Bismarck, ND - Media Reviews

Fans revel in uptick of rock 'n' roll By Brett Williamson

More than 7,000 fans filled the Bismarck Event Center on Sunday as tickets sold out for the Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla concert.

Newlyweds and avid rock 'n' roll fans, Marsha and Kent Leier, of Bismarck, were among the thousands waiting their moment to hear some of their favorite rock songs.

"It's much better this year," Marsha Leier, of Bismarck, said. "We have been waiting to see some rock concerts, and this year was the first to have this many concerts. There were so many this summer it was kind of hard to keep up. It was great."

The couple married on Aug. 4 and have been taking in concerts all summer, including Dee Snider, Lita Ford, Godsmack and Aerosmith.

"I have been listening to Def Leppard since the '80s," Marsha Leier said.

Tesla opened the evening of rock with "Cumin' Atcha Live" and "2 Late 4 Love." Tesla guitarist, Frank Hannon, demonstrated his range by jumping from acoustic to electric guitar mid song. Tesla concluded its set with the gritty "Modern Day Cowboy."

Being it was Styx's last night on the tour, Tesla threw a pizza party with the fans in the front row in apology for Tesla's Frank Hannon stealing Styx's pizza throughout the summer tour.

Styx was next. The band started its set with the thunder of organs and electricity that is "Grand Illusion." Tommy Shaw broke the tempo of the concert with the classic groove of "Too Much Time on my Hands."

Lawrence Gowan paid tribute to other classics with piano covers of "Rocket Man," "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," before playing the crowed favorite "Come Sail Away." Styx returned to the stage for a two-song encore of "Rockin' the Paradise" and "Renegade."

The curtain for the headlining act, Def Leppard, dropped to "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)." Vivian Campbell was in the pocket as he performed "Foolin" and the classic solos of "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Joe Elliot kept the audience engaged with his acoustic solo of "Two Steps Behind." Phil Collen's mach speed solos and dive bombs kept pace. The original and one-armed drummer, Rick Allen, didn't miss a beat as he pounded his way through "Hysteria" and the flagship "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

The next does of rock for Bismarck will be on Oct. 13 with Slipknot, Suicidal Tendencies and Beartooth at the Bismarck Event Center.

By Bismarck Tribune 2015.

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