05/12/2010
KISS AT LG ARENA REVIEW
By Steve Johnston
KISS formed in New York City in January 1973. Easily identified by its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the band rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s, on the basis of their elaborate live performances. To date, KISS has sold over 40 million albums and been awarded 24 gold discs in the USA, and their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums.
With a stunning new stage show and a 140 minute set-list that stretched from their 1974 debut album "Kiss" to 2009's "Sonic Boom", the costumed rock superheroes were lowered on to stage on a floating platform amid a hail of pyrotechnics. "The Demon" Gene Simmons, "The Starchild" Paul Stanley, "The Spaceman" Tommy Thayer, and drummer "The Catman" Eric Singer, launched straight into one of their killer new tracks, "Modern Day Delilah" before plunging back to '74 for "Cold Gin".
By Steve Johnston
KISS formed in New York City in January 1973. Easily identified by its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the band rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s, on the basis of their elaborate live performances. To date, KISS has sold over 40 million albums and been awarded 24 gold discs in the USA, and their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums.
With a stunning new stage show and a 140 minute set-list that stretched from their 1974 debut album "Kiss" to 2009's "Sonic Boom", the costumed rock superheroes were lowered on to stage on a floating platform amid a hail of pyrotechnics. "The Demon" Gene Simmons, "The Starchild" Paul Stanley, "The Spaceman" Tommy Thayer, and drummer "The Catman" Eric Singer, launched straight into one of their killer new tracks, "Modern Day Delilah" before plunging back to '74 for "Cold Gin".
At the age of 58, Paul Stanley can rock out with the best that present day rock 'n' roll has to offer. Winning over anybody who was unsure by announcing he would be calling the city "Birming-um" rather than the typical American "Birming-ham". A task he stuck to for the next 2 hours during a heaven sent performance, for old and new KISS fans alike.
The 20 track set included: "Firehouse", "Deuce", "Crazy, Crazy Nights", "Calling Dr Love", "100,000 Years", "Love Gun", "Black Diamond", "Detroit Rock City" and "Lick It Up".
Tommy Thayer's guitar fired rockets during "Shock Me" and "I Love It Loud" saw 60-year-old bassist Gene Simmons hoisted high above the stage to the lighting gantry, tongue waggling and dribbling blood down his chin.
This was as much about the theatrics as the music. Fireworks, explosions, innovative video screens, a barrage of spectacular lights, and at times Eric Singers drum kit hovering in mid-air. This was an exciting spectacle although business as usual for KISS. The ultimate showmen in the ultimate heavy rock pantomime.
The show drew to a close with "I Was Made For Loving You" where Paul Stanley took flight over the crowd to a stage at the rear of the arena, before returning to end with "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You" and "Rock And Roll All Nite".
With their apt motto: "you wanted the best, you got the best", and on the eve of our General Election, it was KISS that got the vote from the LG Arena faithful. A truly fantastic show!
KISS formed in New York City in January 1973. Easily identified by its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the band rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s, on the basis of their elaborate live performances. To date, KISS has sold over 40 million albums and been awarded 24 gold discs in the USA, and their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums.
With a stunning new stage show and a 140 minute set-list that stretched from their 1974 debut album "Kiss" to 2009's "Sonic Boom", the costumed rock superheroes were lowered on to stage on a floating platform amid a hail of pyrotechnics. "The Demon" Gene Simmons, "The Starchild" Paul Stanley, "The Spaceman" Tommy Thayer, and drummer "The Catman" Eric Singer, launched straight into one of their killer new tracks, "Modern Day Delilah" before plunging back to '74 for "Cold Gin".
By Steve Johnston
KISS formed in New York City in January 1973. Easily identified by its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the band rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s, on the basis of their elaborate live performances. To date, KISS has sold over 40 million albums and been awarded 24 gold discs in the USA, and their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums.
With a stunning new stage show and a 140 minute set-list that stretched from their 1974 debut album "Kiss" to 2009's "Sonic Boom", the costumed rock superheroes were lowered on to stage on a floating platform amid a hail of pyrotechnics. "The Demon" Gene Simmons, "The Starchild" Paul Stanley, "The Spaceman" Tommy Thayer, and drummer "The Catman" Eric Singer, launched straight into one of their killer new tracks, "Modern Day Delilah" before plunging back to '74 for "Cold Gin".
At the age of 58, Paul Stanley can rock out with the best that present day rock 'n' roll has to offer. Winning over anybody who was unsure by announcing he would be calling the city "Birming-um" rather than the typical American "Birming-ham". A task he stuck to for the next 2 hours during a heaven sent performance, for old and new KISS fans alike.
The 20 track set included: "Firehouse", "Deuce", "Crazy, Crazy Nights", "Calling Dr Love", "100,000 Years", "Love Gun", "Black Diamond", "Detroit Rock City" and "Lick It Up".
Tommy Thayer's guitar fired rockets during "Shock Me" and "I Love It Loud" saw 60-year-old bassist Gene Simmons hoisted high above the stage to the lighting gantry, tongue waggling and dribbling blood down his chin.
This was as much about the theatrics as the music. Fireworks, explosions, innovative video screens, a barrage of spectacular lights, and at times Eric Singers drum kit hovering in mid-air. This was an exciting spectacle although business as usual for KISS. The ultimate showmen in the ultimate heavy rock pantomime.
The show drew to a close with "I Was Made For Loving You" where Paul Stanley took flight over the crowd to a stage at the rear of the arena, before returning to end with "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You" and "Rock And Roll All Nite".
With their apt motto: "you wanted the best, you got the best", and on the eve of our General Election, it was KISS that got the vote from the LG Arena faithful. A truly fantastic show!
