Bret Michaels 'Parti-Gras' Live Review

Last night, Eric and I went to see Bret Michaels on his Parti-Gras tour. Today is my birthday but the concert was part of the weekend festivities. The show was at a place called J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio -- just a few miles from my house. I'm actually seeing Slaughter at the same venue Friday night. 

Bret played for exactly an hour, so I would say that's a good payday for sixty minutes of work. We got most of the Poison hits and the last song was a cover of "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The place was well packed and it was an outdoor show. Perfect weather definitely helped and brought out a large crowd. Highlights for me included "Unskinny Bop" and "Ride The Wind" of course. Bret also said Poison would be on the road in 2025 - something he has said previously, so it seems like that plan is going to stick and it will be interesting to see how joins on that package.

Bret comes to J.D. Legends about every summer and he did take a moment to thank folks in attendance for also showing up to the Cincinnati stop of the Stadium Tour with Motley Crue and Def Leppard. For what it's worth, Bret sounded good and seemed like he was in a great mood. The show was no bullshit - just music and it was over by 10:15. I'm old so I liked that a lot.

I noticed a whole lot of smiling folks while leaving the venue. It sure seemed like everyone had nothing but a good time - I just wish someday I could hear "Fallen Angel," "Back To the Rocking Horse" and "Love on the Rocks" live.

Comments

[stu]

sounds just like the parti-gras stop i caught a while back in central oklahoma - short, no b.s., fun and in a venue bret plays all the time. the length of bret’s set is bothersome but when i saw him, damon johnson opened and played an hour so it balanced out.
and happy birthday,

[bkallday]

Wow, he didn't do Fallen Angel? Love on the Rocks is such a great tune but idk if they've done it live since that specific tour.

[Him]

First off, happy birthday, Allyson! Now that you are finally 21, you can enjoy a drink or two! And glad you enjoyed the show. Sounds like a great night.

How was the rest of the show? Any comments on that?

I am always curious about BM. Seems like he has this down to a science. Good vibes, no fat, and out like that. And it seems to work for his fans. But, like Allyson's comments, it also seems like fans, as much fun as they had, always want just a touch, just a bit, more. And I wonder why that is (on his, not their, end)?

Trust me, I am not slagging. But when you tease what I suppose a lot of your fans actually want (a Poison reunion) and that makes them happy, I wonder what takes you so long to actually provide it to them (aside, again, no slagging, from the fact that you control the tour and the money that it derives). And this might sound like a slag, and it kinda' is, but: without those other three fellows, you wouldn't be able to go out there and do your light version of Hagar and Buffett for all those who still love and respect you and your (and their) songs.

Good show. Smiles on the way out. Awesome. Just wondering. Nothing more and nothing less.

Again, happy birthday! Allyson, you are a trooper for keeping this site going. Appreciate all that you do. You continue to provide a place for great topics and great posts (and also my mangled prose).

[bkallday]

Yeah Him, unfortunately we know it's all about money. To this day these dudes still cant understand that while yes, you may have to share more money if the originals are part of it, you will also have more interest and a better turnout for the shows, if your fans know it's all originals. All kinds of frontmen have done this same thing, Rob Zombie(who is the worst offender of all imo), Tom Keifer, Phil Lewis, Blackie Lawless, Dee Snider, Don Dokken, etc.

[Him]

Bkallday, I think we agree on the main points (even if I might quibble with your list of singers).

Sure, it's about the money. But, playing the devil's advocate, I wonder how much money is really, really at stake for some of these solo artists? As time goes on, as fellow/original/classic-era band-mates die, the overall pie has to be getting smaller. Moreover, as festival line-ups shift (the best spots for them, aside from the grind of smaller venues), the places and spaces that will feature these bands and give them (re)exposure are also dwindling.

There is also, of course, the opposite issue: bands that won't welcome back their original singer. Bach and Russell would likely give their original bands a shot in the arm, so to speak. But, again, to what extent would that move needles, financial or otherwise? Where would they play with them that they aren't playing without them (see also above)?

Or the other issue: bands and singers who have no love lost and no interest in getting together again. Udo probably does better without Wolf, and perhaps vice versa. And I am not sure what the hot mess that is Kingdom Come gets out of touring these days, though I am pretty sure that Lenny is glad not to be a part of that comedy. Ditto Plunkett and the litigious and tragic comings and goings of Autograph.

Then there are bands who never managed to let the trappings of fame or financial worries get the best of them. Here I am thinking of bands like Thunder. And there are also bands who finally decided that the sum _could_ be greater than the parts and ended up doing quite well. Here I am thinking of Helloween. Never in a million years would I have thought that this band, and this incarnation of the same, would be doing so well and getting along so well.

I guess, while it is about money, it can also be about a lot of other things too. The one thing, from my jaundiced perspective as a fan, that is will always also be about: time. And that is limited. So you make due until that one unalterable fact comes due.

[bkallday]

You make a good point with "how much will it matter"? But i still say it would matter more, and to more people, if it was originals and not just 75% scabs. Like if Tom Keifer played a show and Cinderella played a show, which would attract more people? Or Rob Zombie compared to White Zombie? No it may not be thousands of people difference but the bottom line for the band would be more profit, which it would seem like what they're after in the first place.

[Him]

I hear you, Bkllday. But I think that profits for one, rather than profits for some, rules with a lot of these singers (and some have other people whispering in their ear). More profit for the band = less profit for the guy with LSD!

As a fan, I am still gutted I never got to see Cinderella with LaBar. And now I never will. I realize that is a slightly divergent point, given LaBar's admitted struggles with alcohol. But I sorta' wish that mended fences might have led to healthier options, led to more tours, and more music. Again, that is just me.

Zombie is interesting to me. He made some good music on his own. But fans still want(ed) WZ. Question for you: is there any way in which you think he outgrew that band but never was able to capitalize on what that band had going on? I mean, whenever he had a solid song, it always sounded (at least to me) like he was harkening back to WZ (even some recent songs). As in so many cases, I think that the whole is more than the sum of its parts, even if one person is clearly steering things. Odd how that happens.

[fletch]

After the split, who'd you go with? David Lee or Van Halen.

Duh, Van Halen.

COP!

After the split, who'd I go with? Confront or Forensics.

Bryn!

[Him]

I did like Quincy, M.E. So I take your point, Fletch. And Gabriel Bryn(e) is a gifted actor. So there's that too. Hope you are doing well and living your best life.