Hair band Poison’d Crue rock the songs you know from 1980s
By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News May 24, 2012 12:22PM
Poison'd Crue is Sean Coogan (from left) of New Lenox; Kip Serena of Morris; Brent Rowader of New Lenox and Jimi Swanson of Joliet. | Submitted photo
If you go
What: Poison’d Crue
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hollywood Casino, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Joliet
Visit: www.poisondcrue.com
Contact: 815-263-3003
Updated: June 28, 2012 12:52PM
With zero aspirations of fame, fortune or flaunting their original material, the four members of Poison’d Crue have but one goal: to deliver the high energy and fun memories of 1980s rock to each and every audience.
“We want to be the best cover band out there,” said Brent Rowader of New Lenox, lead vocalist. “We’re getting a great following and bar owners are very happy with us. Whenever we play, people ask for business cards so they can follow us.”
In addition to performing classics by Poison (“Nothin’ But a Good time”) and Motley Crue (“Kickstart my Heart” and “Dr. Feelgood”), Poison’d Crue also plays the music of such bands as Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, AC/DC, Scorpions, Twisted Sister, Alice in Chains, Kid Rock, Kiss, Metallica, Buckcherry and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Poison’d Crue attracts two types of fans: the 20-somethings who have “played” the songs on rock band video games and the 40ish crowd that grew up with the music and enjoy revisiting the past.
“These songs have great rhythm and guitar notes,” Rowader said. When he listens to the original artists, he is very attentive to the lead singers’ styles, since that’s what inspired him to be a lead singer, too. “They put their emotions behind the lyrics to make them sound good and meaningful.”
Just 18 months ago, Rowader was so disappointed when another ’80s band, where he was a member, disbanded, that he put a message on Facebook expressing his interest in beginning another group.
He received some responses and quickly assembled Sean Coogan of New Lenox on guitar and vocals, Jimi Swanson of Joliet on bass guitar and vocals and Kip Serena of Morris on drums and vocals.
Rowader named the band Poison’d Crue because fans had always compared his voice to the lead singers of both those bands. Why not, Rowader reasoned, combine the names?
“This way, people already know what music they’re going to hear,” Rowader said. “We want to bring people back 20 years, when they were teens at a concert. We want them to have a great experience.”
Individually, members practice often; collectively, they come together weekly. As Poison’d Crue, they contract an average of three to four venues a month. A hallmark of their shows is friendly and frequent crowd interaction.
“It makes them feel important, like they belong,” Rowader said. “Everybody likes that feeling, I believe.”
