Def Leppard, Journey and Steve Miller Band Rock Minute Maid Park

“Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ into the future…”

Doesn’t it, though? I couldn’t help but think these lyrics could have been relevant (in a negative way) to The Summer Stadium Tour – featuring Def Leppard and Journey with the Steve Miller Band – if the concert was simply pure nostalgic indulgence. But it wasn’t. It was far from it.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Bold claim considering only one act on the bill – Def Leppard – had tracks on their set list written after the Reagan administration. Nostalgia plays a role, yes, but the reason these groups keep having their songs appear and reappear in the media – Space Jam, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Sopranos, Glee, Cobra Kai, etc. – is because there is something timeless and good about them. It’s not indulgent to want to hear them, and as long as these guys can still play, it’s easy to see why people would flock to them. And they can still play, as those in a packed Minute Maid Park last night can attest to.

Up first was Steve Miller, who, based on his spectacles and business casual attire, looked like he went straight from an office to Minute Maid Park, which, to be fair, many concertgoers did to make the 6 p.m. start time. Seriously, you wouldn’t think him out of place if you saw this Space Cowboy refilling his Hydro Flask at your office water cooler. The outfit does, however, fit Miller’s “musician first, celebrity never” attitude, and a musician he is – for sure. In front of the colorfully winged horse from his Book of Dreams album cover, Miller showed off his bluesy rock bona fides with a set that boasted infectious tunes and jam session vibes.