Bret Michaels Band, Live Show Review
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 12:01AM On Saturday night, I saw the Bret Michaels Band at J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio. The venue was pretty close to my house, so going to the show was a no brainer. I have to say I've never been at a venue like J.D. Legends before. It's a bowling alley, restaurant, sand volleyball pit and concert venue all in one... and yes, I had to stand in sand for the show. I didn't know that or I would have worn different shoes!
Bret played all the songs you'd expect: the Poison hits, plus a couple covers like "Sweet Home Alabama." Bret talked a lot to the crowd and mentioned how his meet and greets help fund charities like Wound Warriors and diabetes camp for kids.
The people watching was pretty epic, as you might imagine. Just think: drunk folks trying to walk in sand! The giant walls, the sand, and cops waving flashlights at everyone made it seem like we were at a show in a prison yard.
Bret sounded good, better than the last time I remember, but the guitars all sounded "tinny." There just wasn't a fat sound, which sort of sucked. And Bret didn't play for very long, and considering the tickets were $36 each, I could have used a couple more songs.
In the end, it was good to be out in the great weather on a Saturday night and I got to see some old friends too. Can't beat that - even if the Miller Lite was $9.50 each!
Reader Comments (8)
$36 for 11/12 songs is what you get. Really wish he would start to try harder in his mix of songs and show. Is it possible for someone to turn into a parody of themselves ?
Don't get me wrong, I've seen him so many times since his "Rock of Love" comeback where he started to tour more with his own band. He has SOLO stuff and multiple Poison albums yet he chooses the same Poison "video" songs and two/three remakes a show. Sweet Home Alabama ?!!? Again, seriously ? And his cover isn't even that good.
Brett Michaels + Poison = The 4th Greatest Glam Metal Band behind Crue, RATT & Cinderella.
p.s. Now you know who the REAL Big 4 are!
Still, I have to agree about the cost, the sound, and the selection. Everyone knows Poison aren't my cup of tea ("Ride the Wind" is my favorite song). I won't speak for those that were there, but it sounds like one of those exercises in going through the motions (not another BOC reference, I promise). Sadly, there are a lot of those these days.
I will, for the most part, leave the Big Four issue alone, Metalboy! But I will say this (and I said this before): next to the other three, Poison are a rough facsimile at best, and an even more superfluous third swing through the bands--and there are a lot--that gave those other three their inspiration(s).
Okay, a few more words (again): Slade, The Sweet, Hanoi Rocks, T. Rex . . . and (as Love and Rockets say) "the beat goes on."