Bret Michaels closed his Parti-Gras tour in Mansfield, which also featured ’70s rock group Jefferson Starship and ’80s arena rock band Night Ranger. You can read the Jefferson Starship / Night Ranger report here.
Bret Michaels – Night Ranger – Jefferson Starship
Xfinity Center, Mansfield – 21 July 2023
Words And Photography: Shannon Wilk
Bret Michaels
Just after 9 PM, it was time for the mastermind behind the Parti Gras tour to begin his set. Rick Harrison, known for his role on the hit TV series Pawn Stars, took centre stage to introduce Poison frontman Bret Michaels for his headlining set.
Michaels came running up the catwalk reaching over to high-five and shake hands with his fans. He opened the show with three back-to-back Poison tunes, Talk Dirty To Me, Ride The Wind and Look What The Cat Dragged In.
Sugar Ray frontman, Mark McGrath, was next to take on the Parti Gras stage with his band’s tune Every Morning. “Give it up for Bret Michaels,” says McGrath, welcoming the singer back to the stage.
Bret Michaels begins one of Poison’s beloved covers, Your Mama Don’t Dance. He brings smiles and seemingly endless energy to his performance which brings such infectious happiness to the crowd.
For his first performance of the night, former Journey frontman Steve Augeri takes the stage for Separate Ways (Worlds Apart). Just like Michaels, Augeri knows how to command the stage and has the pipes to match.
Bret Michaels returns to the stage and invites a group of veterans and EMTs onstage and dedicates one of the most sombre songs of the Hair Metal genre, Something To Believe In. Phone flashlights and lighters illuminate the amphitheatre, waving back and forth. The band breaks out into a jam for a few minutes before leading into the bass-driven Poison tune, Unskinny Bop.
Steve Augeri returns to the stage for Don’t Stop Believin’ and Any Way You Want It. This guy still has the voice of a 20-some-year-old rock vocalist, an extremely impressive feat, especially when it comes to tackling Journey tunes.
Michaels returns to the stage with an acoustic guitar for the beloved Poison ballad Every Rose Has Its Thorn. Mark McGrath returns for one more song before the finale. Bret Michaels performs Nothin’ But A Good Time and welcomes all the guest artists onto the stage for one epic final song in Sweet Home Alabama.
“An all-killer, no filler night of hit songs,” Michaels promised, and that was just what everyone experienced. Wonderful.
You can read the Jefferson Starship / Night Ranger report here.
I saw Brett Michaels when I was 21 years old I haven’t seen him in concert in a while l have diabetes for along time.My friend told me Brett Michaels was coming to the Decatur Celebration l missed his concert again l was in the hospital for my diabetes.l wish see him in person some day
This was such an awesome time!! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bret Michaels a couple of times over the years.. Once when Poison went on their first tour opening for Ratt and then again when I won a dance contest and was chosen to dance on stage with three other girls for Unskinny Bop both times at the Providence Civic Center/Dunkin Donuts Center. He is an amazing, down to earth guy. Absolutely adore him!!
Praying for you Bret take care of yourself.