Okay so buckle up folks because my first Def Leppard concert last week in Boston was wild! Let me tell you how this whole adventure went down, step by messy step.
The Lead-Up Panic
First thing first: got the tickets online. Man, the queue was insane. Kept refreshing, fingers sweaty, almost clicked some scam site once – heart skipped a beat! Finally got decent seats, clicked buy, then instantly worried “crap, are these fake?” Had to check the order email like ten times. Tickets were legit, thank god. Next mission: transportation. Checked trains, checked traffic – nightmare. Decided driving in was a gamble but faster. Booked parking online near the Garden. Big mistake? Maybe.
Figuring Out the Deets
Started digging into what I actually needed to know:
- What time? Doors said 6:30 PM, opener Joan Jett around 7:30, Leppard maybe 9? Rumors fly online.
- What can I bring? Tiny bag rules, clear only? Phone? Wallet? Keys? Overthought it completely.
- What to wear?! Huge debate. Felt dumb trying to look “rocker” at 42. Settled on jeans, band tee (duh), and a jacket. Boston night air ain’t no joke.
The Boston Madness
Drove in way too early, thinking “beat traffic.” Ha! Sat in the car park for ages, buzzing with nerves. Saw the crowds gathering – all ages, tons of old-school tees. Cool vibe already. Getting into the Garden? Lines snaked everywhere. Security was pretty quick though, patted down, ticket scanned… bam. Inside!
First impression: loud cheers, smells like hot dogs and beer. Found my section, climbing those steep stairs – felt like climbing Everest! Found my seat… decent view, bit off to the side. Grabbed a stupidly expensive beer immediately. Liquid courage.
The Big Bang
Joan Jett kicked things off. Solid! Crowd warmed up. Then… the wait. Lights dimmed. That classic Def Leppard intro tape started (“We got somethin’ we wanna say to ya…”). Chills. Legit chills down my spine. The stage lit up – BOOM – “Take What You Want” hits hard. The roar… never heard anything like it.
Joe Elliott sounded fantastic, running around like a madman. Vivian Campbell ripped the solos. Phil Collen, shirtless as expected, grinned like a maniac. Rick Allen? Absolute legend behind those drums. Sang my heart out to “Animal,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” the whole lot. Lost my voice halfway through “Rock of Ages.” Totally worth it.
Survived! The Aftermath
Final chord hit, lights up. Euphoria! Walked out buzzing, ears ringing but happy. Getting out of the parking garage? Absolute gridlock. Took forever, just crawled out onto the street. Tired, hoarse, slightly deaf, smelling vaguely like stadium beer… best night in ages.
My “Gotcha!” List For Next Time
- Seriously, EARPLUGS. DO NOT SKIP THIS. Tinnitus ain’t cool.
- Train might be smarter than driving. That traffic & parking exit crushed my soul.
- Comfy shoes? Non-negotiable. Stadium stairs are brutal.
- Phone battery pack – photos and vids drain it FAST.
- Hydrate before the beer! Stadium prices make you cry.
So yeah, first Def Leppard experience? Total blast. Loud, messy, expensive, absolutely epic. My throat still hurts. Zero regrets. If you’re heading to a show soon… just do it. Get ready for a ride.
