I reviewed Poison Karma (acoustic) here (http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2010/02/24/the_amplifier/music/doc4b83e9313114d538852163.txt) in February, and at that time mentioned that the full electric lineup would be out and about soon. Well that time has come, so it’s also time for an update. The band played at The Brewing Company downtown and did not disappoint.

As I suspected, lead vocalist Maria Donatelli does indeed have the pipes to front a high-energy, high-powered rock band. Kevin Hull really gets the chance to shine on guitar in this format, and he takes full advantage of it. Andy Stahl plays a smooth, and at times, very prominent bass which fills out the rhythm perfectly, and Rodney Hull’s drumming is energetic and sharp. He particularly stood out on “I Kissed a Girl”.

There’s not too much variance in their set lists between the acoustic and electric performances, but the volume, energy, and style of the full band has a whole different vibe (there’s a time and place for both styles, depending on your mood). Tonight’s performance was just plain-out fun (like Kevin Hull’s mostly note-for-note solo of Eddie Van Halen’s intro to “You Really Got Me”), and some of these tunes are certainly danceable, which could add another dimension to the Poison Karma experience if you go for it. You’ll hear lots of songs other bands just don’t play (especially the women-in-rock songs – Benatar, Perry, Blondie, Four Non-Blondes, etc.), as well as other more male-oriented tunes performed vocally by Kevin & Rodney Hull. It’s a nice mix that covers hits from the 80s and up time frame pretty well. So if you like 80s and 90s, with a touch of today, you won’t want to miss them.

Check out the band at www.myspace.com/poisonkarma where you can get performance dates and stream some of their music. 

Poison Karma (Electric) played at The Brewing Company in Bowling Green, KY on 3/19/2010.

About the author: Pennman bought his first 45 at age nine and has been hooked on rock ever since. He has spent much of his disposable income on music, especially live performances. He writes reviews of the shows he sees and keeps a keen lookout for upcoming shows in or near Bowling Green. He has a BA in Communications, specializing in journalism, and has dabbled in music himself, both as a player and instructor. Find more of Pennman’s work at www.associatedcontent.com/user/165511/pennman.html or visit him at www.myspace.com/pennman_bg or www.facebook.com/pennman