Scranton, PA - Media Reviews

Def Leppard, Kiss thrill crowds at Montage Saturday By Patrice Wilding

Perfectly mild and comfortable weather set the mood Saturday night for a showdown of British and American rock hits when veteran performers Kiss and Def Leppard played the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

The boys from across the pond were up first at 8 p.m. and didn’t waste any time getting to the in-demand music, opening with “Let It Go” and “Animal.”

Lead singer Joe Elliott, a bright light onstage in an ivory-colored leather jacket, gripped a microphone stand decked out in Union Jack scarves as he led singalongs for “Foolin’” and “Love Bites.” Phil Collen’s soulful wailing guitar compelled every body to gyrate along with the power ballad.

“Oi Scranton, do you wanna get rocked?” Elliott teased. The answer was, of course, a resounding yes, and Def Leppard confidently walked through a 75-minute set bursting with hits. Elliott strapped on an acoustic guitar, strumming dutifully through “Two Steps Behind,” which segued into a slowed-down “Bringing on the Heartbreak.” About halfway through, he ditched the guitar and “Heartbreak” was played as the searing, electric song fans know and love.

The band indulged themselves and entertained the audience with a jam session that gave each member a chance to showcase his superior musicianship. Vivian Campbell, sporting a clean-shaven scalp following treatments for the return of Hodgkin lymphoma, seemed in good health and spirits as he handily delivered a soaring guitar solo. One-armed phenom Rick Allen raced through a drum solo that had the whole pavilion vibrating. Bassist Rick Savage’s boundless energy during the seminal anthem “Pour Some Sugar On Me” was matched only by the frenzy of the crowd.

Def Leppard left the stage dark for only a few moments before they re-emerged for an encore that included “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph.”

Less than 30 minutes later, Kiss erupted onto the stage amid a blinding flurry of fireworks and lights arranged on machinery designed to look like eight spider legs dangling above the "Detroit Rock City" band.

“So here we are, Saturday night,” Paul “Starchild” Stanley observed. “What do you say we have a rock ’n’ roll party?”

Clad in feathers, leather and white face paint, the singer noted that Kiss has been coming to Scranton for a long time, “since before some of you were born,” he said, addressing the youngest members of the Kiss Army in attendance. He promised a night they wouldn’t forget before launching into “Shout It Out Loud.”

Next up was “War Machine,” during which bassist Gene Simmons displayed his famous and devilishly long tongue and guitarist Tommy Thayer crisscrossed the stage, playing to delighted fans from every angle.

Stanley introduced “Hotter Than Hell” from the group’s second album as “classic, vintage, old Kiss.” Drummer Eric Singer thundered through a rollicking rendition of “Lick It Up,” and there was no turning back.

Kiss was still rocking at press time, but with all the hallmarks of a great show present, from outrageous costuming, over-the-top showmanship and beloved rock smash hits, fans left the mountain more devoted than ever to the powerhouse bands who they’ve come to love over the last four decades.

By The Times Tribune 2014.

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