Taking a Ride on the Wildside (Motley Crue Concert Review, June 2011)

I never got many great shots during the concert, but here is one
of the band and crew taking a bow at the end of the show.

We had just finished listening to a great set from The New York Dolls and high energy performance from Poison and the headliners, Motley Crue, were yet to take the stage.  We were able to watch the crew get ready for Poison’s set, but not this time.  As soon as Poison’s stage was being disassembled a large white curtain was dropped and whatever was happening behind was a mystery. 

The show got off to a strange start.  Normally there is some warning or indication that the moment of the band’s entrance is near.  Not this time.  My wife and I were still seated and chatting when what sounded like a large gun shot was fired, the white curtain dropped and we were treated to the opening chords of Wildside from the Girls Girls Girls album.  An elaborate stage set appeared.  Drummer Tommy Lee was elevated behind the band.  Behind him was a large circular screen which was used for various images and tricks throughout the night.  The stage set extended up above all of this too.  There were stairs which vocalist Vince Neil was working his way down over as the rest of the boys were playing the opening riffs of the opening number.  There were platforms above which currently had two dancing girls who were also occasional background singers.  Far on the top there were smaller screens displaying various messages throughout the night. 

The visual appeal of this show continued.  There were flaming pentagrams, plenty of fireworks and the two girls appeared off and on throughout the night to take part, and it was even a little theatrical at times.  We were treated to all the songs and staples you would expect to hear at a Motley Crue concert, which was great for me being it was my first time seeing them.  I was also pleased to hear a couple extra songs off the Shout at the Devil album in addition to the standard title track and Looks That Kill.  They also threw in Too Young to Fall in Love and 10 Seconds to Love.  Overall, I wouldn’t have changed a thing in the setlist.

Vince addressed the crowd a few times throughout the evening thanking everyone for 30 years.  But he wasn’t the only one.  Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx also had a turn.  Tommy Lee actually had two.  First wasn’t too long into the show when he came down from his drumset and addressed us before playing the piano and giving us the song Home Sweet Home from the Theatre of Pain record.  He again had a few words later during the most unique drum solo I have ever seen. 

Tommy’s drumset was in the center of a round circular rollercoaster formation.  He began to play and began to circle round and round and upside down.  He then stopped, selected a willing audience participant and strapped her in next to them and played some more with both of them now upside down.

Bassist Nikki Sixx also had a turn addressing us, or as he called it, taking us to the church of Motley Crue.  He appeared alone on stage and asked everyone to sit down, or "sit the f*** down" because church is in session.  He also appeared humble and thankful to be sharing the stage with his bandmates whom he acknowledged one at a time.  He then apologized for all the "sick shit" they were going to do over the next 15 or 20 minutes.  He ordered us to our feet again, we obeyed, and the show continued. 

There wasn’t really anymore ‘sick shit’ compared to what we have seen already.  More fireworks, explosions and dancing girls.  At one point the two girls appeared on stage with flame throwers.  They continued to rock hard until the final number of the night, Kickstart My Heart from the Dr. Feelgood album was played.   Before the band and crew took their final bow of the night four buckets of blood were tossed into the first few rows of the crowd.  The band, the girls, and crew lined up and took a bow.  The crew left the stage and the four bandmates took one more bow and walked off.  No encore.  Motley Crew doesn’t do them.  But I have to say I was completely satisfied!

As I said in an earlier post it was a rock and roll circus to the max.  I loved it!  I actually walked away thinking how will that ever be topped.  I know I will see more great concerts, but for an in your face rock and roll spectacle that one will be very hard to beat.  

Motley Crue Setlist

Wildside, Saints of Los Angeles, Live Wire, Shout at the Devil, Same Ol'Situation (S.O.S.), Primal Scream, Home Sweet Home, Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away), (Tommy Lee Drum solo), (Mick Mars Guitar solo), Looks That Kill, Dr. Feelgood, Too Young to Fall in Love, 10 Seconds to Love, Girls Girls Girls, Smokin in the Boys Room, Kickstart My Heart.

Nothing but a Good Time, Poison Concert Review (June 2011)

The crew getting the stage ready for Poison's performance

The Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto was barely half full as the opening band of the evening, The New York Dolls played their set.  This was too bad because they were deinitely worth listening too as well.  As soon as they were done, the crew hit the stage and began preparing for Poison’s show and the seats all began to fill quickly.  The first thing displayed was a huge curtain behind the stage with a large Poison logo on it.  As soon as it was unveiled the waiting crowd gave a large ovation.  There was a catwalk behind Rikki Rocket’s drum set with two large silver 25's on either side commemorating the anniversary of the band.  Along the front of the catwalk other various Poison images were also displayed. 

Once all was ready the crew left the stage and we waited.  The background music was turned up and it was obvious we were moments away.  Guns n’ Roses Welcome to the Jungle and ACDC’s Highway to Hell were the two songs played as the anticipation grew.  When the music stopped someone walked on the stage with their face covered in some sort of bandana or ski mask.  With a can of spray paint he then wrote “Toronto” on one base drum and “Canada eh” on the other.  He pulled down his mask revealing that it was none other than Poison drummer Rikki Rocket.  A large ovation from the now capacity crowd and everyone rose to their feet.  Guitarist CC Deville and bassist Bobby Dall then emerged and for those familiar with Poison’s music the first few chords of The Valley of Lost Souls from the Flesh and Blood album were played.  Only the first few though as they quickly switched to Look What The Cat Dragged In, the title track from their debut release, with still no vocalist Bret Michaels on stage.   Moments into the song there was the first explosion and display of fireworks of the night and Bret appeared emerging up through the centre of the catwalk being slowly elevated and proclaiming in rock and roll fashion “Torontooooo”!

Throughout the evening there were plenty of fire works and explosions as the band energetically played through most of their hits in a set that lasted for about an hour.  And energetic they were!  All of them moved around the stage similar to what they may have done in their twenties and they definitely won the crowd over.  Bret addressed the crowd several times throughout the performance. He appeared humble as he thanked everyone for allowing them to spend 25 years playing their music together.  He also acknowledged his recent health problems and stated he recognized his is lucky to be alive and doing what he loves to do. 

It was a very fun show.  Poison were one of the ultimate party bands back in the day and that atmosphere was recreated for their time on stage as everyone often sang along and danced to the music.  It was a great atmosphere all round, the band appeared to he having a blast and we were right there with them.  That’s what it’s all about.

As their time on stage drew to close we were treated to three more of their signture songs.  Third from last was their biggest hit and one of the best sing along moments of the night, Every Rose has its Thorne.  The first half of the song was just Bret, his acoustic guitar and the crowd.  After the first chorus there were more explosions, fireworks and the rest of the band joined in.  Talk Dirty to Me and Nothing But a Good Time closed out the night.  The band left the stage to a huge ovation.  They sounded great and had fantastic stage presence.  What a night!!  And Motley Crue were yet to even take to the stage.  Stay tuned for my full recollection of that phase of the night.

Poison Setlist

Look What the Cat Dragged In, I Want Action, Ride the Wind, Your Mama Don’t Dance, (CC Deville guitar solo), Fallen Angel, Unskinny Bop, (Rikki Rocket drum solo), Every Rose has its Thorne, Talk Dirty to Me, Nothing but a Good Time.