This rote introduction to “High’n’Dry (Saturday Night),” perfectly summed up his uninspired approach to frontmanship. “Good evening Vancouver!” bellowed Elliott, after a rousing “Animal”. As much for themselves as their audiences. Bereft of energy and enthusiasm, his scripted stage banter provided a prime example of why touring rock bands need to switch up their set list on a nightly basis. Much of the blame for an evening that delivered hits but few thrills has to sit with vocalist Joe Elliott, the once lithe front man whose stage persona is now reduced to ambling around, holding up his mic stand and pointing at fans. But at the Vancouver leg of their trans-Canada jaunt at Rogers Arena last night, they also proved why a critical re-evaluation isn’t due any time soon.įor a band whose songs are awash with the promise of imminent and limitless rocking (“Rock! Rock! Till You Drop,” “Rocket,” “Let’s Get Rocked,” “Rock of Ages” and a cover of David Essex’s “Rock On” were all unleashed last night), this was a concert that merely partied politely as it chugged along in third gear. Yorkshire’s best-selling musical export have been shifting units and putting tushes on seats since the early 1980s.

Despite their colossal commercial success, a recurring theme in seemingly every Def Leppard media interview is a complaint that they’ve been critically overlooked throughout their lengthy career.

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