Def Leppard, 'Viva Hysteria'-- Live Review

On Friday, March 29, I saw Def Leppard's residency, "Viva Hysteria" at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Basically, seeing Hysteria performed in its entirety has been a fantasy of mine for a couple decades. And then it happened. And it was good.

I went to the show with my friend Christa and my husband Eric. We stood in the balcony and had an amazing view.

Before Hysteria, Def Lep dug into their older or more obscure tracks, performing "Good Morning Freedom," "Wasted," "Stagefright," "Mirror, Mirror" and more including "Promises." The band is switching up their set around the Hysteria songs every night, which is very cool.

Now, hearing Hysteria from front to back was just amazing. I never thought I would get to hear a song like "Gods of War" live.

The band was recording the performance that night for a DVD. I assume they are recording every night so they can choose the best footage and audio mix. It will be a cool DVD for sure.

After Hysteria was complete, the Leps came back out and did "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph."

Now, before you ask,yes, Joe Elliott's voice sounded good. Very good, in fact. He sounded better than I'd ever heard him sound before. The entire band was tight and they actually did look like they were having fun. No one was phoning it in and the crowd definitely appreciated it.

Outside of the concert hall was a lot of Def Lep memorabilia, including Rick Allen's first electronic drum, which was very cool to see.

I'm definitely glad I made the trip west to Vegas for the show. Highly recommended.

Comments

[Barry]

I went on Sat the 30th and I echo your statements of they were not phoning it in. I was up on the balcony and I could see the "Thunder God" smiling from there. Joe sounded pretty damn good and they sounded all so tight. Easily the best sounding concert I've seen. I was fortunate to see them perform the first side of High and Dry after opening with "On Through the Night" and "Slang". Of course, the encore was "Rock of Ages" and Photograph". You could see they were having the time of their lives. I thought the live concert footage of Steve Clark doing the opening of "Gods of War" was one of my highlights.

[Him]

Glad you had a good time Allyson. And nice to hear that they still pay tribute to Clark.

[Red6ixx]

i think they always give a tribute to steve - saw them last year in Glasgow - with Motley Crue - they were great.

[Shawn]

Nice touch to add Steve in the show. Thanks for the excellent review!

[GNR]

You had me at Mirror, Mirror

[Rita]

Good to hear Joe's voice was good. Sounds like a great time.

[Bob]

Definitely sounds like fun. I love that technology now makes it possible for bands to include their fallen comrades in their shows. The Who has been featuring Keith Moon and John Entwhistle every night on their current tour. Cool stuff!

[Juanita]

I was at the show on the 30th and I agree, they have never sounded better. They filmed that night also and I cannot wait for the DVD to come out!

[dj]

That was cool they paid tribute to Steve, that would be an amazing show, glad you had fun allyson, they're still on my to see list.

[toddwiggy]

I was there that night...too weird...ya it was a good and polished show, to be honest it was so perfect it was like listening to the album...I think photograph was the best song of the night...after that show I saw Saigon Kick at Vamp'd the same night, and 3 nights before that I saw CrashDiet and Crucified Barbara at the hard rock....just to put a plug out there, that is the best show out there this month,if you are in the East and CrashDiet is in the area go see it,..the all female Crucified Barbara is nothing short of amazing, go see this show, go see this show, go see this show!...only 2 weeks left to see these 2 amazing Swedish bands, go see that damn show!

[Metalboy!]

"Photograph" is their best song and right behind RATT's "Round And Round" in the pantheon of The Greatest Hair Metal Songs of All Time.

Cool ya caught 'em, Al, Juanita, Barry and Toddwiggy!

Glad Joe's voice is sounding better. I'm ready to seein' 'em soon if he can sustain it.

[Ken]

They played Hysteria front-to-back and "Photograph" was the best song of the night?? HA! I caught the show a week ago last Wednesday and lost my mind when DED FLATBIRD opened with "On Through The Night" and "Mirror Mirror." The standout tracks during the Hysteria set were "Gods of War," "Don't Shoot Shotgun," "Run Riot" and "Excitable."

The encore was icing on the cake, but Hysteria was the story and don't let anyone tell you otherwise...

[Rita]

Totally agree with Metalboy! On Photograph. While Hysteria is sheer brilliance and I played it to death for years, I still think Photograph is better. That was the first Def Leppard song I ever heard and it still rocks.

[Metalboy!]

Rita! Great minds THINK alike!