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In review: Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Poison
Published: 8/24/2009 11:18 AM
Last Modified: 8/24/2009 11:18 AM

Here are exclusive images from Saturday's near-capacity show at the BOK Center, with triple-headliners Def Leppard, Cheap Trick and Poison.

All photos courtesy Janet Hudson Schroeder.

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Cheap Trick's Robin Zander rocks it Saturday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa. For a band that han't really left the road since the late '70s, their set was stellar, even if the sound was a bit muddied. These guys don't take themselves too seriously but they nail everything -- and have fun doing it.

CheapTrick016jhsLr

Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick stole the set with his jumps, screams and quintuple-neck guitar. The group played many of its greatest hits new and old, including "Dream Police," "Sick Man of Europe" and "I Want You to Want Me."

Poison_Brett_Michaels_jhs01lr

Poison's Bret Michaels in a band-logo tee. Is that lame? Yeah, it's kinda lame. I never understood the blowout fame of Poison, a band that rode glam rock's coattails to fame. Poison didn't fit it with Saturday's lineup, though it did thank Def Leppard half a dozen times for letting it open for the English rocker.

To me, the hyper-cliche lyrics and vacuous pop metal of Poison might be more palatable if the guys didn't believe their own hype. There's a parody-ness about their sets, a "Spinal Tap" quality that would be much more enjoyable (and less, uh, sad) if they'd just laugh about it once in awhile. The misogynist showboating might be excusable if they hadn't blown their '80s-era career once already ... more than 20 years ago.

However, Saturday's set did prove that there may be some truth to the old saying that the "crappiest" band always goes on just before the headliner.

Poison04jhsLr

Poison's C.C. DeVille noodles on his guitar. The near-five-minute solo was out of place in a 45-minute set. Or maybe it just seemed like five minutes. The band performed hits "I Want Action Tonight," "Every Rose Has its Thorn," "Nothin' But a Good Time" and more.

Def_Leppard02jhsLr

Def Leppard performs to a near-capacity crowd at the BOK Center on Saturday. Hits included "Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Hysteria," "Let's Get Rocked," "Rock of Ages," "Photograph," "Armageddon It," "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," "Two Steps Behind," "Love Bites," "Foolin'" ... and a great cover of David Essex's hit "Rock On."

Def_Leppard01jhsLr

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard sings on Saturday. The band's immaculate set had the near sold-out crowd on its feet. "This is the first time we've ever been here," said Elliott excitedly. "And it won't be the last."

Reader Comments

9 Total

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Spartan_79 (3 years ago)

If the reviewer could put her personal tastes aside to actually give an unbiased, objective review and actually took a good look around the arena, she would have noticed that the near-capacity crowd had it's most fun during Poison's set! Personally, I was there to see Cheap Trick, however Poison stole the show!

Tulsa World Music Reporter Jen Chancellor (3 years ago)

Whoops, thank you piece of mind. I was going to list albums, then deleted them. Or, more precisely, thought I had deleted them. The error's fixed.

Spartan_79 (3 years ago)

This is supposed to a review of the concert, not an "opinion" of the band's body of work.

I will say what I said, again: The crowd seemed to have more FUN during Poison's set than either of the other two bands.

I enjoyed all three bands. Poison did what they do and they rocked! The reviewer's choice to insult the band was unnecessary and uncalled for.

HoodooVoodoo (3 years ago)

Spartan_79 .. Its a blog, its opinion, and its subjective. Its appropriate and its accurate. My vote is with piece of mind's. The best act was by far DL then CT .. then Poison.

Four Sixteen Rigby (3 years ago)

Joe looks like he needs to lose a few pounds.

As to Poison, the glam/hair band movement was in its heyday when I was still out running around and raising hell. I hated them. I was a Metallic, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and Megadeth kind of rocker.

However, even I had to admit that 'Nothin' But A Good Time was actually a pretty cool rock song. It has a great key of A signature riff as its foundation (even though A is a good country key), and was the no kidding by God No. 1 theme song of all that was fun that summer of 1988.

Bun-E (3 years ago)

Saturday night was a tough decision. I love Cheap Trick, I think Joe Elliot and Ian Hunter make an unusual pair (I know, Ian was prepping for his Mott the Hoople reunion that is not in Tulsa) but I had to see Al Green on that night. It's off subject but........
Al seemed to have lost some weight, found some new energy, has all three daughters singing back up now and is in the best voice that I have heard from him in years. He played a sharp, 70s soul review style, 70 minute casino set that was loaded with love and mischief. I missed seeing the Trick in an arena, it always brings out their finest performance, but had to see Al. CT will be back soon, Al on the other hand takes his time comin' back.

canester2002 (3 years ago)

I had to laugh when Poison called out "Tulsa" between every song to elicit cheap cheers. I'm pretty sure that was the same set they played opening up for Motley Crue in 1986 at the Convention Center. They sucked then too.

hootie (3 years ago)

I thought Poison put the best performance of the 3 bands. I go to a concert to be entertained. Def Leppard may have sounded good but they were not very enteraining.

Wren (3 years ago)

Would have loved to have seen Cheap Trick, just didn't have any interest in the other two bands.

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Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

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