The following is my review of the Def Leppard concert of June 27th, 2003. Thoughts in basic chronological order of occurrence.
- 4:30 – Mrs. Fridge asks the 17 yr old babysitter if she likes Def Leppard. “I don’t know who he is…” Me = Old.
- Mohegan Sun is the greatest place to see a metal show. Ever. Why? Ridiculously ample parking. Instead of being surrounded by city blocks of dubious safety for drunk people, you’re surrounded by one of the coolest places in the north east. Park, hit one of the many bars that are no more than 50 ft from the venue. No huge line of cars parking and then exiting the venue. Awesome.
- Hit the Dubliner Irish Bar before the show. Mmm, Guiness…
- ACK! MUST. NOT. STARE. AT. WAITRESS’ AWESOME RACK. ON DATE WITH WIFE!
- After downing a few Guinness’, we walk around to the entrance and enter the venue – it’s 7:25 and the show is supposed to start at 7:30 – but metal shows are always 1/2 hr late, right? Literally five minutes from sitting at dinner to sitting at seats. Good times.
- Sam Adams vendor says show will start at 7:30 and the opening band will play for 45 minutes before a ½ hr intermission.
- 7:32 Tesla appears. Oh My God this is loud! I can’t tell if it’s me being old, or if this is just a small venue with normal sized PA. This has to be about half the size of the
- On time, no less. So much for metal shows always being late. Probably didn’t have to wake anyone passed out on the tour bus. Shocking.
- Damn, forgot how ugly Tesla is. But, they didn’t have Jumbotrons in the arenas back then. May accentuate the negatives.
- Tesla’s lead guitarist comes out with a pot belly, long blond hair and a Slash-ripoff Top Hat. It is most assuredly not 1985, as I am wondering if he has any hair under that Top Hat.
- Tesla is totally rocking the joint. Completely reaffirms my position that they are one of the more underrated rock bands ever. My pet theory is that their lead singer held them back despite his excellent performances because he’s basically an uglier Steve Tyler without the personality.
- Tesla plays “The Love Song”, which is for my money the best rock ballad ever. Mrs. Fridge is loving it and things are looking good for me later tonight J
- Tesla closes with “Modern Cowboy” and blows the roof off. Good stuff. Precisely 45 minutes. This is eerie. We are so far from the days of shows being called off for the “flu”, or Tommy Lee falling 50 feet from an upside-down drum kit and canceling the remainder of the gig. These guys are pros.
- If it’s intermission, it’s time to hit the can and see Mr. Sam Adams. By Mr. Adams schedule, Def Leppard should start at 8:45.
- 8:45. Lights down. I am officially obsessed with the new-found precision. Of course, this could all be a combined by-product of sobriety and playing the same set list from 1987. Armageddon it! From the looks of Mrs. Fridge, Yes! I’ma geddin it!
- I begin to recall the behind the music where one of the dudes from Def Leppard (later googled to be Steve Clark) died. There’s a new guy and it’s somewhat disorienting that he’s got brown hair. Shouldn’t that be illegal? No wig?
- Woah! New guy is good.
- Hey, is that new guy Vivian Campbell? (formerly of Dio and Whitesnake?). He was awesome!
- Crap! A new song! Don’t know it, and by new I mean something that’s released since Hysteria. Mrs. Fridge and I are officially in “sway back and forth and pretend we know the song mode”.
- Random redneck dude with hot girlfriend behind me leans over and says, “Couldn’t ask for a better show, huh?” Me (somewhat annoyed that he’s bugging me randomly): “No, it’s awesome.”. Him, even more randomly “You know that’s Vivian Campbell, right?” Me (shocked that it was him and I recognized him and that this dude felt it interesting to point out) : “Holy Crap! I thought so, but wasn’t sure!”
- Photograph!
- Rocket! This leads to me and Mrs. Fridge trying to figure out what the heck he says after “Rocket! Yeah!
” City of light? Save your life? Google reveals the answer (Sattelite of love? I can’t figure the syllables matching the phrasing, but google never lies).
- Women!
- Woah. Redneck dudes girlfriend is in dire need of a strippers pole! And if one appeared, I’d be searching my wallet for singles.
- Concert low point: Dogs of War as a political statement. Just one of the weaker songs in my opinion and it became this multimedia bonanza with the jumbo screens, explosions, etc. Mostly, I just think that song sucks. Ok chorus. The rest? Snooze city.
- Bringing on the Heartbreak!
- Mrs. Fridge asks the land mine question of the day: “Which one of those guys do you think I’m hot for?” ugh. Probably not the one-armed drummer. I guess the dude Phil Collen, who has been in the band since way back, always has his shirt off and makes $ex faces during the guitar solos. “Nope. The one with brown hair” Me: “That’s Vivian Campbell. He was in whitesnake.” Being a Vivian Campbell fan, I can’t disagree with her choice.
- “Huh?” moment! - Def Leppard plays a BadFinger cover and says it’s their new “single”! Ack! “No Matter What”
- Back to rocking, thank god! Rock of Ages!
- End “show”. Begin obligatory begging for “impromptu encore”.
- Whaddya know? An Encore!
- Set officially closes with the theme song of every strip club in the
- Woah! Mrs. Fridge could use a strippers pole of her own! Things are going exceedingly well.
- During the post concert absorption of fan adulation, mr. Vivian Campbell gets the biggest wave from Mrs. Fridge. He will heretofore be known as “the Tino of Rock”.
- Lights up. 10:30 pm. Within ten minutes, I’ll be on the highway. My ears will have a delicious ring the whole way home.
- 11:15. Almost home. Look over, Mrs. Fridge has leaned back in her seat and has eyes closed. My chances for tonight have taken a terrible turn for the worst.
- 11:45. Babysitter is paid and long gone, Mrs. Fridge is asleep and I’m watching Letterman.
- 5:00AM. Mrs. Fridge mumbles “What was that guitarists name again?” Me, cranky: “Vivian Campbell”. Her: “That’s not a cool name.” Me: “Well, I think he’s Scottish and probably gay”. I hate Vivian Campbell.
