There is absolutely NOTHING that can compare to seeing a KISS show. KISS, who is currently out on their “Hottest Show On Earth” tour pulled into Atlanta and brought with them a killer set list, youthful energy and enough pyrotechnics to blow up a small 3rd world country. What else is new? Just another day for KISS.
KISS has managed to take the caliber of performance that they are known for and match it song for song with each passing year. It’s almost as if the addition of Tommy Thayer on guitar and Eric Singer on drums has injected them with some youthful energy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Ace Frehley fan and Peter Criss I can live without but these guys are doing something right. The performance had it’s warts here in there but what I love about KISS is that they just roll with everything not really giving a damn about anything but just having a great time and making sure all in attendance are doing the same.
Usually the show opener is reserved for a “classic” song so the fact that KISS chose “Modern Day Delilah” as their opener has pretty much solidified it as a new classic in the KISS Katalog. It really is a great song and was a great way to start the show and right off the bat I was floored with just how awesome they were sounding. While I always did and always will love KISS, part of me is just always on the edge of my seat. Will this be the year that they don’t pull it off? Well, this year wasn’t that year. They were killing it and sounding better than ever.
The set list was chock full of surprises like a whopping three new songs from “Sonic Boom” (Modern Day Delilah, Say Yeah & I’m An Animal) and a very rarely played “Crazy Crazy Nights” which I totally loved. That song in a live setting really got me smiling and singing along. That chorus is so damn infectious you can’t help but love that song. The ever present classics such as “Firehouse”, “Calling Dr. Love”, “Love Gun” and “Cold Gin” were all represented yet still managed to sound fresh and fun. One would think that you would get tired of hearing these classic KISS songs tour after tour but they’re like Chocolate Ice Cream. How many times have you had Chocolate Ice Cream in your life? Are you sick of it and never want to have it again? I didn’t think so.
The overall spectacle of the performance was, as always, mind blowing. It’s amazing just how many times Gene Simmons can spit blood (red dyed corn syrup) under a green flood light and still have it be as fun and exciting as it was the first time I ever saw it. Gene Simmons really portrays the role of “The Demon” in this part of the show and it’s really obvious that much like Alice Cooper, Gene channels his character and you can’t help but just be in awe. Gene flies to the top of the lighting rig to a roar from the crowd and gives us one of the best versions of “I Love It Loud” that I’ve ever heard. I remember that for a while it seemed that Gene Simmons was pretty much phoning it in but these days, not only is he connected with his character and the audience but he has really stepped it up to be a powerhouse singer and musician.
Paul Stanley was in top form and I swear that guy has to be 20 years old. I have never seen a guy his age besides Bruce Dickinson have that much energy and presence on a stage. Flying across the audience to a revolving platform at the back of the amphitheater, Paul brought out the KISSCO with “I Was Made For Loving You” as the place went absolutely nuts. Again, how many times has he done this? I can’t even count yet as he did it, I was jumping and cheering with my buddy like it was the first time I’d ever seen it. The solo spots were the same deal as Tommy Thayer shot out rockets from his guitar and Eric Singer’s drum riser was lifted to the ceiling like a spaceship to a thunderous roar from people who had seen this probably a million times. KISS has a way of making these things always exciting. At a KISS show, it’s always like you are seeing them for the first time and that says a lot about a band that’s been around for 30+ years.
Paul is the ultimate frontman and yet within his arrogance and confidence, he is humble and appreciative. When you’re that fucking awesome and you can back it up, you deserve to be arrogant and confident. Paul connects with the audience and makes you feel like he’s been your best friend for years. I truly believe that he’s sincere in this action because he never forgot being that broke kid from NYC with huge dreams. Before launching in “100,000 Years”, he reminisced about performing this back in the early days at Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom on Peachtree Street. That statement alone showed that connection and the fact that Paul is humble and appreciates the long time fans who were actually there in the beginning and are still along for the ride.
The band closed out with “Detroit Rock City” and returned to the stage after less than 3 minutes. Paul addressed the crowd and said, “You know how some bands disappear to the side of the stage, wait over there for you to cheer and then come out and do another song and then leave? We’re not going to do that. People, you are going to get the longest encore of your lives!” KISS then delivered an impressive acoustic version of the less than impressive song “Beth.” You just gotta love a band that can take a song you don’t like and make you actually enjoy it. Closing out the night with a literal bang was the long time classic “Rock N’ Roll All Nite” and that was that.
I looked at my buddy as we were walking out and we were smiling ear to ear and already raving about our favorite parts of the show like we were 14 year olds. If you walk out of a KISS show and you’re not smiling, you need some serious fucking therapy. A KISS show is a show that is like no other. It is the most fun you can have for the money and you get the sense of a band band performing for you as opposed to performing “to” you. They are giving you everything they have to assure that you walk out of there knowing that you saw the greatest show you will ever see. Every KISS show I’ve seen is better than the one before and this proved to me that KISS is showing no signs of slowing down. I’m already looking forward to my next KISS show and the one after that and the one after that and… well, you get the picture!
KISS “The Hottest Show On Earth” Tour
Modern Day Delilah
Cold Gin
Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Firehouse
Say Yeah
Deuce
Crazy Crazy Nights
Calling Dr. Love
Shock Me
I’m An Animal
100,000 Years
I Love It Loud
Love Gun
Black Diamond
Detroit Rock City
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Beth
Lick It Up
Shout It Out Loud
I Was Made For Lovin’ You
God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You II
Rock And Roll All Nite
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