Hollyweird at Kansas City

My 2nd concert of the 2002 Hollyweird Tour took place at the newly named Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (It's still Sandstone to me) in Bonner Springs (Kansas City), KS on July 20, 2002. This was my first chance to see the opening bands this year so it wasn't entirely a repeat. So much happened with all this it's hard to know where to start. I guess the obvious is the HEAT! The actual temperature was 100 at showtime and the heat index was 115+; in spite of that all four bands still put on a major kick-ass show. I just have to say having to wear a knee brace (black at that) in that kind of heat really SUCKS!!! :( For more pictures of the concert, .

Wednesday, you ask? If this seems like a strange place to start for a Saturday concert, it is connected to the concert. The local rock radio station, 98.9 The Rock, was one of the lucky stations across the country giving away a trip to attend an end of tour party and concert at the Roxy in LA with Poison. Could you imagine winning that trip??? Boy, I could and I actually tried even though I live 2 hours away from KC. On Wednesday morning, I was in my car at the right time and actually managed to call in long distance on my cell phone and get qualified for the grand prize trip. I knew I had little chance of actually getting it, but I was still excited that I had my name in the running. And just for qualifying, I had won a pair of tickets and a pizza; I thought at the very least I had a pretty nice consolation prize and would have a lot better seats than I had gotten on my own for the show. Friday, I was finally able to pick up the tickets, but they were only for lawn seats. When they did do the drawing, 2 people's names were called for the grand prize and they never even called in to claim it. They were nuts!!!  All I can say to the grand prize winner is there's thousands of fans out there who wish they were you. Enjoy the party :)

Saturday, Before the Show

I had been emailing with some people from the Hollyweird mailing list and was supposed to meet up with them before the concert. For whatever reasons, it didn't happen :(  I did try to find you though, guys. And security wouldn't let me up to the very front to look. Guess maybe next year. Trying to get into the venue is worse than going through airport security. For years, they've asked to look into your bags and asked what was in your pocket. But now they're actually patting patrons down and sticking hands in your pockets. The females even had to push on their chest to prove you didnt have something dangerous hidden in your bra. That's more than a bit excessive guys. At the will call window, there was a sign that said due to security reasons, Bret Michaels would not be having a meet 'n greet today.  But Rikki was still planning to have his so I got my pass and went through the security from hell.

The Concert

At 5:56 PM, Faster Pussycat began their 30-minute set. Most of their set I didn't recognize. But I'll include what I did. They opened with a funky version of These Boots are Made for Walking and also had in the set Slip of the Tongue, their biggest hit House of Pain, Bathroom Wall, and closed with their version of the Betty Blowtorch tune Shut Up and F***, which was dedicated to the lead singer's late friend, Bianca. He had her name sewn on the back of his shirt. Somehow I thought she was his wife; but I got an email from FP's publicist correcting me. HOLY CRAP!! Does that mean someone's actually reading my page??? *faint* Sorry, now back to the concert.

The black angel wings on the singer for House of Pain was an interesting touch. I have to agree with the lead singer when he yelled could someone please turn down the f***ing heat? Musically, they did a solid set; they were nice to LISTEN to. Listen is the key word. Appearance wise, they were dressed up in Nazi type gear that made me think Marilyn Manson wants his wardrobe back. I just don't get it, but whatever works for them. It did seem rather strange when the lead singer took off his leather/vinyl pants before the last song to reveal a pair of black pantyhose. If his shirt had been any shorter, the front rows would have really gotten an eyeful LOL

Big kudos have to go to the road crew. They have switching the stage set down to an art. 20 short minutes later, Winger started their 45-minute set at 6:50. I have Winger's 2nd and 3rd albums and I really like their music. This was my first chance to ever see them live; they did not disappoint one little bit :) Winger's set list was Blind Revolution Mad, Madelaine, Hungry, Miles Away, Rainbow in the Rose (dedicated to the other bands and all the crews on the tour), You Are the Saint I am the Sinner, Headed for a Heartbreak, Can't Get Enough, and Seventeen. Members of Faster Pussycat joined Winger onstage for one song towards the end. Kip Winger said the band hadn't played together in 9 years before this tour; you'd never know it from their playing. They have the technical chops to play very very well and they showed it off to the hilt in spite of the heat. Unfortunately, this stop was their last night with the Hollyweird tour. But if they play in your area, go see them. It'll be an excellent show.

Cinderella did a 65-minute set and what can I say, but WOW!!!  what a set!!! Their set list was Somebody Save Me, Push Push, The Last Mile, Night Songs, Falling Apart at the Seams, Heartbreak Station, Coming Home, Shelter Me, Nobody's Fool, Gypsy Road, and an encore of Don't Know What You Got ('Til It's Gone) and Shake Me. The set was well thought out and much better than when Cinderella toured with Poison two years ago. The look is a little different now, but this is the Cinderella from the 80's back in better shape than ever. Two years ago, Tom Keifer's voice was a little "road-worn" for lack of a better word and the set felt like it was a rush just to see how many songs we can play in an hour instead of a concert. This time around, that is sure not the case. Tom Keifer is talking and intereacting with the crowd and his voice is sounding wonderful. :) Cinderella even has a bit of pyro this time around which really sets off their show; nothing in the realm of Poison's pyro, but just a little.

