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After missing the first KISS show because of a softball game, I
was extremely excited to hear they were coming back, and that I was
going. I've wanted to see KISS since the sixth grade, but my mom
wouldn't let me. I've never forgiven her for that, but that's a
story for my therapist. Thinking about KISS brought back all sorts
of memories of the late 70's phenomenon that was KISS. KISS trading
cards, tattoos, the KISS army (I haven't gotten a newsletter in
years), the cool cardboard pop gun from the Love Gun album, the
comic book (printed with their own blood), and of course the
"KISS vs. the Phantom of the Park" movie. I even busted
out the old KISS vinyl to get myself in the mood.
A KISS show is for the most part that, a show. They had lots of
smoke and fireworks, Ace even shoots fireworks out of his guitar
during his solo during "Shock Me." Of course Gene spit
fire, fire, fire (settle down Beavis) and blood, and Paul pranced
and posed nonstop around the stage. During the final song of the
set, "Black Diamond," they used the same raised drum
platform seen on the inside covers of KISS Alive II. They even had a
nice video system to allow even the people in the cheap seats to see
their antics clearly. It looked like they really put everything into
the show, they were still having a good time after twenty years, and
not just going through the motions.
Oh there was music too. Overall they sounded surprisingly good.
Both Gene and Paul's voices were in excellent form. It looks like
the years have not been to kind to Ace, but he can still play a mean
guitar. Peter's drum work was as good as ever, but his voice didn't
sound too hot during Beth (the second song of the encore). In his
defense, a ballad like that has to be sung perfectly, or it sounds
awful. They covered a wide range of songs from the early years, but
nothing from the ill fated "post make-up years". They hit
all the classics like "Dr. Love," "God of
Thunder," "Duce," and "Shout it Out Loud."
One disappointing change from the old 70's KISS is they too have
become politically correct. The intro to "Cold Gin" was
the tired "don't drink and drive" crap that has been
proceeding drinking songs for the past few years.
I give KISS TWO BIG THUMBS UP! The show was everything I thought
it would be even twenty years later. They put on a great stage show,
play good tunes and really get the crowd pumped up. I wanted the
best and I got the best, the hottest band in the world...... KISS.
I have just a few comments about the Deftones, they opened up for
KISS. I think they were a pretty cool, even though a majority of the
crowd booed them after every song of their 40 minute set. They were
really a victim of the audience. If they were opening at a smaller
place for a newer "grunge" type band they would have
gotten a much warmer reception. Hel, Hendrix got booed when he
opened for the Monkees, it's just not what the crowd was expecting
to hear. The lead singer got in a couple good jabs at the crowd when
he said between songs, "boo all you want, your kids are going
to buy our CD with your money." He also teased them about how
much they paid for the tickets, and they had to listen to them. The
Deftones play loud, guitar heavy music, with rockin' bass. It's the
type of music that could get a mosh pit fired up. It's a bit raw and
the lead singer had a tendency to mumble, but overall they were
entertaining. I give these guys ONE THUMB UP for the effort, and
it's too bad more people don't have an open mind to new music These
are probably the same people who, as children, couldn't understand
why their parents didn't like KISS. I'll step off my soap box now
before I fall off, until next time hang loose. |
