So I Didn't Know This Existed - Merch Edition

Apparently hidden Amazon stores are a thing... and thanks to Cosmopolitan magazine, I now know that there is a massive, "secret" band merch store. The stuff is cheaper than what you would pay at concerts too and the merch is licensed.

Visit the main page of the store and you can select a band from the massive list on the left. The Poison page even has city specific merch. Happy shopping!

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.

A Poison Surprise In A Netflix Series

So I started watching Tex Mex Motors with Eric a couple days ago. The show just premiered on Netflix and it is already popular. Let me tell you that Eric watches endless car shows. This includes all the big auctions. Heck, we went to a Mecum auction in Indianapolis last month. I'm not so much a fan of car programs, but I do love this Tex Mex show because it is different: the people are truly quirky and likeable, the engine expert is a badass woman and finding the cars to restore is like a treasure hunt. The group on the show buy cheap rusted out rare junkers in Mexico and take them back to El Paso, Texas to make them awesome.

Imagine my surprise when Poison drummer Rikki Rockett shows up as a client to buy a restored Camaro IROC-Z. That just happens to be my dream car too, but I don't have anywhere to put it (two car garage) and I can't imagine it being a daily driver. Plus restored IROCS are crazy expensive these days. I mean, is there any car more glam?

Anyway, the enthusiasm of car scout Scooter on the chance to meet Rikki Rockett is adorable. He's a big Poison fan. No doubt he attended The Stadium Tour and I bet he's come across this blog before. Below is a trailer to the series. I won't spoil any more of it for you.

1988 Was A Badass Year For Music

The Facebook post below just showed up in my suggested follows account last night. I couldn't help but notice all the amazing songs from 1988. So many great number 1 hits! There's so many George Michael songs here (Faith was a huge album folks!), plus Guns n' Roses, Def Leppard and INXS. Cheap Trick hit paydirt with "The Flame" and so did Poison with "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

Bon Jovi reached the top of the charts with "Bad Medicine" and The Beach Boys made a comeback with "Kokomo." Such a great list of songs. Perhaps the best year for popular music, ever. Thoughts?

Sunday's Best: Week 26, 2022

I give Bret Michaels mad props. I was skeptical that Poison would be able to do their set in Jacksonville, Florida last night, but they did. Bret was hospitalized just a couple days ago - and last night he was back on stage, jumping up and down and performing for the crowd. That's our respectful Sunday's Best for this week.

Poison did an abbreviated set for The Stadium Tour stop last night, playing six songs and a guitar solo. This was to help Bret in his recovery, but from the videos I watched he sure seemed to have loads of energy. The weather was bad for the show and it rained a lot, which probably didn't help matters.

Bret Michaels Hospitalized, Poison Skips Nashville Stop Of The Stadium Tour

Shortly before the Nashville stop of The Stadium Tour last night, the members of Poison - sans singer Bret Michaels - came on stage to wish the crowd well and explain the band wouldn't be performing. Just before showtime, Michaels got sick and was hospitalized.

It isn't clear what he is sick from exactly, but lots of reports are talking about COVID infections in the Poison camp. Bret had a reaction to some medicine - but who knows if it was from a COVID treatment, his diabetes or something else entirely.

I hope Bret gets well soon... and that Poison doesn't have to miss more shows for the sake of fans who paid a lot of money for tickets.

pic.twitter.com/dD5eVjJZme

— Bret Michaels (@bretmichaels) July 1, 2022

Bret Michaels suffered a medical emergency just before he was set to get on stage with Poison. https://t.co/5zwBV5paXn

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 1, 2022

Sunday's Best: Week 17, 2022

Another week down and a new month to boot! The weather is awesome here today in my part of midwest America: sunny and 70s. Reminds me of convertible weather. I had a red convertible once. It was so fun to drive around town with the top down when it wasn't scorching hot. There are just some songs that work better than others for convertible weather. That's our Sunday's Best for this week. I really wish I had a convertible now but maybe someday. Eric dreams of owning a Corvette and he would get a convertible and that would be cool with me!

In no order, my choices for the best convertible songs are:

The Eagles - Life In the Fast Lane

Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen

Aerosmith - Back In The Saddle

Autograph - Turn Up The Radio

Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood

Van Halen - Panama

Lindsey Buckingham - Holiday Road

Sammy Hagar - I Can't Drive 55

Poison - Nothin' But A Good Time

George Michael - Freedom 90

Heart - Barracuda

Beach Boys - any track really, but the entire Pet Sounds album for sure.