Concert Review
Bret Michaels
Turning Stone Event Center
Verona, NY
Saturday January 2, 2016
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
2016 started off with a bang and who better to kick off the new year than Bret Michaels? Michaels and his band seemed to still be in celebratory form from New Year’s Eve and delivered a 70-minute set full of high energy. The Turning Stone Events Center in Verona, NY was the site of our first show of the new year. It also marked Michaels first time playing the larger Events Center.
For the first time in some ten years, Michaels band was a little different this time around. Sure guitarist, writer, producer, author and musical director (also add auctioneer to the many hats he wears) Pete Evick was still there as was longtime keyboardist Rob Jozwiak. Gone were drummer “Lucky” Chucky Fanslau and bassist Ray Scheuring as they went on to other ventures in 2014. In their place were drummer Mike Bailey and bassist Bart Harris both of whom had played in bands with Evick in the past.
The band grabbed the audience’s attention from the start as Evick played the intro to Poison smash “Talk Dirty To Me”. Traditional Poison opener “Look What The Cat Dragged In” quickly followed. Michaels, the leader of the festivities then took the time to sincerely thank the fans for their many years of support. He then introduced “Ride The Wind” as a song many fans have asked for him to put into his solo set.
The show wound down with the usual songs one would expect Michaels to play (Something To Believe In, Every Rose etc). In between fans were given a chance to see drummer Bailey play an energized drum solo which drew a great response from the sold out crowd.
While the set list at a Bret Michaels show may seem stale on paper, the performance is always delivered with adrenaline and zest as each member gives 100% every show.
Michaels has managed to increase his solo fan base through good marketing and promotion. He is playing bigger venues now than at any point of his solo career which dates back to 2003.
Back for a quick encore of the Kiss classic “Rock and Roll All Nite” seemed to sum up the whole night as the band pulled out all the stops. Expect nothing less than a good time rock ‘n’ roll party whenever Bret Michaels is in your town.
Set List
Talk Dirty To Me
Look What The Cat Dragged In
Sweet Home Alabama
Ride The Wind
Your Mama Don’t Dance
Something To Believe In
Unskinny Bop
Drum Solo
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
Nothin’ But A Good Time
Encore
Rock and Roll All Nite
