KAOS2000 Magazine Concert Review: Poison / Cinderella / Winger / Faster Pussycat

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Poison / Cinderella / Winger / Faster Pussycat

June 6, 2002 - Shoreline Amphitheater - Mt. View, CA
“The play’s the thing,” once said the Bard [Shakespeare] himself, and so it is with Poison. Poison in entertainment through and through. The glitz, the glamour, the rollicking performances - this band has proven itself over the decades to deliver exactly what it promises, a good time and a good show. Gone, perhaps, are the days of the proven chart-topping hits (as well as the major record label push), and of course, people do get older, but as time has gone by age has not slowed Poison down at all. Bobby and Rikki’s hair may be shorn a bit shorter than we recall from the beginning, but the power and the pomp are alive and well in this band. The Shoreline shows have become a staple in the Bay Area as many fans of the 1980s “glam metal” days of rock still latch on to that style of music. The reason being - it was all about having a great time. Your friends were always there, everyone is happy, the band plays on whether people are dancing or reminiscing with old friends. It was unfortunate that I missed opening act Faster Pussycat, as they are still doing it, and fine-tuning their performances. Granted that their new look may confuse a few as being slightly “Germanic” in style (circa late 1930s), they in fact are dressing more akin to a B&D -tinged Goth lifestyle if anything. And I also happened to miss Winger, who I had looked forward to seeing after all this time. Winger is the one band whom I think was truly underrated during its stay. It’s unfortunate that the look overshadowed the songwriting. The tunes were crafted beyond the simplicity of so many others in the 1980s (or any other time). Kip and crew really knew how to weave a song structure together to make it both memorable, as well as frustrating to learn at home. No easy task. But hopefully we’ll all get to see Winger again in action, and maybe taken more seriously this time around. Cinderella was a pleasant addition to this traveling rock ‘n’ roll circus. Although technically not a “hair band,” Cinderella nonetheless did fit in nicely with the 1980s rockers. The classics, such as “Nobody’s Fool” and “Gypsy Road” still sounded as good today as they did when they were first on the radio. What doesn’t make sense is why Aerosmith is still allowed to rehash it’s thing, and Cinderella has basically been bypassed on the radio. Sure, you hear them once in a while, but not enough to put them back in their former status. Ah, the curse of the “hair metal” monicker. Tom Keifer still sang and played great, albeit his voice still sounds threateningly like a power tool at times. But he does hold his own, and holds it well. (That sounds a bit funny, but you get the idea.) The feeling that I got from Cinderella was definitely not one of nostalgia, but rather a band that still takes itself seriously, and wants to deliver honest music. More power to them, and perhaps they will be around long enough to see a rock resurgance on the radio and TV again. No? Well, we can hope. Show a bit of optimism. After the depression years of grunge, we all need to be reminded that rock can take us to fun places. And on to the main event... The (aptly named) Hollyweird Tour. The worst thing that can be said about a Poison show today is that it is a great place to be reminded what was good and fun about the 1980s. And, on this show as on previous shows, the band plays just as tight and with just as much enthusiasm as any time. It was great to see that through the years Poison really loves what they do and won’t stop until the fans drop. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. While many bands drop out, lose interest and/or fans, or just don’t give the same energy that they used to - this show proved that Poison still has many years of steam left in its engines. From the opening number to the final hurrah, Poison’s energy as a live band proved what made them a classic in the rock pantheons. They may have misguided some by having the hair, the prettiness, and the pompous exhuberance on stage, but isn’t rock supposed to be fun? Most importantly, this band did deliver the songs that became memorable. Sure some may mock, but how well are many other metal or mainstreamer rock acts doing these days? Certainly not counting on as much interest. Like the song says, it’s “Nothin’ But A Good Time,” and a good time it is. All the songs that we remember and love were there - “I Want Action,” “Look What The Cat Dragged In,” “Talk Dirty To Me,” and the ever-huge “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn.” I have to wonder how ironically timely the song “Unskinny Bop” is as the years roll forward for all of us. Perhaps the only part that left me not as thrilled was the cover of “Squeeze Box,” originally made infamous by The Who decades ago. Although I liked the original, I still felt it was a tad bland. This version didn’t add too much more excitement to it. That aside, the concert rocked like a party should. At the end, the fireworks and confetti added to the visuals of fun. Granted it might seem a bit cheesy in these days, but like cake on your birthday, you can’t resist enjoying it. All in all, as long as the Poison “1980s Music Memory Fest” rolls into town, I’m up for going to it. There have been too many other bands that have not lived up to their glory days. Poison still does. Long live rock, and let’s keep the party going. Written by and Photos © 2002 Philip Anderson

Philip Anderson is a musician, in addition to being a writer/photographer. He has performed as a guitarist/vocalist, as well as songwriter, in several bands over the past 20 years. As a writer and photographer, he has been published by several magazines and in several books, and had his works appear on television.

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