Def Leppard – Minnesota State Fair Grandstand – St. Paul MN – August 26th 2025

Minnesota State Fair presents Def Leppard with special guests Brother Cane on August 26th 2025

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

Brother Cane hit the stage under the late-summer sky as the fairgrounds buzzed with fried food, neon lights, and rock nostalgia. With fans still arriving for the headliner, the Grandstand wasn’t packed yet — but those who got there early were rewarded with a tight, punchy set from one of ’90s hard rock’s most underrated acts.

The band leaned into the throwback vibe, clearly aware of their role: warming up a crowd that was already halfway in love with the past.

Expectations were met — and maybe exceeded — when they launched into fan favorites like:

• “Got No Shame” – A gritty, high-energy opener that immediately grabbed the attention of anyone within earshot.

• “That Don’t Satisfy Me” – Crunchy riffs and strong vocals from Damon Johnson kept the momentum going.

• “And Fools Shine On” – The emotional peak of the set, with its eerie, melodic undertones and tight arrangement.

Damon Johnson’s stage presence was confident but never over-the-top — more like a seasoned pro reconnecting with fans rather than a nostalgia act going through the motions.

Despite being an opener, the sound was surprisingly full. The guitars cut through clearly, the rhythm section was locked in, and Johnson’s vocals held up impressively — warm, gritty, and right on key. The band didn’t feel like a reassembled side project; they played like they still had something to prove.

There was little between-song banter, but what there was felt genuine. Johnson gave a shout-out to the fair, thanked the crowd, and tipped his hat to Def Leppard — all without dragging the pace.

Brother Cane delivered a rock-solid set: short, sharp, and loaded with sincerity. They didn’t reinvent anything — they didn’t need to. They reminded the crowd that hard rock with hooks and heart still hits hard, especially in the open air of a Midwestern summer night.

If you came for nostalgia, you got it. If you showed up early by accident, you might’ve walked away a fan.

Under a clear summer night sky, the Grandstand pulsed with anticipation. Def Leppard fans — some in faded Union Jack shirts, others introducing their kids to the band that defined their youth — filtered in to see a group that’s long since crossed from “rock stars” to “rock legends.” This wasn’t just a concert — it was a high-volume celebration of decades past, packed into 90 polished minutes.

Though the turnout was smaller than their arena shows, the crowd made up for it in energy and devotion.

Def Leppard hit the stage with the kind of swagger only a band with 100+ million albums sold can pull off. They launched into anthems like “Rocket” and “Let’s Get Rocked” with tight precision. Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell traded solos effortlessly — a clinic in arena rock guitar.

Joe Elliott’s vocals, while showing some signs of age, held up well for most of the set. His range wasn’t quite what it was in ’87, but his charisma and connection with the crowd more than filled the gaps. The band leaned into backing vocals to give the choruses that signature layered sheen — sometimes maybe a bit too polished.

Setlist Highlights

• “Love Bites” still soared, with the crowd holding up phones (and a few lighters) to light the night.

• “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” hit hard late in the set — pure, distilled ’80s glory.

• They even worked in a newer track “Just Like 73” though the crowd was mostly there for the classics.

Mid-set, they slowed things down for an acoustic segment (“Two Steps Behind,” “This Guitar”) that gave everyone a breather — maybe too much of one. It was heartfelt, but a bit flat compared to the rest of the show’s energy.

The die-hards sang every word. Even casual fans were swept up in the nostalgia. And when “Pour Some Sugar on Me” dropped, the Grandstand went wild — no surprise there. It’s still their knockout punch.

A particularly emotional moment came when Joe introduced guitarist Vivian Campbell and acknowledged his ongoing battle with cancer. The standing ovation was loud, long, and completely deserved.

Def Leppard might be decades removed from their MTV heyday, but they still bring a professional, crowd-pleasing show. The fire may burn a little cleaner now — less raw, more rehearsed — but it still burns bright.