Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Thunder live in Cardiff

Cardiff International Arena, 14th July 2008

The Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Thunder show rolled into Cardiff last Monday delivering a somewhat surprising sell-out show at Wales’ largest indoor concert venue.  Something like 7,500 people jammed into the CIA and tickets changing hands outside for at least twice their face value.

Thunder seem permanently destined to be British rock’s perennial “third band on a big bill”.  They’ve filled that slot at Donington, on the Monsters Of Rock arena tour a few years back and now on this late 80s throwback evening.  Somewhat predictable but as usual entertaining they drew heavily from their début album “Backstreet Symphony” of course, opening with their best known song “Dirty Love” and playing two other numbers from that disc in a six song set.  Certainly well received they seemed delighted to be back on a big stage with Danny Bowes of course a highly entertaining if unconventional frontman, skipping onto stage at the beginning and leading more audience participation moments than your average Bruce Forsyth fronted TV game show.  One thought I had though with Bowes in particularly impressive voice was surely an opening band with a singer who’s ability is not quite what it once was would have been much more appropriate given what followed!

Set list : Dirty Love / River Of Pain / Low Life In High Places / Gimme Some Lovin’ / The Devil Made Me Do It / I Think I Love You More Than Rock ‘n’ Roll

Whitesnake were perhaps unsurprisingly the pick of the evening for me, and judging by the increased space available at floor level when the headline band were on were also the reason why this bill sold out; it was certainly noticeable that there was a little more space once they’d done.  The new album was well represented with no less than four tracks, including a stirring opening stab through “Best Years” and while more metallicised versions of the likes of “Fool For Your Loving” may not sit as well as the original, something like “A Fool In Love” from the recent album achieved a much greater notability live.

Coverdale remains a hugely entertaining frontman.  All winks and kisses to the ladies in the front rows, he continues to command the stage but these days with more than a touch of added “ham”. Seemingly aware that his voice doesn’t quite possess the range it once did it is noticeable that the band take on increased singing duties.  That aside, there is less of the screaming that marred some of the live shows of the 90s and on welcome acoustic run through’s of “The Deeper The Love” and most favourably an albeit truncated version of the classic “Ain’t Gonna Cry No More” everything was just superb.

The ever popular four hit singles from “1987″ were hugely greeted of course, a thunderous “Still Of The Night” the final song from a band that deserved an encore but because of the limitations of the three band bill, were seemingly unable to deliver one.

Set List : Best Years / Fool For Your Loving / Can You Hear The Wind Blow / Love Ain’t No Stranger / Lay Down Your Love / The Deeper The Love / Is This Love / Guitar Solo / A Fool In Love / Ain’t Gonna Cry No More / Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City / Give Me All Your Love / Here I Go Again / Still Of The Night

Def Leppard were the headliners on this tour, no matter what the publicity may tell you; of that I have no doubt now.  The electronic backdrop which for Whitesnake could only display some heavily pixelated logos suddenly sprang into perfect clarity for the Sheffield band making for some stunning visuals in conjunction with two huge video screens that flanked the stage.  Unfortunately a band that once were accused of using backing tapes so good were their live harmonies, sounded decidedly ropy at times on this occasion.

Now its fair to say that a 2008 Def Leppard setlist won’t bear much resemblance to one I’d choose, only the excellent “Bringing On The Heartbreak” representing the two early albums by the formative band that I enjoy so much.  However, I’m not one of those “Hysteria” detractors considering it a perfect example of late 80s melodic rock, and there is little denying that songs like “Animal”, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Armageddon It” were amongst the best received numbers on the night.  In contrast to the Whitesnake set, Def Leppard play just two from their new album although neither “Nine Lives” or “C’mon C’mon” really ignited the crowd.  Indeed soundwise it was somewhat bizarrely their cover of David Essex song “Rock On” that sounded best of the songs from the earlier part of the set. Or maybe that was just relief after said song emerged at the end of a tedious bass solo.

Joe Elliott’s vocal limitations were especially exposed on the surprising inclusion of “When Love And Hate Collide”.  An acoustic “Two Steps Behind” was better though and a near impromptu version of “Freebird” was amusing, especially when Phil Collen stopped Elliott embarking on what could have been a 15 minute indulgent labour of love!  Main set closing number, a majestic “Rock Of Ages”, was a welcome reminder of the best years of the band but the continued inclusion of fodder like the awful “Make Love Like A Man” and a presumed encore of “Let’s Get Rocked” (I was off home after “Rock Of Ages” to ensure I missed this one!) mean that although quite enjoyable its unlikely I’d go to see Def Leppard in concert again unless the support acts are of a similar calibre to this evening’s line-up.

On the whole a decent evening but other perhaps than Whitesnake’s set, one unlikely to make any “all time” or “annual” favourite lists I think.

Set List : Rocket / C’mon C’mon / Animal / Nine Lives / Make Love Like A Man / When Love And Hate Collide / Bass Solo / Rock On / Two Steps Behind / Bringin’ On The Heartbreak / Hysteria / Armageddon It / Photograph / Pour Some Sugar On Me / Rock Of Ages  (encore guess – Let’s Get Rocked??)

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BL

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