KLOWN – Alive II
Release Date: 2009
Highlights: Deuce, Mr. Speed, Let Me Go Rock & Roll, Got To Choose
We wanted the best but the best couldn’t make it so we got Klown. Klown is a KISS tribute band out of Charlotte, NC that has taken the tribute thing to a whole other creepy level. KISS Tribute bands are about a dime a dozen. They are all over the place and competing to do the best “KISS” they can do. Klown on the other hand dresses like “clowns” and even have their own personalities to match. Pyro on bass (Gene Simmons), Astro on guitar (Ace Frehley), Crissco on drums (Peter Criss) and Maestro on guitar/vocals (Paul Stanley) have gone out and released their latest album “Alive 2”. Why the hell would a tribute band put out an album? Well, for starters, this one is a fucking hoot to listen to.
Much like the original KISS’ “Alive I & II” albums, from front to back the album is full of “canned” audience noise. Klown has it down! From the cheesy stage banter to the groovless drumming, KLOWN is as close to the real deal as any tribute band I’ve ever heard. The other great thing about KLOWN is that they obviously don’t take themselves seriously. This makes the experience all the more entertaining. The album is actually quite good and very raw sounding. “Deuce” is full of energy and a blast to hear but it’s the performance of the obscure “Mr. Speed” that really turned my head. These guys are obviously fans that are just trying to put their own spin on paying tribute the our heroes! “Let Me Go Rock & Roll” is a real face melter on this one but it’s on “Got To Choose” where they really kick it for me. This track features Dangerous Toys/Broken Teeth frontman Jason McMaster on vocals and just sounds like a fucking blast. Makes me wish I actually could’ve been there to see this go down.
Now I couldn’t review this album without talking about the packaging. It’s absolutely out of this world. KLOWN Alive II has been packaged much like the KISS version. The CD looks like an old Casablanca vinyl record and inside the case are goodies like a KLOWN tattoo, trading card, guitar pick and even and KLOWN ARMY sticker. Talk about absolutely brilliant packaging. This album is about as fun as it sounds. It’s a tribute to a great band but yet it’s so much more. It not only captures the energy and greatness of KISS but it also captures the sense of humor of 4 KISS fans from Charlotte who get the joke themselves. Hopefully you’ll get the joke as well as it’s one worth getting and sharing with all!
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