Poison kicked off their Nothin’ But A Good Time 2018 U.S. Summer Tour with legendary 2016 Rock ˈNˈ Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California May 18.
This night was extra special to me, July 3, 2003, VH-1 Presents, the Harder, Louder, Faster tour with Skid Row and Vince Neil, this was the last time I photographed and seen Poison, at Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood, California. Sadly, the venue is no longer there, I believe it’s now the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios. The post-grunge era, VH-1 would host shows with three to six bands from the 80’s. Fifteen years later, we’ll do it again!
Cheap Trick, they have never stopped touring but the last time I saw them live was January 13, 2002, with Aerosmith on the Just Push Play tour at the Great Western Forum Inglewood, California. The only thing that has changed is the name, it’s now called The Forum. Sixteen years later I’ll photograph them for the first time.
Two of my favorite bands from back in the day opened the floodgates of fun times and great memories while making new ones.
Now onto the show.
Opening the night was the rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pop Evil. Unfortunately, I only caught the last minute of the final song, unbelievable traffic taking me two and a half hours to arrive at Five Point Amphitheatre, and from the looks of the line to park everyone was having the same issue. Pop Evil will only be on half of the run.
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Time to get down to business, as the stage is being turned over, up next the legendary Cheap Trick.
Drummer Daxx Nielsen, rhythm guitarist Robin Zander Jr, founders guitarist/vocals Rick Nielsen, bassist/vocals Tom Petersson, frontman Robin Zander hit the stage, to a perfect opening Hello There, followed by Big Eyes, both from the album In Color, rounding out the first three songs with California Man off the album Heaven Tonight. You can’t go wrong with Cheap Trick on the bill, their stage presence, the energy the enormous smiles on their face, even after four decades they still love the stage. It was difficult containing myself; when guitarist Rick Neilson tosses a pick at me, trying to catch it and hold my camera at the same time, I hear tink as it hits my lens, only having a split second to look down, my heart sunk I didn’t find it. Dejavu guitarist Rick Neilson tossed a pick my way 16 years ago; I caught that one.
The hour-long set included fan favorites, Ain’t That A Shame, Baby Loves to Rock, The Flame, I Want You to Want Me, Surrender to name a few. Bassist Tom Petersson showed the fans how it’s done, playing a beautiful 12 string bass, like a guitar during his solo, transitioning into singing the song I’m Waiting for the Man (The Velvet Underground cover). Ending with Goodnight Now from the album Cheap Trick at Budokan. Not included in the set was Cheap Trick’s recent single The Summer Looks Good On You – off the upcoming album, which is tentatively due by the end of the year. It may have been sixteen years since I have seen them live, but it felt like no time had passed, hands down one of the best live bands around, amazing!!!
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Cheap Trick setlist:
Hello There
Big Eyes
California Man (The Move Cover)
Ain’t That a Shame (Fats Domino cover)
Baby Loves to Rock
Long Time Coming
You Got It Going On
I’m Waiting for the Man (The Velvet Underground cover)
The Flame
I Want You To Want Me
Dream Police
Surrender
Goodnight Now
All photos by Tammy Greene
©2018. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Cheap Trick
As the fans are waiting for the headliners, watching the stage being turned over, it looked different. If you’ve been to a Poison show, there would be canisters for pyrotechnics; tonight I only noticed the microphone stands and the drums on the riser. The lights dim, and the cheers rise, a massive LED screen lights up across the back of the stage, showing the cartoon characters of drummer Rikki Rockett, bassist Bobby Dall, guitarist C.C. DeVille and frontman Bret Michaels, cruising in their car, down the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California, flashing the venues they played at, the Whisky a Go Go, Roxy, Troubadour, Tower Records to name a few, taking all of us middle-aged rockers down memory lane.
The name Poison appears on the screen in a green tint, as the green fog rolled in, behind the drums Rikki Rocket, entering the stage guitarist C.C. DeVille, and bassist Bobby Dall starting the song, out runs Bret Michaels opening with Look What the Cat Dragged In, or as Michaels rephrases it… Look What California Dragged In, following with I Want Action, from the album Look What The Cat Dragged In, singing as he comes down the catwalk, tapping and shaking the fans hands on both sides of the stage. Oh yes, he’s a showman!! Rounding out the first three songs with Ride the Wind, from the album Flesh & Blood.
This was a highly anticipated headlining tour since Bret Michaels made the announcement at the Hair Nation Festival September 17, 2016, one of the last shows at Irvine Meadows. The seventy-five-minute, twelve song set took you through the late 80’s focusing on songs from their first three album releases, 1986’s Look What The Cat Dragged In, 1988’s Open Up and Say….Ahhh, and 1990’s Flesh and Blood, playing fan favorites, I Won’t Forget You, Something To Believe In, Unskinny Bop ending the set with Nothin’ But A Good Time, with the fans dancing in the aisles, singing every word, waving their arms in the air, the fans had Nothin’ But A Good Time. After a brief break, Rockett, Dall, DeVille, and Michaels re-entered the stage to close out the show with Talk Dirty To Me from the album Look What The Cat Dragged In.
Poison hasn’t put out an album since their 2007 cover collection Poison’d. The fans would love to see new music!
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Poison setlist:
Look What The Cat Dragged In
I Want Action
Ride the Wind
Cry Tough
I Won’t Forget You
Your Mama Don’t Dance
Fallen Angel
Something To Believe In
Unskinny Bop
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Nothin’ But A Good Time
Encore:
Talk Dirty To Me
Catch a show you will have Nothin’ But A Good Time!
Poison
