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Capacity crowd still goes for dusty '80s rock
Friday, November 03, 2006
MARY COLURSO
News staff writer

Let us state, for the record, that rock bands from the 1980s have a right to 
exist.

Even when principal players are missing, hits sound dusty with age, trends have 
passed them by and new songs just don't cut it anymore - well, who would be 
arrogant enough to proclaim that nostalgia acts need to call it quits?

And why would musicians want to shut down such lucrative time machines?

Hardcore fans still come out to their concerts by the thousands, even if shows 
are held outdoors on chill, rainy weeknights in November.

For evidence, look no further than Wednesday's performances by Journey and Def 
Leppard at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham.

About 10,500 people were present - and most of them were cheering wildly- 
during a 7:45 p.m. set of whirling, swirling, extremely dated prog-rock and a 
9:40 p.m. set of clunky, chugging, bombastic hard rock.

If these songs left you cold 20 years ago, they'd have you shivering in misery 
now, listening amid the bad weather.

You'd have been in the minority, though, as the capacity crowd at the Verizon 
Center seemed to regard "Any Way you Want It," "Don't Stop Believin'" and 
"Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," as timeless classics and "Photograph," 
"Foolin'" and "Rocket" as great literature.

They are not.

If you weren't at the show, you'll have to trust us on this point. 

 Journey's keyboard-driven drivel comes across as overly precious these days, 
no matter how competently it's presented.

More important, Journey isn't Journey without Steve Perry, the quintessential 
arena-rock singer, last seen with his old bandmates on a 1996 reunion tour.

Jeff Scott Soto has been fronting for Journey since early July, when singer 
Steve Augeri bowed out because of throat problems.

At Wednesday's performance, Soto's tenor sounded fine and dandy, piercing into 
the Perry-esque range. However, his presence on stage gave Journey the air of a 
tribute act.

That's not fatal, but it's far from authentic. The presence of founding 
guitarist Neal Schon, original bassist Ross Valory and longtime keyboard player 
Jonathan Cain simply couldn't compensate.

Def Leppard, in contrast, has held onto its famous frontman, gritty shouter Joe 
Elliott. Original bassist Rick Savage. and longtime drummer Rick Allen still 
are with the group, as well.

As Wednesday's concert demonstrated, Def Leppard's problem isn't personnel. 
It's freshness and quality.

Elliott's voice, somewhat hidden in the mix, sounded overly gruff and flat, as 
if reaching for notes he could no longer hit.

Def Leppard's signature tunes - including "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," "Let's 
Get Rocked" and "Hysteria" - haven't worn well, either.

They slogged along like dinosaur anthems, big and dumb, with repetitive lyrics 
that rarely challenged the intellect or the imagination.

A few extended instrumental solos sprinkled throughout the set were rife with 
rock cliches and posing.

One exception to that rule: Allen, a one-armed drummer, remains an interesting 
focal point for the band. But he couldn't save Def Leppard's set - or this 
dreary evening of period pieces - all by himself.

E-mail: mcolurso@bhamnews.com 

© 2006 The Birmingham News. All rights reserved.