So what if CC and Bobby’s guitar intro was stolen from Wyld Stallions of Bill & Ted fame, and Bret Michaels looked a bit like Shawn Michaels. Poison rocked the NTelos Pavilion in Portsmouth last night.
Rumors that Mayor Holley referred to the show as “that white concert” were unconfirmed π
Dokken opened, and the crowd was content to chill, but lead singer Don Dokken engaged the crowd, letting them choose some songs as they went.
Poison was absent the glam and heavy on the bluejeans, but it was an 80s set through and through. CC had his big 80s hair, as he weaved his 10-minute guitar solo into Amazing Grace. Lead Singer Bret Michaels wore his American flag bandana as he talked about when his dad was stationed in Norfolk, and when Poison got to play Iraq and Kuwait for the troops, before leading the crowd through “Something to Believe In.” I was waiting for him to snub the Dixie Chicks, but Bret was happy to be the Great American.
From the 11th row center, there were flung pics a plenty and my hair seemed oddly short for the occasion. And despite a large segment of the audience being barely old enough to remember when these songs graced vinyl, one thing is certain – bands 20 years past peaking are still putting on shows that most current bands can’t touch.
