Def Leppard rocks the Klipsch Music Center with special guests Tesla and Styx in Noblesville, IN Sunday night

Noblesville, IN was the place to be on Sunday night 8/30 as Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla rocked the packed out Klipsch Music Center. As fans were still beginning to file into their seats, Tesla took to the stage. Tesla put on a rocking performance without any flashy stage setup other than a platform for the drum kit and a Tesla backdrop in the background. There was still plenty of daylight left throughout Tesla’s performance that the lighting didn’t have much effect on their stage appearance. Jeff Keith’s vocals were spot on and not overshadowed by the music. Despite Keith’s recent hip replacement, he continued to own the stage dancing from one side to the other and up and down the catwalk showing that he was still able to get down and have a great time with the fans. Tesla continues to tour with 4 original band members including Keith on vocals, Frank Hannon on guitars and vocals, Brian Wheat on bass, and Troy Luccketa on drums. Rounding out this talented group of musicians is their newest member since 2006, Dave Rude on lead and rhythm guitar. Rude fits in nicely with the band and displays an amazing talent as he rocks it out on guitar and displays an awesome stage presence that fits in well with the rest of the band. The live show featured a dual guitar performance from Rude and Hannon showcasing their instrumental talents together before being rejoined by the band during “Love Song”. Although the fans were continuing to straggle in and many skipped Tesla’s performance completely, Tesla continued to deliver a rocking opening set that had those fans up on their feet throughout most of the performance. Be sure to arrive early not miss Tesla when this tour comes to your city as their set is only approximately 40 minutes but is full of energy and great music! Tesla’s set left the crowd wanting more, as many fans were complaining that they didn’t get enough time.

Tesla Setlist:

1. Edison’s Medicine (Man Out of Time)

2. Gettin’ Better

3. Hang Tough

4. Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)

5. Signs

(Five Man Electrical Band cover)

6. Love Song

7. Little Suzi

(Ph.D. cover)

8. Modern Day Cowboy

After a short change-over on stage with two sets of stairs, a platform, a stainless steel looking keyboard that was capable of being spun around, adding endless entertainment throughout their set, and a platform that was utilized by Tommy Shaw as he rocked out on his guitar for all to see. Styx would be the next band on this bill to take the stage. Styx is made up of Tommy Shaw on guitar and lead/backing vocals, James Young on guitar and lead/backing vocals, Lawrence Gowen on keys and lead/backing vocals, Chuck Panozzo on bass, Todd Sucherman on drums/percussion, and Ricky Phillips on bass and guitar. The band would begin their set with the vocals of Gowen being washed out by the music during a performance of the Grand Illusion, however the sound was adjusted and the vocals improved as Styx would perform the most energetic and entertaining set of the evening. Gowen’s onstage energy and excitement on the keys while spinning the keyboard around and maintaining the quality of his vocal range throughout the performance. Tommy shaw captivated the audience with his smile and onstage poses for the crowd as he held his guitar high and showed the crowd every chord and lick that he would play. This band is pure showmanship and full of talented musicians. I heard complaints of, “well I was disappointed that Styx didn’t play ‘Mr Roboto'”, but with as many hits as styx has had, they obviously can not play them all in a short 10 song set. I personally enjoyed the medley of covers performed by Gowen including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and ‘Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay’. I feel that their setlist was very strong for this show and showcased continuous energy and amazing instrumental talent throughout their performance. The band truly left everything that they had out on that stage when finished and was honored with a standing ovation from the fans that resulted in a full band bow to the crowd.

Styx Setlist:

The Grand Illusion

Too Much Time on My Hands

Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)

Miss America

Lady

Blue Collar Man

Rocket Man / Bohemian Rhapsody / (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay

Come Sail Away

Encore:

Rockin’ the Paradise

Renegade

Although Tesla and Styx would have certainly been enough entertainment on their own to give the fans their moneys worth, the show was not even close to being finished. The crowd had grown larger in size as the pavilion and the lawn had very few empty spaces around and much of the crowd stayed put throughout the most recent intermission as they prepared for the appearance of the headliner. Def Leppard needs no introduction, with hits like ‘Let’s Get Rocked’, ‘Love Bites’, ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ and ‘Rock of Ages’, they are one of the most successful bands of the 80’s and are preparing to release a new album this fall. Def Leppard is made up of Joe Elliott on vocals, Phil Collen on guitar & vocals, Vivian Campbell on guitars & vocals, Rick “Sav” Savage on bass & vocals and Rick Allen on drums & vocals. As stage preparation was completed in secret behind a large Def Leppard curtain and the intro music of ‘Disintegrate’ began to be played over the speaker system, the curtain was lifted in dramatic fashion as the band kicked it off with ‘Rock, Rock, Till You Drop’. The stage was equipped with visual screens on the platform as well as in the background that featured different scenes and videos throughout the night including a casino themed stage set during ‘Animal’ and script written lyrics when the band would perform ‘Love Bites’. The visuals of the screens and the amazing light show was enough to captivate the crowd, however, the sound was also spot on with Joe’s vocals sounding strong with the accompaniment of the band.

Elliott made the most use out of the catwalk platform as he would strut to the end and rock out some vocals and strut back to the stage to rejoin the band. Elliott displays his leadership as the front man of the band by walking out toward the crowd with various band members throughout the night as he would introduce them to the crowd and then return to the stage leaving them there to kick off the next Def Leppard hit. It was a great display of band camaraderie as they each shared the spotlight. At one moment during the night the band would take a break leaving Elliott at the end of the catwalk, just him and an acoustic guitar as he performed a solo rendition of ‘Two Steps Behind”. This moment gave the crowd an opportunity to feel a more intimate Def Leppard connection between themselves and the front man. As the night went on, Def Leppard would play hit after hit including an encore performance that featured ‘Rock Of Ages’, ‘Photograph’ and ‘Kings of The World’. Be sure to check out one of the remaining shows on this iconic tour featuring Def Leppard, Styx and Tesla.