DENVER – Sometimes in life there are moments that seem to just make no sense at all. That is, until you step back to take a look at the big picture, and Monday night’s Heart and Def Leppard concert at the Comfort Dental Center (Fiddlers Green) was most definitely one of those times. 

 As I entered the venue still scratching my head over the fact that one of the most revered and dynamic groups ever created was going to be the opening up the show for a band who’s signature song is called, “Pour Some Sugar on Me”?  No offense intended, but seriously, compared to timeless and classic pieces such as “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You,” not to mention “Barracuda,” it just seemed to me as though the dots were being connected in a very strange manner on this warm August night.

Yet, it is not up to me to ponder the decisions of super smart music executives, but to merely report on my observations, so with that said, on to the show.

While watching these sonic siblings rock through a catalog of music that spans almost 40 years in length, yet still perform it like they were in their 20s, showed not only the professionalism that these two bring to the table, but more importantly, it shows a loyal and true dedication to the their craft.   Wow, what an awesome experience! 

 It was right about then that the half-dim light bulb, which floats over my head, began to brighten and I could finally see why the acts were positioned the way they were.  After seeing Heart perform live and witnessing the audience become entranced in such a state of entertainment euphoria, it finally hit me.  You could be the worst band in the world and it wouldn’t even matter, as all of the concert goers would still be encompassed in a Heart-shaped cloud.  Again, wow! 

However, for a rare instance, that did not turn out to be the case.  English rockers Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen and Rick Savage, otherwise known as, Def Leppard, continued the pace set earlier in the evening and actually even upped the ante by bringing an energy level to their performance which could only be matched by 5 year olds on a sugar high!  Although definitely not up to the musical mastery of their lovely tour partners, Def Leppard instead has that amazing ability to make the crowd feel as if the “rock concert” is nothing more than a big backyard party, and that is a gift in its own right.

 Well done!

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Def Leppard Photo by

Jeff Kearney

Def Leppard Photo by