I’ve been going to Mötley Crüe shows since their heyday in the 80s, and this might just be the best the band has sounded since the Dr. Feelgood tour.  It’s often hit or miss with singer Vince Neil, but on this night, he was dead on, leading the band through an adrenaline-infused set of the band’s biggest hits.

Featuring a very similar “Los Angeles” themed stage set to the one the band used last summer on the inaugural Crüe Fest tour, Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars, and band leader/bassist Nikki Sixx absolutely rocked the house (or casino), with spot-on performances for what appeared to be a sold out audience that just couldn’t get enough. 

The band blew the doors off the joint right at the beginning, slamming into the night with Kickstart my Heart, followed by Wild Side.  Moving into the classic Shout at the Devil, the band continued to loop a video of a demonized George W. Bush up on the giant video screens, much to the audience’s delight. (Any Republicans in the audience did not make themselves known.)

There were a few surprises throughout the show: the band announced that they were filming the song White Trash Circus (their new single) for the following Monday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, so they turned up the pyrotechnics and played the song twice, but no one seemed to mind.  Another surprise was the absence of a Tommy Lee drum solo and his usual “titty cam” routine.  Don’t get me wrong – I like boobs as much as the next guy, but I have to say, that routine was getting old. But Lee is a tremendous drummer, so I was actually a little disappointed that we didn’t get even a short solo from him.

One solo that was included was a very surprisingly solid guitar solo from the underrated Mick Mars.  Certainly known as a prolific songwriter from the 80s metal genre, the audience seemed surprised at how technically proficient Mars actually is with his instrument.  The incorporation of some classic Jimi Hendrix into his solo certainly helped grab the audience’s attention.

Throughout the concert, the sound was absolutely perfect, and although the entire production carried out like a slick, well rehearsed stage show, complete with who knows how many backing musical and vocal tracks, no one seemed to care as everything was working towards the greater good – giving fans an exciting, thunderous, live recreation of the band’s greatest hits.

It’s also worth mentioning that supporting act Hinder were absolutely incredible, and are a perfect fit for the supporting slot.  Any Crüe fans in attendance who may not have previously heard of Hinder, I would have to guess they ran right out the next day to pick up Hinder’s latest release, Take it to the Limit, one of my favorite records from last year.

All in, it was a great night of hard rock, and with Crüe Fest 2 coming up this summer, it appears there is no slowing down for the boys of Mötley Crüe.  If they continue to perform like this on tour, there’s no doubt that their fans will continue to flock to their shows.

SETLIST:

Kickstart My Heart

Wild Side

Shout At The Devil

Saints of Los Angeles

Live Wire (with guitar solo intro from Mick Mars)

Too Fast For Love/On With the Show

Mutherfucker Of The Year (with an intro from Tommy Lee)

Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

Same Ol’ Situation

White Trash Circus (twice)

Primal Scream (with a quick bass intro from Nikki Sixx)

Looks that Kill

Girls, Girls, Girls

Dr. Feelgood

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