Bret Michaels at House of Blues

by Leigh Silbernagel in Concert Reviews, Uncategorized

June 24, 2008: The vox from Poison; like Bon Jovi, he is another former 80’s glam rocker turned Pop-country-southern rock. I went to hear the Poison songs, and to tolerate the Southern rock- Americana- country-rock newer stuff (which he didn’t play too much of—which made me happy).

[The Concert]

I went to House of Blues, Showboat Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, June 13. Everyone should go to the House of Blues. The person I was with described it best: “I know it’s a chain and mass produced, but there is something about the House of Blues that it has an indie feel to it in terms of a venue” which is an on point description. There was also a mix of all ages of people in the audience.

He opened with “Talk to dirty to me” and the crowd loved it– although there was something a little disturbing about a middle-aged man singing talk dirty to me…. just saying. Then he played “Look at what the Cat dragged in” which the crowd also loved. “Bittersweet” which I feel the crowd tolerated. Then he played a cover of “Sweet home Alabama” which was weird that he played it. I would have been okay with it, but he tried putting “Jersey” in lieu of Alabama at some points, but then still sang “Alabama” during the refrain. “Something to believe in” which he introduced as a, “I’m not political and this is not supposed to be political, but support the troops and thank you to the American serviceman protecting our freedom:” It features country influences, subtle use of paired vocal harmony, mild rhythmic syncopation, acoustic rhythm piano and call and answer vocal harmony. Hearing “Unskinny bop” made me laugh at the middle aged women whose inner groupies came out as they went wild like it was 1986. Overall, he did a good job of engaging the crowd and giving an ample stage show.

[the bottom line]

I am impressed by the venue so much that I want to live in the House of Blues. I would go see Bret Michaels again because he engaged the crowd well between songs. He really conveyed his personality in his songs and stage presence- so that made the show more intimate (but don’t take that the wrong way).

-leigh silbernagel