A couple of years ago I went to Mulcahys in Wantagh to see Bret Michaels. Radio station WBAB hit us all over the head with enough promos and hoopla to convince me to purchase tickets. The crowd was, well, sparse. Flash forward to May 1, 2008 and no one there that night could have predicted the turnout this past Thursday. It was crammed tight, so much so I overheard a girl proclaim” I don’t get why there is this many people here….Bret Michaels is like 50,000 years old!” But packed into the Wantagh bar with a vacuum tight seal on these lost 80’s souls, Bret and his band hit the stage in all their cowboy hat wearing glory.
Who is Bret Michaels? The front man for the once popular Poison in the height of 80’s hair metal. He’s the star of one of VH1’s most popular shows Rock of Love (ROL) Season 1 and 2. Michaels is also featured in the game Guitar Hero III, and on the very night he played our local venue, he was on their TV screens as a contestant on the show “Don’t Forget the Lyrics.”
As I stood in the rain waiting my turn to get checked off the list for the sold out performance I spot Big John. ROL fans know him as the loveable bodyguard/sidekick/babysitter to Bret and the ROL girls. It’s easy to see how he got the name “Big” John because the man is massive! Not too surprisingly the ladies aren’t as intimidated for he’s the ticket to V.I.P. heaven for fallen angels. Although he looks like a mush to me, I think later on that night the stage hand didn’t think so after I witnessed Big John get irritated with him, turning the guy into a jerky little cage mouse.
The crowd was an eclectic group of old timers, ex-high school dirt bags turned 30ish, and weave obsessed booby exhibitionists stylized after the ROL girlies. Not to disappoint there was debauchery the ROL way … bandana fashioned fools, drunken wannabes in search of poles, and a bathroom catfight or two. Fellow Massapequa rocker Michelle Molloy confessed after the show” I’m getting too old for this.”
When the Bret Michaels Band (B.M.B) hit the stage they announce, “Look at all the boobies!” And they were dead right; the ratio of women to men had to be 70/30. Big John then takes the mic to deliver the every popular line “Whatsa goin’ on?” and then there was Bret……………and Bret’s hat. The actual appearance of the top of that man’s head is one of life’s great mysteries. He opened with “Talk Dirty to Me” and then caught me off guard with “Sweet HomeAlabama.” He was just adorable on stage, full of energy and loving every minute of it. Why wouldn’t he? He had shrieking girls lusting for him, flying bras and a sea of cleavage.
He was a well-oiled machine, his voice on target and his smile wide and bright. He connected will us all, and tried to smile at each girl in front of him, I think I got one too! As he jumped back and forth onstage like a rabbit in heat, the look on his face said he was having as much fun reliving the glory days as we were.
He did perform songs from the new album coming out “Rock My World” and closed with “Nothing But a Good Time.”
I must admit I was not a Poison fan, but overtime I have come to embrace the old tunes and gained a newfound respect for Bret’s music. C’mon people tell me you don’t know the words to Talk Dirty to Me, Unskinny Bop or Every Rose Has its Thorn? So “I won’t forget you” either Bret Michaels especially when my 6 year old daughters asks “Mommy what does talk dirty to me mean?” As for a Rock Of Love 3, sadly it might not happen. It’s a rumor Amber and Bret are working out -- go figure. Another rumor is Richie Sambora is in the running to take over the show…Lord help us. Perhaps I’ll catch Bret again this summer when Poison comes to JonesBeach.
On Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Mindfreak's Criss Angel appeared at the Book Revue in Huntington to sign his new book, Mindfreak: Secret Revelation. Growing up on Long Island, Angel shares his approach to life, his art, behind-the-scenes look at his TV show and various mindfreaks.
Friday, April 20, 2007, Massapequa High School's most popular band, Exemption, celebrated the release of its new full-length album, "The Rabbit Hole." Other artists including Casual Sweater Tuesday and Fastizio performed with Exemption a 6-hour concert at the Village Pub South in Amityville, pictured below:
Exemption
Casual Sweater Tuesday
Fastizio
On April 5, 2007 at King's Avenue Tattoo, Artist William ("Billy Splatts") Corrigan created from a bikini model and canvas a work of art to be donated to the Unite in Fashion Night of Rock & Fashion to benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, Inc. Pictured below: Billy Splatts (Artist), Sandy McCarthy (Model) and Mike Rubendall (owner of King's Avenue Tattoo).
Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation ("WINORR") is a Non-Profit Wildlife Rehabilitation Group. Pictured below: Cathy from WINORR hand-feeding rescued and orphaned baby squirrels whose mother was hit by a car. Contact them about how you can help at (516) 293.0587
Miami Ink's Kat Von D Inks Massapequa at King's Avenue Tattoo
on February 5, 2007
Kat Von D Inks Massapequa at Kings Avenue Tattoo
Kings Avenue Tattoo
TCB Mama
"Taking Care of Business" (in a Flash) with Mama "TCB Mama"
August 15, 2006
Who is TCB MAMA??
"It’s a question I ask myself every day. Well, I guess I can start by saying my Massapequa adventure started almost 33 years ago when I was born in this great town. Now I’m married to another Massapequan and raising our kids here. I work here, shop here and whine a lot if I’m required to do anything that would carry me across the outer rim. Seriously, I only really whine if it’s anymore than 20 minutes outside of Massapequa in any direction. The kids have grounded me more than anything else. Have you ever packed 3 little kids for a day trip? C’mon people you know what I mean…sometimes it’s easier just to stay local.
As Massapequans, we are blessed with great parks, a gorgeous bike path and pizza everywhere! Traveling out of state has made me also grateful to the fine people that created Dairy Barn & 7-11. How do people elsewhere survive without them? The folks of Massapequa are indeed spoiled with accessibility.
But let’s get back to me, I tend to drift! The T.C.B., what does it mean? Well any self-respecting Elvis fan knows it as his motto: "Taking Care of Business" (in a flash). If you see me about town, it won’t be that hard to peg me. It’s one of my tattoos, my car, my motorcycle, my jewelry, my bowling ball…yada, yada, yada. If it can be personalized then I probably have it.
So in sum, I look forward to a journey through town with you. I call them as I see them. Look for me around the NEWS, who knows, I might just be looking for you!"
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