Def Leppard & Heart at Minnesota State Fair 8/26/11
Categories: Last Night
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| Photo by Rebecca McDonald |
| Spotted Leppard fans |
As the sun set behind them on the second day of the 2011 Minnesota State Fair, all-American sisterly duo Heart kicked off the evening around 8 p.m. with singer Ann Wilson exclaiming, "We are Heart! Welcome to the fair! Tonight, our job is to bring you rock and roll!" And that they did, starting out with a tribute to the band they say is one of their major influences, Led Zeppelin. They followed up their "Rock & Roll" opener with "Magic Man," Ann strutting the catwalk leading from the stage out into the middle of the seated crowd, shaking her brown curls as she belted out the track like she hadn't sung it 3,000 times before.
Guitarist Nancy Wilson absolutely demolished her solos as usual -- especially with her acoustic part on "Straight On" a bit later -- and the two sisters traded affectionate compliments about the other's performance. "She's the goddess with the golden hair," Ann said of Nancy after a rendition of "Sweet Dreams" that took everyone straight back to the '80s. The set favorite throughout the night came when Ann belted out "Barracuda," the intro riff like the motor of a candy-red muscle car barreling down on the track. By its end, Ann reminded everyone with just a few verses that she has one of the most unique and enduring voices in rock. While it wasn't their most energetic performance and the audience seemed more geared for Def Leppard's headlining slot, Heart certainly got things started off right.
After about a half-hour of stage prep that took Heart's modest set-up into a Leppard-worthy digital display, fog rolled in. Frontman Joe Elliott and his mates came out with big guitar riffs and the opening lines of "Undefeated" -- maybe not the best choice for an opener but at least it was out of the way for the next two tracks back-to-back: "Animal" and "Let's Get Rocked" really set the tone and kept the crowd on their feet for the entire 90-minute set of hits that made it feel like 1988. Bros in backward baseball caps and with sunglasses atop their heads high-fived each other, girlfriends bopping around with plastic cups of beer in their hands. By mid-set, the whole place smelled like a frat house after a keg party, but what else would you expect?
It's been rumored Elliott lost his voice long ago and needs extra support from his bandmates, but I didn't find that to be necessarily true. He maintained his rock-n-roll wail, complete with that tuneful British slack, only waning during the highs of "Photograph". Old-school photos of the band from the '80s appropriately flashed on the screen during this part, adding to the nostalgic theme.
During a break at the end of the set, the whole band loaded up onto the partition and Elliott addressed the audience, still standing since the first riff. "It really is great to be here," he said. "You keep coming and we'll keep coming -- simple as that." Elliott asked the audience to partake in a sing-along of their love ballad, "Two Steps Behind", and before we knew it, the last leg of the set was in full swing with some of the band's biggest hits: "Armageddon It" (featuring one of many indulgent guitar solos), "Hysteria", and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar On Me". After what played out as an hour-plus of greatest hits, you realize "Sugar" isn't nearly their best song.
Oh, and we can't forget the dramatic fireworks that followed their quick, one-song encore of "Rock Of Ages", likely sealing the deal for many in attendance as the best show they'd seen in a long time. As we exited the Grandstand, my cynic sister (and concert-going buddy) looked over and said, "That was WAY better than I expected it to be." That's the double-edged sword of Def Leppard's popularity -- they're over- and underrated at the same time. But then, so are cheese curds.
Slideshow: Def Leppard & Heart @ State Fair by Rebecca McDonald
Interview with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen
Personal Bias: Grew up watching Leppard videos on illegal MTV in my parents' basement and loved their arena-rock style. "Animal" and "Photograph" are easily my favorite Leppard songs.
The crowd: Bros of the past, bros of the present, bros of the future.
Random Notebook dump: Just for one night, it is 1988 again.
Overheard in the crowd: One bro to another bro: "Dude! It's the one-armed drummer!"
