Poison/Ratt Concert Review

One of the first concerts I saw was Poison opening for Ratt in Rapid City, SD in the summer of 1986. Look What The Cat Dragged In had just been released, and Poison was terrible. They could barely play and the sound was atrocious. The next time I saw them was a couple years later, and they had dramatically improved. Every time I've seen them in concert since then they've done a great job, and their latest was no exception. This show was at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, NC on June 17, 2007.

White Lion was originally slated as the tour's opening act, but due to various reasons did not join the bill. Instead, it was Sweden's Vains Of Jenna. They are a young band who would have fit in perfectly in the glory days of hair metal. The crowd was sparse, but they put on an energetic 30 minute set.

Ratt's original vocalist Stephen Pearcy has rejoined the band, and is playing with guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer for the first time since 1999. Bassist Robby Crane and guitarist John Corabi are the non-original members, but have been with Ratt for several years.

Pearcy is a superior frontman to Jizzy Pearl, who was singing last time I saw Ratt a couple years ago. Pearcy's upper register isn't what it used to be, but he still prowls the stage and looks like he is having a great time on stage. The band played for an hour and played almost all their hits. I was disappointed they didn't do "I Want A Woman," but that wasn't as popular as songs like "Round And Round" or "Lay It Down," which they did play.

Poison took to the stage to "Look What The Cat Dragged In," their traditional opener. There was plenty of pyro as the band played for about an hour and 15 minutes. They are touring in support of their recently released covers album Poison'd, and played a few songs from it along with their greatest hits. Everyone sounded great. Bret Michaels can still hit all the notes with ease and the clean and sober C.C. Deville has never looked or sounded better.

In a concert like this, you know to expect a lot of solos and crowd interaction. C.C. did his solo just a few songs into the set, which may have been a little early and also sang his song "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body." Rikki Rockett fired up the crowd with a drum solo as his kit moved across the stage.

It's always fun to revisit your youth, even if it's only for a couple of hours. Poison and Ratt were an important part of my youth, and just like me they are older and fatter, but still get it done. It was a really enjoyable show.

1. Look What The Cat Dragged In
2. What I Like About You
3. I Won't Forget You
4. Suffragette City
5. CC Deville guitar solo
6. I Hate Every Bone In Your Body
7. Can't You See
8. Something To Believe In
9. Just What I Needed
10. Your Mamma Don't Dance
11. Rikki Rockett drum solo
12. Unskinny Bop
13. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
14. Fallen Angel
15. Talk Dirty To Me
Encore
16. Nothin' But A Good Time