http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2009/07/05/life/doc4a5018ab5ad12774858028.txt Concert review: Poison and passionate Def Leppard energize SPAC Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009 By DEANNA AMORE, The Saratogian SARATOGA SPRINGS - As Friday night's triple bill began at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, fans were treated to something they rarely see these days - the sun. But that solar energy didn't warm up the crowd for Cheap Trick. Many were either still filing in or hanging out in the beer garden for the band's 40-minute set. Singer Robin Zander's vocals were muffled on some songs, but the sound did improve as the set went on. He just didn't seem that into it, even stepping off stage during "Dream Police." It was guitarist Rick Nielsen who helped salvage their performance. He is entertaining to watch, with his shiny purple suit, bow tie and multi-necked guitars, but he just couldn't carry the whole set. The band played hits, including "I Want You to Want Me," "The Flame" and "Surrender," and even threw in a new song, "These Days." Plus, Zander did his rendition of "Don't Be Cruel." They came across as a bit disorganized and lackluster. When Poison took the stage, the band injected the high-energy boost the audience needed, with a 60-minute set filled with fan favorites. It was a more toned-down show for the band, with virtually no bad language, no confetti, and just a few pyrotechnics - not exactly the party-band image they used to portray. But what they lacked in style, they made up in substance, bursting onto the stage with "Look What the Cat Dragged In" and going right into "I Want Action" and "Ride the Wind." Singer Bret Michaels' voice was a little scratchier than usual, which made "Something to Believe In" less powerful and almost monotone. Michaels dedicated that song to troops overseas (as he has done in the past) and had his friend, former Marine Big John (he is also on "Rock of Love" with Michaels), film the crowd singing for the troops. Guitarist C.C. DeVille teased the crowd a bit with a solo into "Fallen Angel." He's not a master, but he can still do a pretty decent job. They rounded out the set with more favorites such as "Unskinny Bop," "Talk Dirty to Me" and the power ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." Poison finished with an encore of "Nothin' But a Good Time," which left the crowd itching for more rock 'n' roll. That itch was definitely scratched by Def Leppard. The songs may be old, but the band surely isn't. They came out fit and ready, jamming through crowd pleasers such as "Rock! Rock! Till You Drop," "Rocket" and "Animal." Even after three decades, singer Joe Elliott still has it, hitting the right notes and whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Each band member had a chance to showcase his talent, including a Vivian Campbell guitar solo at the end of "Love Bites" and a bass solo by Rick Savage leading into their version of David Essex's "Rock On." Drummer Rick Allen and guitarist Phil Collen also had their time in the spotlight, including an interesting camera shot down Collen's fretboard. "Guitar Hero" enthusiasts got a lesson on how to play a real guitar. The best part of the show came when everyone except Allen made their way to the end of the catwalk for an acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind," followed by Elliott, Collen and Campbell doing a majority of "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" acoustically. On Elliott's "NO!" the band fired up in full again to wrap the song. The rest of the 90-minute set featured more classics, including "Photograph" (complete with pictures of the band over the years), "Pour Some Sugar on Me" (everyone was singing), "Rock of Ages" and an encore of "Let's Get Rocked." Their energy was so contagious, even those in the balcony were on their feet. You would be hard-pressed to find another band so dedicated to its craft. You can see the passion on their faces as they play - and the broad smiles as the crowd responds. Campbell said in a recent interview that the band may not perform in the U.S. again for a while, but on the eve of America's Independence Day, a little British invasion was just what Saratoga Springs needed. © Copyright 2009 The Saratogian