http://www.kweevak.com/rd_art_2005_07_04_dlba.htm TAKE ME OUT TO THE CONCERT! Def Leppard and Bryan Adams Team Up for Summer Long Tour de Force! A Kweevak.com Rock Report by Rich and Laura Lynch When Def Leppard and Bryan Adams took the field on July 3, 2005 at the Dutchess County Baseball Stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York, they together compiled enough hits to provide a satisfying rock and roll victory for over 5000 jubilant fans. This latest stop was one of at least a dozen minor league ballparks that these two band's co-headlining summer send-up is scheduled to perform at. Deep in centerfield stood a giant constructed stage and powerful sound system. The baseball diamond was fenced off but there was plenty of room for the GA and ample bleacher seating. Twice during the evening the two bands emerged through the center field fence in much the same was as a replacement pitcher would enter a baseball game. In the same way, both bands provided rock and roll relief through their stellar performances. The crowd gathered was pretty much what you would expect at this showcase of 80's rock icons, mostly over 30 with children in tow. This event was especially family-friendly because each adult with a paid ticket could bring one child under age 12 into the concert for free. This arrangement was a source for criticism by some fans who complained of view-obstructing children hoisted on the shoulders of their parents. Others griped that these young fans were troublesome and disobedient during the pre-show tail gaiting activities. But kids will be kids. There was also a noticeable security force and police presence at this event to fend off any real trouble that might arise. These officials were called into action once before the evening's final set to quell an alcohol-infused fan fight near the front of the stage. This process of extracting the rowdy concertgoers delayed Def Leppard's arrival onstage by 10 minutes or so. Canadian born Bryan Adams opened the show this night. Adams is a notable singer, songwriter and guitarist, who along with his long time collaborator Jim Vallance, has penned many songs for a wide range of artists including 38 Special, Kiss, Roger Daltrey and others. He has enjoyed much success with multi-platinum albums, chart topping singles and songs used in motion pictures. Bryan has won fans worldwide with his up-tempo pop-rock songs and ballads. Today, Bryan Adams continues to create new music and tour with his well-known hits. Bryan took the stage a few minutes after seven. Adams and his band played an energized seventeen-song set and one encore. Adams' songs are well executed, sticking mostly to the original formats with some additional guitar leads by the talented Keith Scott. Bryan hit a home run with such crowd pleasers as 'I Need Somebody', 'Run To You', 'This Time' and 'Heaven'. Halfway through Bryan's set he asked the audience to help him remember the words to this next song. The crowd clearly recalled the story of 'Summer of 69', which featured extended guitar leads backed by a driving rhythm. Adams played 'Everything I Do, I Do For You' on acoustic which, he explained, is how he wrote it. Keith Scott on the electric added some rifts to the song. An animated version of 'This Time' was followed by 'Cuts Like A Knife'. The folks in the bleacher seats were stamping along and the rafters quaked to the beat and the soaring guitar leads. In an effort to search out a true fan he asked the audience if they knew the words to 'Baby When Your Gone'. A lady in GA raised her hand and soon found herself called up to the big leagues to harmonize with Bryan. Adams asked for her name and occupation. Gwen from Albany said she worked for the state as a budget analyst and got booed but she did get applause at the end of the song for her solid rookie effort as a rocker. After Gwen left the stage Bryan played 'This Side of Paradise' which is off his most recent record, Room Service. Bryan's winning encore was 'Straight From The Heart'. Def Leppard was one of the trailblazing bands in the MTV era. The Sheffield-based quintet charted the course for the melodic metal sound which would go on to dominate the decade of the 80s. On this tour, the band is celebrating their 25th year together with the release of their career spanning Rock On: The Definitive Collection CD. As the sun went down, the crowd in the GA swelled with anticipation. When the sound of Queen's 'We Will Rock You' blared through the P.A. it was show time! Def Leppard took the stage at around 9:10 p.m. and quickly loaded the bases with their first three songs – 'Action', 'Let's Get Rocked', and 'Women'. 'Foolin' completed the perfect grand slam before the band slowed it down for their fifth number, 'Hysteria'. The band's sound was consistently tight throughout the show. There was constant movement as band member's found their marks for spotlights and guitar solos. The light show was impressive bathing the stage in a full range of the color spectrum adding to the intrigue of the evening. More hits from the guitar heavy, hard-driving Leppard included 'Love Bites', 'Armageddon It', 'Rocket', 'Photograph', 'Animal', and 'Rock Of Ages' – all of which featured their famous melodic harmonies. At one point Def Leppard's lead-singer revealed that the band has been working on a covers CD featuring the British music that influenced them as teenagers before introducing an impressive version of Badfinger's 'No Matter What'. The talk of the tour so far, however, is the band's juiced up version of David Essex's 'Rock On' which promises to be a runaway hit for the band when the cover CD is released. Fans who have seen this track performed live have "been blown away" by the Leppardized version of this famous one-hit wonder from the 70's. As if all this wasn't enough the band brought the night to an incredible close with their encores of 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' and the climatic 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'. Like triumphant athletes who celebrate their achievements and championships, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard were able to bask in the glory of their own record books by offering up crowd-pleasing songs on this tour. Both bands have demonstrated their high caliber skills night after night proving that they truly are the boys of summer in 2005! Originally Published: 07/04/2005 on Kweevak.com