Mötley Crüe Is Back on the ‘Return of the Carnival of Sins’ Tour
Show Review ★ Emily Galeas ★ @emilygaleaswrites★ 3 Minutes
The infamous rock four-piece, Mötley Crüe, has recently slithered their way back into the spotlight with ‘The Return to the Carnival of Sins’ tour. This return to the stage shocked many fans, as it has been said that their performance quality has been dwindling over the years. However, that was certainly not the case in Clarkston, Michigan on July 20th. The “Crue” brought an electric, highly produced and absolutely stacked set to Pine Knob this summer, giving the fans exactly what they desired.
Critics have definitely been on the backs of the Mötley Crüe members for quite some time, criticizing them for playing along to tracks or lip-syncing. This was something that made me apprehensive heading into the show, however, at least for their Michigan show, they did not disappoint.
Mötley Crüe in the 80s, photographers unknownThe openers for the show left little to be desired. The opening set featured two iconic rock bands, ‘Extreme’ and ‘Tesla’. ‘Extreme’ set the scene with a fantastic rock n’ roll set complete with a truly remarkable acoustic set. ‘Tesla’ brought their classic rock anthems, amping up the audience who carried the same amount of energy.
Going into this show, I was completely blind. I had never seen Mötley Crüe live before, but I had heard that their shows can get quite rowdy in the past. I had anticipated a high-energy audience with little payoff from the band, but what I was met with was a mutual act-to-audience respect. The crowd knew almost every song that both ‘Tesla’ and ‘Extreme’ played, and met them with the same energy that you normally see for the main event. The amphitheater seats and lawn were also packed with people swaying and dancing while both groups performed their sets.
At last, Mötley Crüe came on around 9PM. Knowing that the band has released a few new tracks since coming out of retirement, I wasn’t sure if I should expect tracks from their original, classic albums. Which, I cannot lie, would have brought much less energy to the show. However, the Crue did not disappoint! The setlist was over an hour long, and stacked with hit after hit. The musicality overall was incredible given the recent reviews I have heard of the group. There were no tracks played to cushion the instrumentals. Vocally, I would have to agree that Vince Neil is certainly no longer in his prime, however, it was once again better than clips that I have seen. This is a show that I aimed to attend for nostalgia, and to see some of my favorite rock tracks live, but it ended up being one that I would definitely pay to see again.
It was clear based on the set, the stage decor and the visuals in between, that this show was meant to bring back the classic Mötley Crüe vibe for one last hoorah. The four-piece played hits like Shout At The Devil, Primal Scream, Dr. Feelgood, Home Sweet Home, and more. This rock concert was meant to be just that, a rock concert. Packed full with high-energy dancers, ripping guitar solos from John 5, enthusiastic drum solos from Tommy Lee, and the revival of tracks that were collecting dust just a few years ago.
If you are young, old, or somewhere in between, Mötley Crüe’s show is a nostalgic time machine of 80s rock with a little something for everyone. This show brought together fans of truly all ages, and surprised me in more ways than one. Going into this show, I was not anticipating writing a strictly positive review, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Crue is still embarking on their ‘Return of the Carnival of Sins Tour’, be on the lookout, because they may be coming to a city near you.
