Concert Review
Poison
Tesla
Times-Union Center
Albany, NY
Tuesday May 9, 2017
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The kings of glam metal are on tour for the first time in five years. They roared into the Times-Union Center Tuesday and treated the state capital to a fun-filled evening for the first time since 2002. Poison’s brief 70 minute was full of all the obvious things that endear this band to its hardcore fans. They are currently winding down the first leg of their tour with Def Leppard and Tesla with a few select headlining dates, their first in some five years.
The band started with their standard opener “Look What The Cat Dragged In” and from there proceeded to churn out hit after hit. Surprisingly the band dug deep into their archives for “Cry Tough”, a fan favorite that always sparks a discussion as to why it is seldom played live. At this point singer Bret Michaels went off script as he pulled out his acoustic guitar for “Something To Believe In”, a song that has always been dedicated to all the men and women in the armed forces.
A quick run through mega hits “Fallen Angel” and “Unskinny Bop” led to Rikki Rockett’s drum solo followed by Bobby Dall’s “Pink Panther” bass solo. With a blink of an eye the show was over, as Poison concluded the main set with number one smash “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and anthem “Nothing But A Good Time”.
The band encored with the Kiss cover “Rock and Roll All Nite” with members of Restless Streets, a local band who won a radio contest and started the evening off with their own 30-minute set.
Maintaining the band’s original lineup is the one necessary ingredient that is their key to success. Bassist Dall, drummer Rockett, guitarist C.C. Deville and vocalist Michaels know how vitally important it is to keep this band together. Music fans have seen enough of their favorite bands with replacement members coming and going. Tuesday night they did what they do best….entertain and help people escape from their everyday lives even if for a brief time. That’s what Poison is really all about, giving everyone nothing but a good time. The boys delivered as usual.
Special guests Tesla, who played on Poison’s Open Up And Say … Ahh tour back in 1989, kicked things into high gear with a blistering one hour set. Highlights included “Hang Tough”, a sizzling version of “Little Suzi” and set closer “Modern Day Cowboy”. The band includes original members Jeff Keith (vocals), Troy Luccketta (drummer), Frankie Hannon (guitarist) and Brian Wheat (bassist). Joining them was guitarist Dave Rude who came aboard in 2006. These guys are fantastic as always. Don’t miss them if they play in your neck of the woods.
Poison
Look What the Cat Dragged In
Ride the Wind
Talk Dirty to Me
Cry Tough
Something to Believe In
Your Mama Don’t Dance
C.C. DeVille Guitar Solo
Fallen Angel
Unskinny Bop
Rikki Rockett Drum Solo
Bobby Dall Bass Solo
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Nothin’ but a Good Time
Encore
Rock and Roll All Nite
Tesla
Edison’s Medicine
The Way It Is
Hang Tough
Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)
Signs
What You Give
Song And Emotion
Love Song
Little Suzi
Modern Day Cowboy
