It seems like Motley Crue comes through Calgary at least every year, and somehow they manage to keep getting fans to turn out. Such was the case on January 26th when Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee brought their “Dead of Winter” tour to the Saddledome.

As if trying to blast away the cold outside, the show featured pyro, pyro, and more pyro in opener Kickstart My Heart, followed by Wild Side and Shout At The Devil. Vocally Neil seemed to struggle, often times letting the crowd sing for him. When he did hit the big notes however, it was classic Vince Neil and made the crowd erupt. Sixx, Mars and Lee seemed in top form and having fun on stage.

Staple Crue classics like Same Old Situation and Girls Girls Girls were interspersed with songs from 2008's Saints of Los Angeles including the title track and Motherfucker of The Year.

This being my first exposure to Motley Crue live, I can certainly see the appeal. Their classic songs still seem energized and the band can still perform after nearly three decades. Lee is still a great drummer whose charisma shines from behind the drum set. He took a few moments to offer some Jägermeister to fans.

The show however lacked in many ways. In 2010 there is no excuse to not have screens at an arena concert. The fans in the back upper level may have bought a cheap ticket package but they still spent their money to see a band, which they could only barely. Perhaps some of that money spent blowing things up could have been used to remedy this problem. The other issue is one that seems to plague many concerts – a 15-song, 90 minute set. When a band has been around as long as Motley Crue, there is no excuse for any less than 2 hours for the fans who payed up to $115 a ticket to see them.

Perhaps it is due in part to the show happening so soon after the stellar Gun's n Roses concert, where Axl and company outshone Motley Crue in every way: from showmanship to vocals, and a set length nearly twice as long.

On one of their many Calgary jaunts, Crue played with Aerosmith. On the opening bill was Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and his solo gig "Joe Perry Project." While Aerosmith is a complete package, it was evident how much Steven Tyler brings to the show as Perry has little charisma; great guitar player, but a lousy singer. The fans politely applauded until he played Aerosmith covers Toys in the Attic and Walk This Way, which they loved. While a capable vocalist, Hagen Grohe is no Steven Tyler and it felt like an Aerosmith cover band.

If Crue and GNR isn't enough 80's hair for you, Megadeth and Bon Jovi both have stops scheduled in Alberta this year. What's old is new again, and while Motley Crue lacked certain things, for the diehards that keep coming back it was a Dr. Feelgood show.