Concert review: Def Leppard, Vector Arena
Back so soon chaps? And why not, because although Sheffield's hair metal heroes last visited New Zealand three years ago for a sell-out show at Vector, before that it had been 16 long years since they had leppardised and adrenalised us.
While this show wasn't much different from their last tour in support of their tenth album, Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, they were back this time to trot out all the big hits in the name of their new album, Mirrorball, the band's first live album in their 35-year career.
So although Vector was not quite as packed as it was last time, it was classic stadium rock, 80s-style, once again.
And also once again, I found myself with this overwhelming urge to sing, "Rocket ..." and pour some sugar on all these lovely blokes and ladies around me.
Did I really sing: "When you make love, do you look in the mirror?" Crikey.
But more on Def Leppard soon, because up first were 70s and 80s psychedelic folk rock balladeers Heart, led by Wilson sisters Ann and Nancy.
They started with a cover of Zeppelin's Rock'n'Roll, before the rugged folk whimsy of 77's Magic Man (with its pagan-like ritual mid-song breakdown), and the prog-meets-metal gallop and chug of Barracuda, which was dedicated to the All Blacks.
It was a howler of a song, with Ann Wilson's voice at its lethal and steely best, and one the boys in black should be warming up to on Sunday.
Heart, who also played their many epic and over-wrought ballads, including Alone, were an ideal warm-up act for Def Leppard.
Hard-strutting frontman Joe Elliott, guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, one-armed drumming demon Rick Allen and glamour boy bass player Rick Savage know the score.
So they played all the big hits, and nothing but the hits, with Rocket a highlight thanks to Elliot's Gregorian chant-meets-hair metal vocal midway through.
But first up there's Undefeated, basically a homage to Def Leppard (and why not - it's been more than three decades and still counting).
And on the instrumental Switch 625, written by the band's late guitarist and bad boy Steve Clark, they ditched the hair bit and just played metal (albeit with a fantastical touch).
While Hysteria was a little dreary, with Elliot's muffled and coy mutterings, it was a solid day at the arena office for these 80s survivors.
And you can tell that Joe and his merry band of lads are still enjoying their job.
But I didn't go to this gig and you have given a concise and and reasonably full review of the concert and I as a result, wish I had gone. Thanks for the massive improvement from the CD's last week.
Good to hear too that Heart still deliver great songs live.
A shame you didn't mention local talent Shotgun Alley who opened the show and who were also excellent. The only disappointment of the night was the venue who's appalling acoustics once again detracted from the overall experience.
For the first half of Heart I could barely make out what was going on. On top of that, it was the first concert that has ever made me physically ill. The bottom end was so heavy with vibration that I became tremendously nauseated and had to keep leaving the room.
I ended up seeking out a seat at the back of the arena but by then it didn't really help. I met others outside who were having the same issue. All in all, the bands seemed to perform well but were very much let down by the technical aspect.