Poison @ PNC, Metal Summit, Mets, Y&T, more.
8/14/08: Hosted Poison at PNC in NJ Tuesday night. The guys have become good friends over the years and it's always fun to see them and hang out for a bit. Sebastian Bach opened the night. Did not see his set but talked to all the guys in the band during the night and they said they felt it was a little bit of an off night due to sound and stage issues, but the audience seemed OK with it I'm sure. Bas opens this tour, so if you want to see him get there early. 6:50 on stage most nights. Dokken is up next, or should I say Don Dokken? The band is down to just Don as the only original member and has had a few lineup changes recently. Still Don and the band sound good and I doubt many people in the audience really noticed as it's really a Poison crowd (more on that later). John Levin, who has been on guitar for a while now, does a great job, but obviously nobody is George Lynch (especially after I saw George crush recently with Lynch Mob). Vocally Don has good and bad nights from what I've seen recently. It's well known he has had some vocal issues and had an operation, but he still busts out the hits and everyone loves it that's there to see them. Will there be a reunion? If you ask George yes, if you ask Don he seems less into the idea. I must admit though I think it would be the right time next year to do it. Hard to replace the fire of the original band. I was up next and came out and said a few things and pumped up the crowd. I've introed Poison many times, but as I went on stage and the spotlight hit me there was a different vibe instantly. It was not just the typical rock crowd. There were screams and the crowd was really reactive to everything! I call this the VH1/Rock Of Love effect. There are many people now going to see Poison to simply see Bret and the pop culture reality star he has become. And by people I mean not just rock fans, but now many housewifes with their kids who maybe never went to a Poison show before. It was just a totally different feel from the crowd and there were many female faces (like a Rick Springfield crowd). After my time talking to the crowd I then introduced Big John from Rock Of Love. More screams, more crazyness. Sounded like The Beatles on Sullivan! John then said a few things and Poison came out with bombs, fire and the full on show, and of course the most screams when Bret ran on stage. Poison were in top form. The band seemed to be getting along great and having a blast. They played almost 90 minutes, mostly hits, some covers, really fun show. As I said on stage, say what you want about them, but Poison is the one group that never caved during the grunge movement that killed so many pop metal bands in the 80's. They were always proud of what they were and are and fly the flag for it. That's why they are one of the only ones from the era in the sheds every Summer. They have fun, it's the original band (hardly anyone can say that!), ticket prices are low, it's a bill that fits the era, and they play the many hits they have. As for the crowd it is an interesting mix. I saw old school rockers, younger rockers, and then people who were just there for Bret and to see the TV guy and had fun with the music. There was a guy behind me in a Hatebreed show dancing to Unskinny Bop, which actually was cool to see! Poison have clearly embraced the new fame of their frontman and ran with it, and who can blame them? After the show I hung with all the guys for a while except my bud Bret who was "busy" when I left backstage at 1AM. The guys said attendance has been great and they are having fun. Spent some time on Rikki's bus talking about health ailments and colonoscopys among other things, then had a laugh as we realized how much times have changed since the 80's! No naked chicks, no booze or drugs, but talk about what comes with being in our mid 40's! Alse hung out with CC for a long time. He is clean and sober for a few years now and looks and sounds great. CC had his first child 18 months ago and I kind of preped him last time I was in LA for how heavy a moment he was about to go through. CC's son Valon was there. Great kid and CC and I talked Baby Einstein, Teletubbies, and I warned him to get ready for Spongebob to take over! Like I said, times have changed to say the least!! Really fun night with good friends who are at the top of their game right now and I'm happy for them. All the critics can say what they want but Poison is having the last laugh and are alive and well in 2008.
Some quick other stuff:
The next Metal Summit is scheduled live on Q104 8/22 with Chris Jericho in studio. These are our metal talk and call in specials and are always fun.
Just locking in shoot dates for my new series on VH1 Classic. Keep an eye on this space as to when and how you can be in the live audience.
Rock The Bayou is getting closer. Keep checking www.rockthebayou.com for tickets and updates. More RTB artist interviews coming soon also. I'll be there for a bit Sunday night and will MC all Monday Labor day in Houston.
Y&T coming to BBs. Only area gig. Can't wait.
This Mets cruise is coming and should be fun, The game will have meaning, it's one of the last at Shea, and you can cruise there on a boat with me as I spin metal! Hit the link off the home page or go to www.rocksoff.com for more.
ET
