretboard.

Highlights were Hysteria, Phil adding a little soul to the rideout riff; Foolin', when Joe's voice was amazingly strong; C'Mon C'Mon when the whole band was really into it; and Sav's bass solo leading up to Rock On. Even though I wish they would drop RO from the setlist and stick with their own songs, it gives Sav a well deserved time in the spotlight which is fun to see. Conversationally speaking, the highlight and laugh of the night goes to Joe for his pre-TSB address to the crowd surrounding the thrust stage: "Someone down there is smoking something that's not legal, I know cos it's made me forget wot I was gonna say!" Sav got a huge laugh out of this, as did the audience. Finally Joe remembered that he was going to invite the lot of us to join the band and "sing along if you know this one" (Two Steps Behind) which of course we all did enthusiastically. Also there was a little surprise that threw some of us for a loop: When they intro'd PSSOM, it sounded just like Let's Get Rocked, then they launched into the "Love is like a bomb, bomb, bommmm bommmm" lyric and we knew better. Always fun to mix it up a bit, guys.

The only real moment I could cite as a downer was the slow, painful, unmelodic performance of Love Bites. Although this is truly my favourite song, it's not half as good live. Of course the musical genius and soul of Steve Clark are missed dearly and especially on this song; but in fairness, it just is not a great live song these days. I would be happy to see them drop this from the setlist too, and pick up WL&HC, which we rarely get to hear in the States. It's a much better live ballad.

Once again this year the video screens were amazing, returning with old favourites like each band member being featured as a circus performer in Animal and shots of the glory days during Photograph. New themes were background scenes (and "some girls"?) during Hysteria and Foolin' and other rock legends featured during Rock of Ages. I spotted Ozzy, Keef Richards, David Bowie, Ian Hunter, and Jimi Hendrix, coincidentally providing the backdrop for Phil to demonstrate his adoration for Hendrix with his own talent on the axe. I'm glad to see they’re still using the video as it really adds a lot to the live show.

I can't think of anything else to say except, thanks to the Leps for another great show, and "Don't forget us, cos we won't forget you!" (Which was not played by Poison, BTW.) Off to another show later that week, where they'll surely shine especially in Michigan.

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