Albany, NY - Media Reviews

Journey and Def Leppard Rocked Us Back To The 80’s By Tom Fucillo

80’s rockers Journey and Def Leppard rolled into Albany’s Times Union Center for a wild double header that did not disappoint. This is the second time the bands have teamed up for a North American tour after the success of their first in 2006. Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot says of that first outing “It was such a great tour…I don’t think either of us has ever forgotten how brilliant it was.”

The bands are taking turns closing out the 58 shows on the tour and in Albany it was Journey who took the stage first to kick off things with their hit “Separate Ways.” The band has been touring with vocalist Amel Pineda since the death of Steve Perry and Pineda does a spectacular job of channeling Journey’s original frontman. He sprinted and jumped around the stage, singing to every corner of the crowd and bringing the packed Times Union Center to life with his endless energy. The band ripped through versions of their hits “Any Way You Want It,” “Lights,” and “Wheel in the Sky,” but the showstopper was a raucous rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” that ended with confetti cannons blasting the crowd. Journey did a fantastic bringing the heat and they showed after all the years they’ve still got the energy to rock stadiums.

There was a thirty minute break afterwards during which a countdown clock ticked away seconds until it reached zero at which point DEF LEPPARD ALBANY blazed in massive red letters on the video screens. The crowd went wild as Joe Elliot stormed the stage and led the band through a bellicose set that set the arena back on fire. Opening with “Animal” and “Foolin,’” Leppard put forth a stellar showing that included favorites like “Rock of Ages” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” but also some unexpected surprises like a cover of David Essex’s “Rock On.” The band closed out with “Photograph” and put the cap on a picture-perfect night.

This is definitely a tour to catch if you’ve got a little 80’s fever. The bands sound like they haven’t missed a beat. There have been hints they might even jam out a couple songs together onstage at one of their upcoming shows, and they’ve been joking they might even write a new one for the occassion. Title? Joe Elliot says “Don’t Stop Pouring Sugar.”

By The Chimera Magazine 2018.

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