Bridging the generations between music is never an easy task, but it seems as though rock legends MOTLEY CRUE have it down to an exact science. The attitude they bring to the stage is insatiable, & they set no limits on giving spectators THE BEST possible performance, regardless of any undermining circumstances involved. Crue’s loud & gritty musical strength is a “trademark” around the world, & no matter how many times you hear ANY of their songs, they just seem to never grow old…even though the fans are becoming much younger.
Those that have seen the exuberant foursome in a “Piece of The Action”, normally share the same general consensus…that CRUE never strays far from their insane approach to provide a perplexing show full of musical intuition, shrewdness, & pyro! They are KINGS for prompting audience participation…& passing a bottle back into the crowd, or reciting the occasional “Motley Crue Prayer”, have become routine existence for their fans. No doubt about it, these L.A. rockers have been touring for decades of decadence & the GENIUS shows.
This year’s “Dead Of Winter” Tour showcased TWO opening acts rippin’ up the stage with Motley…Aussie power-rockers AIRBOURNE, & the highly acclaimed Joe Perry Project. The onslaught of Airbourne was as forceful as Angus Young on speed!!!! These guys know how to rock a stadium at FULL VOLUME, & in only 25 brief minutes! Some of their moves were classically 80’s glam, yet their musical intensity reminded me of a young Metallica. Bar none, one of the greatest opening acts I’ve seen in a long time, & every shred kept the crowd intrigued. J.P. Project (on the other hand) gave a staunch performance, but many fans felt that it brushed too closely upon Aerosmith’s style. Joe is unmistakably one of the greatest guitar players of all time & it is going to be difficult for him to shed his “Aero structured skin”. He has been a pivotal force with that group for over thirty years, & sometimes…no matter how hard you try…subconscious abilities just seep into a new mix. The individual members of JPP are ALL exceptional musicians. They just could not generate the kind of “impact” that was necessary to keep the Regina audience satisfied.
When the guitars began to growl on “Kickstart My Heart”, I knew that the crowd was in for a real treat. Then the explosive force of the pyrotechnics got underway, & I realized that we were witnessing an act of MONUMENTAL proportions! Next to Kiss, Motley Crue are one of the only bands who were able to pull off the face-painted, leather-clad, fiery performances that reaped utter grandiosity during the eighties. Gone are those days, & the members carry a more mature demeanor about the stage with them now, but the music still belts that ruggedly hedonistic value that made them famous in the first place. An impressive set list of twelve songs, reaching almost an hour & a half in length…there was something for everyone during this show from “new” to old fans alike.
Mick Mars captivated the audience (under a lone spotlight) with a howling five-minute guitar solo, before breaking into the opening riff of “Same Old Situation”. The 58 year old has not lost his articulated ability to finger a nasty set of chords, since being diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis – an arthritic disorder which causes the spine to fuse & impairs the patient from retaining posture mobility. However, ailing symptoms were present as Mars hobbled off the stage at the end of the evening, much to the dismay of the fans he so eagerly impressed.
Nikki Sixx seemed positively exhilarant as he graced the front of the stage, prodding fans to scream & shout along to the heavy rock anthems. Vince Neil showed some difficulty keeping up with speed on certain songs, & his range is not parallel to that of his early career, but he still possesses a HARD characteristic voice that stamps each piece with booming sonic style. Tommy Lee (brilliant as ever) will remain one of the most hardcore, fluent drummers throughout the industry. It would be amazing to see him play at “full capacity”, as the drum kit used during this concert was not nearly as immense as some he’s used in MEGA stadiums. Favorite songs of the evening included: Kickstart My Heart, Live Wire, Looks That Kill, Saints of Los Angeles, Same Old Situation, Primal Fear, & Dr. Feelgood.
Although some distortion was prevalent, & the band is showing signs of aging, Motley Crue is STILL a rousing spectacle that you don’t wanna’ miss! They have been through a tumultuous amount of friction & uncertainty throughout their career, surviving a tainted past by focusing on musical creativity & dedication to their fans. It was awesome to see the brotherhood surrounding the white grand piano during “Home Sweet Home”…leaving many of us to wonder what the future of CRUE will hold, especially next year as the group celebrates their 30th Anniversary. On & off the stage it has been a “LIVE WIRE”, keeping them easily recognizable & overstated…something that we’ve come to expect when we think of Motley Crue & the MAGNITUDE of their music.
*** All photos courtesy of Motley Crue.
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BPatoine – January, 2010
