Mötley Crüe, Poison and New York Dolls First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Chicago, IL July 1, 2011

David Johansen (a.k.a. Buster Poindexter for those old enough to remember) strutted his battered band back out onto the stage after four decades of notorious tales and genre-setting music that spawned the likes of Poison, Mötley Crüe and lots of other glam rock/hair metal groups. The New York Dolls, which these days consists of original members Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, along with rock veterans Earl Slick on guitar, bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Jason Sutter, showed the sparse Tinley Park crowd why they were on this tour. The taut band tore through such 1970s-era glam rock staples as “Lookin’ For a Kiss” and “Personality Crisis” and more recent (but no less in-your-face) songs from the band’s new album, “Dancing Backward in High Heels.” The style and swagger of the legendary ‘70s New York punk scene was alive and kicking as these glam rock progenitors stormed the stage for their fierce 40-minute set.

As the venue filled, Poison’s trademark brand of mainstream (but chick-approved) hair metal served in stark contrast to the Dolls’ stripped-down set. Blown-up album covers and banners proclaiming the band’s 25 years together festooned the stage, while Bret Michaels donned his own “Open Up and Say Ahh” concert T-shirt (with a bandana and cowboy hat, of course). The band’s raucous party rock holds up well live, with over-the-top renditions of “Look What the Cat Dragged In” (the show opener), “Fallen Angel,” “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and the sole cover, Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band.”

Michaels’ good-natured “everyman” persona rang well with the enthusiastic crowd, especially when he thanked fans for helping him through his various health scares over the past two years. He, of course, talked about Poison’s 25 years together, and the band genuinely seemed grateful for the opportunity to keep touring and playing to (not quite) packed arenas. The famously unreliable C.C. DeVille even looked cleaned up and toned down; gone is the bleached-white, teased-to-the-sky bouffant, and with his shaggy straight dishwater blond locks, he looked more Jeff Spicoli than hair metal god.

In fact, it seemed to be DeVille’s night. His guitar solos were tight and focused, and his fellow band members even joined in the crowd’s chant of “C.C.” Drummer Rikki Rockett (who spray painted “Chi-Town” on his drum kit) also did a quick solo, while bassist Bobby Dahl – almost unrecognizable with short hair – helped hold down the rhythm section.

Poison went out on a high note, ending their set with two of their biggest hits – “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” The crowd responded accordingly, singing every note and drinking in the decadence.

But, fans didn’t have much time to make it back to their seats from the bar or the bathroom before shots rang out into the night. That rat-a-tat-tat sound signaled the intro to “Wild Side,” Mötley Crüe’s explosive opening number. All of the Crüe’s extravagances were on display from the get-go: the brash pyrotechnics, the scantily clad backup dancers and the outrageous stage set, including drummer Tommy Lee’s circular drum kit.

There was much here for fanboys (and girls) to bang their heads to; junior high anthems like “Live Wire,” “Looks That Kill” and “Shout at the Devil” (complete with video pentagrams) went over huge, while more recent (and radio-ready) hits like “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)” and “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” got the girls bumping and grinding. Vince Neil’s vocals didn’t hold up, but with the help of a back-up singer and, of course, the enthusiastic crowd parroting every lyric, it didn’t much matter.

Lee, in face paint and not much else, was once again the court jester of the show. Whether playing piano on “Home Sweet Home” or jamming on an extended drum solo while rotating 360 degrees high in the air, his bravado and humor charmed the audience. Gone is the infamous “Titty Cam;” this is a softer side of Tommy Lee, even when he told the female contest winner who joined him for a ride on his roller coaster drum kit to “free herself if she felt the need,” it came across more banal than braggadocio.

Bassist Nikki Sixx provided the show’s most poignant moment, asking the crowd to sit for a moment while he reflected on Motley Crue’s 30 years together. Stating Chicago is “the only city I could do this in,” Sixx touted his bandmates, declaring enduring guitarist Mick Mars as “half machine, half animal” before ripping into the 1983 hit “Too Young to Fall in Love.” For his part, Vince Neil said this show was the 20th time the Crüe has played Chicago, and implored the crowd “are we your band?” perhaps as a shot at tourmates Poison.

The audience responded favorably throughout the 90-minute set, which concluded with a fist-pumping rendition of “Kickstart My Heart.” And with a final “fuck yeah” from Lee and a caterwaul from Neil, the show was over. The band gathered on stage for a final bow, much like a Broadway production, while video monitors thanked Chicago fans for their undying support.

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