A surprise I wasn't expecting was a saxophone solo by Tom Keifer, the lead singer. My understanding is he is fairly new to the instrument. He sounds pretty decent on it too. It's an easy instrument to get a noise out of, but very hard to sound good on. A little more practice and he will be quite good. Yes, I can criticize this one; I've been playing saxophone for 24 years. There was one scary moment on Nobody's Fool when Tom apparently held onto a high note for too long in the heat and dropped to his knees passing out. At first, it just seemed for dramatic effect, it fit the lyrics. But after a full minute of no movement, you knew something was wrong. About the time you could see a crew member start to come out of the wings, he came to and cleared his throat and said that really hurt, "you're tearing my heart out, KC."  He never missed another beat and finished out the set like it never happened. That's true professionalism; the show must go on. When it comes time to pick out opening bands for next summer's tours, I vote for Cinderella to come again. They put on an awesome show that is hard to beat. I have to add one little thank you here. I'm kinda turning into a picture hound. One of the venue security guards asked me if I wanted to go up front and take a closer picture of Cinderella. That took two seconds to answer yes; that was like asking me if I like Poison. LOL Whoever you were, thank you; it helped make my day :)))

Between the 3rd band and Poison always seems like the longest slowest time of the entire experience. Finally about 9:40 PM, AC/DC's Highway to Hell started playing to signal that it was time for Poison to take the stage. They played an 80-minute set that was just incredible; they know how to combine musicianship with showmanship that makes for a music spectacle like no other. I have just one complaint and its a familiar one, not just from me but just about everyone  I have talked to or heard about the set list. It's too damn short!! I have no problems with any of the songs they perform; I just wish there were a few MORE of them :) There's no such thing as too much Poison is there? The set list that night was Look What the Cat Dragged In, Talk Dirty to Me, Ride the Wind, Squeeze Box, I Want Action, C. C.'s Guitar Solo, Emperor's New Clothes, Something to Believe In, Your Mama Don't Dance, Rikki's Drum Solo, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Unskinny Bop, Fallen Angel, Rock 'N Roll All Nite, and the encore of Nothing But a Good Time.

The cloth fell off of Rikki's Monster Drum Kit from Hell (Check out the pics on his site. It's a really KEWL-looking kit :) as C. C. and Bobby stepped on the stage. The familiar intro started and Look What The Cat Dragged In was launched to a thunderous roar from the audience. The dragon cannons fired and out ran Bret in the white mammoth coat. I wasn't expecting to see it in that heat; that night, I believe that qualified as suffering for your art. Talk Dirty to Me got a huge response and set the tone for the rest of the concert; this is a kick-ass party and bad moods better be checked at the front gate. Bret said Ride the Wind was back in the set because we, the fans, wanted it back in. I just wonder how did he know we wanted it?

Poison's latest single Squeeze Box came next. Bret said it was dedicated to the memory of the Who's founding member John Entwhistle. I thought that was pretty kewl. In case you don't know, the song was originally recorded by the legendary band, The Who. John Entwhistle was their bassist and he recently passed away one day before the Who was set to start a new tour.

This was followed by I Want Action. A lot of the women in the front rows must have taken this as an invitation to try and cool off their chests as there were lots of comments about there's lots of "nice titties" and "great Kansas City titties" from the stage. I doubt any of the band members or guys up front had any complaints LOL  All part of the venue and just another part of the concert experience. That was about the time my hubby was wishing I had front row tickets instead of 29th row LOL

C.C. started his guitar solo, but he was having a hard time (pun intended) finishing it. Then he explained why. He couldn't concentrate and do three things at once. He said he couldn't "play his guitar, jack off, and look at all the beautiful titties at the same time." He was enjoying all the "Kansas titties" but he knew he was only gonna "end up with his own hand" that night. Somehow I kinda doubt that };-) ROTFLMSAO But he needed to go finish his guitar solo first and then he had a little song to sing if we'd let him. He said when he raises his arms at the end of the song we'd better cheer or he might get all shy again and never sing again for an audience. Somehow I think he will :)

From there, the set slowed down a bit with Something to Believe In. Bret made sure C. C. got one more round of cheers before they went on. Then he said the song and the whole new album were dedicated to the victims and their families of 9/11. He always says KC is one of his favorite tour stops and asked if we wouldn't help him out. He needed everyone to turn up their lighters all the way to the back as the song was gonna be taped and sent overseas to the soldiers fighting the war on terrorism. No one disappointed Poison as there was a sea of lighters all around. It was neat to see; I hope the video makes its way overseas.

Things sped back up quickly with Your Mama Don't Dance. Then it was Rikki's turn to show his skills. Make no mistake, he is a very talented musician, and also a master showman. The combo of the two is what makes him so much fun to watch. The lights under the stairs were timed just perfectly to fit in with the solo. That's not something you work out in 5 minutes; it takes hard work on everyone's part. I love the pyro going off at the very end, and one of these times I'm gonna get a picture of it. I swore I got it this time, and some guy walked in front of me just as it went off and I pressed the button. Grrrr!!! Afterwards, Rikki threw out some of his drumsticks with backstage/aftershow passes attached. Bret came out and introduced Rikki, his best friend since junior high, one more time to huge pops from the crowd :)

Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Unskinny Bop, and Fallen Angel quickly followed and were performed flawlessly. Bret said to give it up for Bobby on the bass, fresh back