The Crüe in fine form

January 24, 2009

On a deary, semi-wintery Sunday, in the lull between the holidays and Olympics, Mötley Crüe sparked some life into Vancouver as their Dead of Winter Canadian Tour rolled into town.

After kicking off the 10-city Canadian venture Saturday night in Victoria, the Saints of Los Angeles in all their hard rock glory rolled into town in a blaze of pyro-techniques setting GM Place on fire.

The original line-up of Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Tommy Lee were in top rock form as they treated the Vancouver crowd to a spectacular show.

First up was Australian rock group, Airbourne, who started the night off on the right note with a loud, entertaining, half hour set. Channeling an AC/DC sound, the foursome played hits including "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" and "Stand Up For Rock ‘n’ Roll".

The Joe Perry Project was the second opener, headed by Aerosmith lead guitarist and co-founding member, Joe Perry. The legendary rocker released his fifth solo album, Have Guitar, Will Travel, which includes the hit "We’ve Got a Long Way to Go".

The set featured a young German singer, Hagen, discovered by Perry’s wife Billie on YouTube and recruited for The Project’s latest studio effort. Perry and company finished on a strong note with Aerosmith’s classic, "Walk This Way", that received rousing cheers from the crowd.

A fitting opening act for Mötley Crüe, whose relationship with Perry and Vancouver dates back to 1989 when Aerosmith was in town recording Pump at Little Mountain Sound Studios at the same time as the Crüe who were laying out their chart topping album, Dr. Feelgood.

Taking to the stage with flashes of light, fire and smoke, Mötley Crüe, literally kickstarted hearts with deafening pyro-techniques as they launched into "Kick Start My Heart", pulling the crowd out of their seats so fast it was as if they caught fire.

Through decades the debauchery that fully embraced the rock n’ roll lifestyle, Mötley Crüe’s reputation as an extravagant live band holds true to this day.

After "Wildside" and "Shout at the Devil", the group kicked it up a notch, Neil owning the stage, for the incredible rendition of "Saints of Los Angeles".

With a single spotlight, complimented by cellphones and camera flashes, Mars’ guitar solo captured the essence of the Crüe's staying power; they have the talent and skill to back up the antics.

Since forming in Los Angeles in 1981, the Crüe’s talent and charisma has combined for multiple chart-topping hits and endured them to fans. Tonight it was all on display.

Lee spent the night wailing on his drums and joking with the crowd, as the group showcased the energy and enthusiasm of a group of twenty year old unknowns. The only difference was they were playing to a packed stadium that knew all the words to sing along.

The night came to an end with "Girls, Girls, Girls", before an encore of "Home Sweet Home" and "Dr. Feelgood". Mötley Crüe, however, sporting tamer hair than the young rockers who infused glam metal with hard rock in the '80s and inspired Aerosmith’s single "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", show no signs of slowing down.