Bret Michaels. All photos by KEVIN KINDER, NWA Media.

Despite a fresh lease on life, having lived through an extended hospital stay caused by a brain hemorrhage, Bret Michaels was content to rewind things last night at the Arkansas Music Pavilion, where he performed for a crowd of about 2,000 on a beautiful Fayetteville night.

Blending the classic tracks from ’80s hair metal band Poison — which he still fronts when not busy with his solo tours or his television appearances — with safe cover songs from the classic rock era, Michaels gave the crowd, which had a median age similar to his own age of 47, a bit of nostalgia.

He opened by diving into “Talk Dirty To Me” and “Look What The Cat Dragged In,” approaching them with enthusiasm and a voice somewhere between husky and muscular.

In the Bret Michaels Band’s 70-minute set, he found room for seven Poison songs among the 11 tracks he played, and an eighth song, “Your Momma Don’t Dance,” is a tune that Poison first covered two decades ago. When he did stray away from Poison, it wasn’t far.

He played a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and also a cover of Sublime’s “What I Got,” which he included on his most recent solo record, “Custom Built.” He only played one other truly solo song, “Go That Far,” the theme song to “Rock of Love,” what would become the first of many reality show appearances for him.

He’s getting ready to be part of a new show, “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It,” which will debut in October. He told fans that crews would film some of the concert in Fayetteville for the show, and there were indeed several cameras visible at the AMP last night.

He also told fans that he was grateful for the prayers and support “when we got real sick” and promised to make up a couple of canceled dates in Fort Smith that fell during his recovery period.

He also kept telling the fans about the party they were assembling under the tent at the venue, and that much was definitely true. A dedicated group of fans greeted Michaels, many of them clad in bandanas, black sleeveless T-shirts and straw cowboy hats like the man they came to see. I would guess the crowd, expectedly, perhaps, to be about 65-35 female to male.

There were singalongs to nearly every song, especially — of course — to “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” which drew a flood of amateur voices and a swaying of arms. It also, not kidding, caused the couple beside me to start instantaneously making out. They didn’t stop until the song was over.

It was just what the audience came to see, as evidenced by the considerable number of women who held roses in the air as he sang.

Michaels delivered, giving the crowd nothing they hadn’t heard him play a million times before.

About the opener:

Jason Hoffa

Finding Jimmy Hoffa, from Arkansas, played a blend of hard rock and rap that was well received by the crowd. The lead singer reminded me of Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, with his flannel shirt, backwards ballcap and swinging wallet chain. He even rapped a bit. Thankfully, when he sang, like during a surprisingly servicable cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell,” he was much better than Durst.

Bret Michaels setlist: 1) Talk Dirty To Me; 2) Look What The Cat Dragged In; 3) Go That Far; 4) Sweet Home Alabama [Skynyrd cover]; 5) Something To Believe In; 6) Unskinny Bop; 7) Momma Don’t Dance [Loggins and Messina cover, done in the style of Poison’s version] 8) What I Got [Sublime cover]; 9) Every Rose Has Its Thorn; 10) Fallen Angel

Encore: 11) Nothin’ But A Good Time

Bret Michaels

Just months after a brain hemorrhage nearly claimed is life, Bret Michaels is back on the stage.

The frontman of ’80s rockers Poison and a decorated solo artist, Michaels will make one of those stage appearances tonight (Sept. 16) at the Arkansas Music Pavilion in Fayetteville.

Michaels, who is touring in support of his most recent solo effort, “Custom Built,” will also offer many Poison songs throughout the night, no doubt including the band’s biggest hit, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”

Michaels will also bring some video cameras with him. The star of several previous reality television shows such as “Celebrity Apprentice 3″ — which he won — and “Rock of Love,” Michaels is also the subject of a new show that will make its debut in October. Called “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It,” the show documents how he balances his life on the road with his family, which includes two daughters and his on-again, off-again girlfriend.

Michaels called me to chat about the show, his career and how he balances life as a television star with life as a musician. You can read the story that resulted from that interview here, if you are a subscriber to our newspaper.

Tickets to Michaels show are $25 to $100 dollars and are available at the venue or through www.amptickets.com.

Finding Jimmy Hoffa will serve as the opening act.

We’ll see you at the show.

It’s Monday. Which means you’re having nothing but a good time, right?

Those who dismiss reality television as junk are perhaps forgetting the most amazing thing it has ever been responsible for: the resurrection of the career of Poison frontman Bret Michaels, star of the now-gone reality show “Rock of Love.” He’s currently featured in “Celebrity Apprentice 3,” which debuted yesterday (March 14).

He played in Northwest Arkansas (at the also now-gone Icehouse of Bentonville) about three years ago, but not to the fanfare that I suspect will greet him when we performs at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith on April 15, a Thursday.

Michaels, outside of his reality television appearances, is best known for his work with Poison, whose hits include “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Talk Dirty To Me” and “Unskinny Bop,” among others.

Michaels also has a successful solo performing career while he continues to perform with Poison.

Tickets for the April show, part of Michaels’ “Roses and Thorns Tour,” will go on sale Friday (March 19) through the venue’s Web site. No word on prices.