Be warned – this is a review but – it’s also filled with more than its fair share of personal blathering about a band that I hold very close to my heart so – proceed with
KISS filled the hall at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday night – I know that this review is a day late but – I needed some time to process my thoughts. I love KISS, love them. They have been a part of my life since 1975 when my school mate Chuck brought out a copy of Dressed To Kill and stuck that magic disc on the turntable. Instantly hooked by the look, the sound, the strangeness – it propelled me from listening to Elvis and Elton John headlong down the highway of Metal – a road I’m still traveling almost 50 years later.
To my parents credit – my sudden infatuation with four dudes dressed like a demon, a star child, a cat and an alien did not lead them to fear for my mortal soul, nor did they stop me from vibrating the walls on a daily basis with the ever spinning songs of KISS Alive. In 1976, when Destroyer hit – things for this KISS fan went into overdrive – I had to be a member of the KISS ARMY – and I had to see them in concert. I was all of 15 years old – had never
So began what has become a lifelong love affair with the band so – when this opportunity arose to actually review their so called End Of The Road visit – excited doesn’t quite do the feeling justice.
I’ve seen the band a few other times through the years – and I have been able to see Gene and Ace both perform as solo artists but Sunday night was the first time since that winter night 43 years ago that I was going to see the full on stage show that mesmerized me in my youth.
So, let’s get into this. The opening act was not a band or local up and comer -it was an artist. Not just any artist though – street artist David Garibaldi is amazing to watch. Using his hands and splashing paint around in seemingly random patterns – when all is said and done he ends up with an amazing portrait of the band – with the city skyline in the background and the famous script Cleveland prominently featured – far more entertaining to watch unfold then one might think.
After a short break – the lights dim and the now infamous phrase “All right Cleveland! You wanted the best and you got the best – the hottest band in the world – KISS!” starts the night rocking. The curtain drops to expose an elaborate stage set up with the band descending from the ceiling while fire erupts – smoke rolls – fireworks explode and lasers flash. Detroit Rock City pours from the speakers. This starts a nearly 2 hour – 20 song set that spans the bands entire 45 plus year career. The only thing missing was the other half of the team that created the majority of the memories that are filling my mind as I take all of this in. Nothing against Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer – who have more than adequately filled the spots left open by the departure of Peter Criss and Ace Frehley respectively. And they killed it on this Sunday night – rock solid, both of them but – it wasn’t the same – it just wasn’t the same.
Does any of that have any impact on the quality of the show? From a “spectacle ” standpoint – not at all. KISS is still one of the best live acts out there – their production quality is the standard by which all other live shows are judged. But a cool ass stage show can only take you so far – and for a farewell show, if that is what this actually ends up being – as a mega-fan, my only regret would be that the original team that created the magic that transfixed me as a child couldn’t find a way to get their shit together and give the fans what they truly wanted – Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter on stage, one last time.
Which leads me to believe – we may have a few more farewell tours in our future.
Now – getting back to the show on Sunday night – all the elements of KISS legend were in place. We got Gene spitting blood, we got Gene spitting fire – we got the giant confetti blizzard at the end of the show – actually, I think the most confetti I have personally ever seen dropped on a crowd. At one point I actually couldn’t see the stage for the bomb cyclone of paper shreds that was getting blown around, and of course an immense amount of pyro and fog. Was it fun? – absolutely. Was it well done? – oh, hell yeah! Was it worthy of being the last show to celebrate the nearly 50-year career of one of, if not THE most influential metal bands ever? Not so much.
I take a little solace as -I honestly don’t think the band has any plans on retiring anytime soon. If a final tour ever does materialize, Ace and Peter must be a part of it. Eric and Tommy need – and deserve to be involved as well – they have been a huge part of the last 10 plus years but – if it really is the End Of The Road – the fans deserve to relive the true magic that made us an Army – one last time.
If this is the best Gene and Paul can put together to thank a legion of fans that have spent a lifetime buying their albums, shirts, concert tickets, trading cards and any other thing they can slap their logo on – perhaps it is indeed, the End Of The Road.
I realize that all of that may seem a bit harsh but – I had to get it out of my head and I think there are a lot of other long time fans that may share the same opinion and you need to know – you’re not alone.
Let me wrap this all up by revealing – I still loved the hell out of this show – I sang along with every damn song and Black Diamond – I know Rock and Roll All Night gets all the love but – damn, Black Diamond remains this old grumpy KISS fans favorite song and Tommy Thayer screamed out the solo on this classic rocker. There really is a lot to love about this current tour and Paul Stanley remains one of the most energetic frontmen on the stage – he’s pushing 70 and still manages to dance around that stage just