Def Leppard set list:
Undefeated (long version)
Let's Get Rocked
Animal
Foolin'
Love Bites
Rock On
Rocket (extended version)
Two Steps Behind
Switch 625
Hysteria
Armageddon It (full version)
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
---
Rock Of Ages
Heart set list:
(Led Zeppelin cover)
Magic Man
Heartless
Straight On
What About Love
These Dreams
Alone
WTF
Crazy On You
Barracuda
--
Battle Of Evermore
Love Reign
 |
| Photo by Rebecca McDonald |
| Heart singing 'Magic Man' |
Guitarist Nancy Wilson absolutely demolished her solos as usual -- especially with her acoustic part on "Straight On" a bit later -- and the two sisters traded affectionate compliments about the other's performance. "She's the goddess with the golden hair," Ann said of Nancy after a rendition of "Sweet Dreams" that took everyone straight back to the '80s. The set favorite throughout the night came when Ann belted out "Barracuda," the intro riff like the motor of a candy-red muscle car barreling down on the track. By its end, Ann reminded everyone with just a few verses that she has one of the most unique and enduring voices in rock. While it wasn't their most energetic performance and the audience seemed more geared for Def Leppard's headlining slot, Heart certainly got things started off right.
 |
| Photo by Rebecca McDonald |
| Joe Elliott & Phil Collen of Def Leppard |
After about a half-hour of stage prep that took Heart's modest set-up into a Leppard-worthy digital display, fog rolled in. Frontman Joe Elliott and his mates came out with big guitar riffs and the opening lines of "Undefeated" -- maybe not the best choice for an opener but at least it was out of the way for the next two tracks back-to-back: "Animal" and "Let's Get Rocked" really set the tone and kept the crowd on their feet for the entire 90-minute set of hits that made it feel like 1988. Bros in backward baseball caps and with sunglasses atop their heads high-fived each other, girlfriends bopping around with plastic cups of beer in their hands. By mid-set, the whole place smelled like a frat house after a keg party, but what else would you expect?
 |
| Photo by Rebecca McDonald |
It's been rumored Elliott lost his voice long ago and needs extra support from his bandmates, but I didn't find that to be necessarily true. He maintained his rock-n-roll wail, complete with that tuneful British slack, only waning during the highs of "Photograph". Old-school photos of the band from the '80s appropriately flashed on the screen during this part, adding to the nostalgic theme.
During a break at the end of the set, the whole band loaded up onto the partition and Elliott addressed the audience, still standing since the first riff. "It really is great to be here," he said. "You keep coming and we'll keep coming -- simple as that." Elliott asked the audience to partake in a sing-along of their love ballad, "Two Steps Behind", and before we knew it, the last leg of the set was in full swing with some of the band's biggest hits: "Armageddon It" (featuring one of many indulgent guitar solos), "Hysteria", and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar On Me". After what played out as an hour-plus of greatest hits, you realize "Sugar" isn't nearly their best song.
Oh, and we can't forget the dramatic fireworks that followed their quick, one-song encore of "Rock Of Ages", likely sealing the deal for many in attendance as the best show they'd seen in a long time. As we exited the Grandstand, my cynic sister (and concert-going buddy) looked over and said, "That was WAY better than I expected it to be." That's the double-edged sword of Def Leppard's popularity -- they're over- and underrated at the same time. But then, so are cheese curds.
 |
| Photo by Rebecca McDonald |
Slideshow: Def Leppard & Heart @ State Fair by Rebecca McDonald
Interview with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen
Personal Bias: Grew up watching Leppard videos on illegal MTV in my parents' basement and loved their arena-rock style. "Animal" and "Photograph" are easily my favorite Leppard songs.
The crowd: Bros of the past, bros of the present, bros of the future.
Random Notebook dump: Just for one night, it is 1988 again.
Overheard in the crowd: One bro to another bro: "Dude! It's the one-armed drummer!"
Def Leppard set list:
Undefeated (long version)
Let's Get Rocked
Animal
Foolin'
Love Bites
Rock On
Rocket (extended version)
Two Steps Behind
Switch 625
Hysteria
Armageddon It (full version)
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
---
Rock Of Ages
Heart set list:
(Led Zeppelin cover)
Magic Man
Heartless
Straight On
What About Love
These Dreams
Alone
WTF
Crazy On You
Barracuda
--
Battle Of Evermore
Love Reign
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