I am a child of that wonderful decade in time known as the nineteen eighties and as such I was privileged to see many strange and wonderful things come and go, but growing up one thing that definitely struck a chord with me was Glam Metal. No band had my attention more than Poison, I couldn’t tell you the last time the whole band toured Australia. So, when I saw it was announced that the all original Poison was doing head-lining dates across the U.S summer and along for the ride were Cheap Trick and Pop Evil I figured if the band won’t come to Australia then I will head to the states. And where else in the US would I head for this “Nothin’ But A Good Time 2018” tour but the most logical place to witness such a high-energy rock and roll good times show, Las Vegas.

Pop Evil is a band that may not be well known to you but they are to us at SCENEzine (read our interview with vocalist Leigh Kakaty). Having been around for about ten years they have that American hard rock powerhouse sound, think in part Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Alterbridge. This five piece powerhouse took to the stage and immediately began filling up the room not only in bodies but in sound, the duel guitarist being the driving sound. Front man Leigh Kakaty looks like he was born to rock the stage, this guy had all the rock moves down pat and a voice that would rasp upon the mike then perfectly harmonise. It was absolutely astonishing but I just couldn’t take my eyes off their gorgeous powerhouse drummer Hayley Crammer. Together the band would rock our world early in the night, fists pumping higher and higher the performance these guys put on nothing short of LEGENDARY.  Given the distance in age between this band’s fan base and the other two bands on tonight’s bill it was good to see so many Las Vegas rockers give a chance to new music, it’s about time Australia did the same.

 

 

Well oh yeah! hell yeah! and oh yeah! Cheap Trick have hit the stage, their equipment adorned in that signature black and white check the band is known for. The crowd has now filled the floor boards of the joint. It strikes me from the opening song Hello There that these guys haven’t changed a bit, they are dressed like they came to party in the eighties and party like it’s the eighties, we did. These ageing rockers were as sharp as ever and so much fun. They covered Elvis’s Don’t Be Cruel amongst other covers but being that it is Vegas I thought that was a highlight. The set was one that they build upon after letting Rick have a sick guitar solo and Tom the best bass solo I have ever heard. The final big moments came late in the set. It starts with Robin alone and leading us in to the biggest sing along moment with The Flame which was so heart touching. Things get bopping along again with I want You to Want Me and Dream Police. It’s in finale big number of Surrender Robin drops to his knees letting out that power note in his voice as Rick would make it rain picks in the crowd and all the mums and dads showed they were more than alright reliving their youth and giving themselves away to the power of live music. 

 

 

It is time! We know we all came here tonight to do one thing and that is have nothing but a good time. A really-cool cartoon video intro leads us in and when Poison hit that stage together a roar from the audience is screamed out and Brett asks, ‘are we ready to party?’ YES!!! we all shout as if there was any other answer ‘Well Alright!” Brett says Look What the Cat Dragged In and just like that the set begins and no we don’t stop a rocking. Man, I cannot tell you how good it feels to witness this event coming from a land so far away and being in this town, the band were everything I could have hoped for to see and more. Brett easily rocks across the stage looking fit and sounding as fantastic as ever. C.C. was given so many moments in the set to showcase his guitar skills absolutely killing it, his skills nothing short of impressive being as close-up as I was I could see those fingers dance along the strings moving in rapid fire creating sensational sounds that delight us all. Bobby and Rikki are just as great in the rhythm section and given their chance to shine solo but working better as a duet having an all-in jam to the Pink Panther theme song no less.  

The band was on fire tonight and kept things rolling, whether it be Talking Dirty to Me, Wanting Action or Riding the Wind the all-American band delivered the goods. The show had its true heart-felt moments though, Brett taking the time to honour the troops and all first responders free from the politics. Alone he played that acoustic and gave us all Something to Believe In, you would think this was a strictly American affair but amongst the video visuals that accompanied the song was an image of a CFA responder giving a Koala water that really hit home.   

 

 

The old folks say we got to be in bed by ten but that wasn’t happening tonight as we were lead into one big drunken Karaoke moment with Every Rose Has Its Thorn, lighting up the whole joint with our phones and finishing things off with Nothing but A Good Time. You would think there could be no better ending to tonight’s show than in the last song but Poison were not done with us, they come back on for an encore and delivered a perfect ending to what has been a perfect night. Not having done this one in a long time they leave us with a cover of Kiss’s I Wanna Rock N Roll All Night.  

That was the most perfect ending to the best night of rock n roll I have ever had in my life thank you Poison, thank you Cheap Trick, thank you Pop Evil, thank you Hard Rock Vegas for rocking me all night long. 

Review – Chad 

Photo’s – Christian Ross

Check out the “Poison…Nothin’ But A Good Time 2018” tour at any of the following stops.

* POISON, CHEAP TRICK, to be announced