POISON LIVE 2007
MANSFIELD, MA

    Twenty-one plus years and going strong, the 80's hair metal icons are back out on the road in support of their latest release, a 13-track collection of cover tunes infused with a slammin' dose of Poison. The aptly titled 'Poison'd' CD features their popular version of KISS’s ‘Rock n’ Roll All Nite’, Loggins and Messina’s ‘Your Mama Don’t Dance’, and the more recently performed Grand Funk Railroad hit, ‘We’re An American Band’, as well as classics by The Cars, Marshall Tucker Band, The Stones, and more.
    With no shortage of Poison crowd-sized venues here in Massachusetts, favorite outdoor site of the summer concert series, the Tweeter Center in Mansfield has become something of a traditional stomping ground for the boys and, as always, the turnout for this one promises to me nothing short of one kick-ass party. The crowd is out in full force long before showtime; tailgaters doing their thing, the sounds of ‘Fallen Angel’ and ‘Nothin’ But a Good Time’ blasting out of nearly every car, and the parking lot is a virtual sea of vintage concert shirts, short skirts, and no more than a few thousand acres of skin.
    Openers for this show include up and coming hair band Vains of Jenna, and Ratt who, ironically, Poison filled the opening slot for more than two decades ago on their first major US tour.  After VOJ and Ratt bring the crowd to their feet, and the skin acreage increases to barely legal (or not for brief moments…if you’ve ever been to a Poison show, you’re still with me here.), the lights go down and the boys storm the stage in true Poison fashion, taking over with the customary show opener ‘Look What the Cat Dragged In’ with the help of crowd, crew, and event staff. ‘I Want Action’ produced the usual deafening response from the first note to the last, and continued through ‘Ride the Wind’ and the band’s first hit ballad, ‘I Won’t Forget You’.
    As the guys ripped out the hits, the crowd was also entertained by an ongoing background film in which we were introduced to the “Poison Swim Team” (just go see it!), and other interesting movie footage involving, well, more skin!
    An extremely cool cover of the Romantics ‘What I Like About You’, was up next, followed by CC’s solo and, of course, his personal take on a love song, ‘I Hate Every Bone in Your Body But Mine.’
    On that note, Bret was back to take over vocals with a song the band dedicated to America’s service men and women, Flesh and Blood’s popular power ballad, ‘Something To Believe In’. A perfectly performed cover of Marshall Tucker’s ‘Can’t You See’ blew everyone away, and following that was crowd pleaser ‘Your Mama Don’t Dance’. Tom Petty’s ‘I Need To Know’ preceded Rikki’s solo, which no one in the crowd missed with drum riser that lifted him high above the stage. ‘Unskinny Bop’ had’em dancin’ in the aisles again, and fans were happy to “light it up” at Bret’s request for ‘Open Up and Say Ahh’s’ ‘Every Rose Has It’s Thorn’.
    If you could hear the band over the crowd during ‘Fallen Angel’, you were one step ahead of us, and Poison’s first mega-hit, ‘Talk Dirty To Me’ offered one more reason to belt it out. The traditional raining of confetti on ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ marked the end of 2007’s Poison experience.
    Though I can honestly say that I have not been to a Poison show that was not an absolute blast (for lack of a better word), the boys were looking exceptionally relaxed and happy tonight, with some serious 1987 energy goin' on.
    So…..You wanna party with Poison or what? Obviously not one to be missed, so go find your favorite ripped up, faded, trashed concert shirt, shredded jeans, and tiniest scraps of spandex, leather, and lace (we know you still have them!), and we’ll see ya there!
Til next time…

            **Don't miss select dates to include after show parties with CC, and stay tuned for announcements on meet and greet dates**

SET LIST
Look What the Cat Dragged In
I Want Action
Ride the Wind
I Won’t Forget You
What I Like About You
CC - Guitar Solo
I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine
Something To Believe In
Can’t You See
Your Mama Don’t Dance
I Need To Know
Rikki – Drum Solo
Unskinny Bop
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
Fallen Angel
Talk Dirty To Me
Nothin’ But A Good Time


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