Wednesday afternoon at LeBreton Flats on the fifth day of Bluesfest began with a sparse crowd, wandering the grounds in temperatures reaching nearly 40 C. Eventually, the masses made it in to see the current stars of rock including Def Leppard and Tom Morello.
Matching the heat of the day, The Sarandons serenaded the River Stage crowd with cold beverages in hand. With a southern rock sound, their tender lyrical front was enhanced by tight harmonies as they dove into “These Hearts” from their most recent album release, Drawing Dead.
The band Luscious were a raucous, rocking opening for the acts to come at the RBC Stage, complete with dark eyeshadow and pink guitars. Vocalist Brielle LeBlanc led the hard rock group from Kingston, Ont., emitting energy and staggering, authentic rock vocals on catchy original songs like “Bombshell” and their newly released “Caution Signs.”
Back after just three years, Rise Against the Machine’s lead guitarist Tom Morello dominated the RBC Stage as a solo act. He played signature rap rock and ever-persistent calls to action to an excited crowd of roaring young and old fans clad in old memorabilia.
The “14-year-old firebrand,” as Tom Morello called his son, Roman, was a huge hit with fans, keeping up on the guitar with his legendary predecessor in the genre.
One of the most striking parts of the performance were the projections behind the band, cycling through artistic depictions of revolutionaries surrounded by fire and holding pitchforks and other makeshift weapons of defence beneath their iron stares.
“Pretend You Remember Me,” was played in light of all the families who have been torn apart by ICE. In the first five months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, about 500 migrant children have been taken from their homes and put in government custody. The Bluesfest tone was sinister, with an orchestration of noise that sounded eerily like whirring helicopter blades and gun shots.
“I do believe it’s time we get this party started, baby,” he said, launching into “Let’s Get the Party Started” and following it with “Hold the Line,” which he dedicated to his “union brothers and sisters.”
“So, this is the Ottawa blues festival … I may as well play some blues for you, in a Morellian style,” Morello said before playing a composition of arpeggiating blues, followed by a soulful solo and morphing into a heavier full-band section.
“Heavy metal music is the music that made me love music, and Black Sabbath invented that,” said Morello, before covering Black Sabbath’s “Mr. Crowley” and Audioslave’s “Like a Stone,” dedicated to Chris Cornell.
Meanwhile, Reignwolf tore up the LeBreton Stage, amping up the festival with animalistic energy. Frontman Jordan Cook of the two-man setup switched between playing the guitar, singing and shredding the kit, sometimes doing all three at once to baffle newcomers to the band with “Black and Red.”
Pounding kick drums and screaming guitars marked headliner Def Leppard’s entrance as they strode on stage with “Women.”
Bouncing beach balls and waving hats meant the crowd was ready to party, and the act didn’t disappoint. As the group blasted classic 80s rock hits in shiny flared pants against a backdrop of galaxies, spaceships and other extravagant futuristic designs.
In this theme, Def Leppard followed up with “Rocket,” followed by the famous “Love Bites.”
As a surprise, frontman Joel Elliot brought Tom Morello on stage for an electric performance of “Just Like 73,” a collaborative song released last year that retains the nostalgic potency of the legacy act half a century ago.
Def Leppard proceeded with a set break of acoustic ballads, including “Two Steps Behind” and “This Guitar,” since there’s nothing more rock and roll than singing a love song to your guitar.
After a couple more hits, Def Leppard was beckoned back for a necessary encore, welcomed by chants of “SUGAR!” The band did indeed play their famous “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” — but not before a generous performance of “Hysteria.”
Elliot held up his mic like a trophy, bringing it down like a baton to cut off the rolling drums with the final musical blast.
“Until next time!” Elliot shouted, blowing kisses to devoted fans and hinting at a return to the city.
“There will be a next time. Don’t forget us, and we won’t forget you. Goodnight!”
Featured image by Murray Oliver/the Charlatan
