You’re Never Too Old to Love the Band Kiss

Last night I was fortunate enough to have a ticket to 'The Tour' with the bad boys of Hard Rock, Motley Crue and the legendary band Kiss. I'd say this was easily my 15th time seeing the band and once again, the men in make-up and large boots did not disappoint.

Rock and roll critics and non-Kiss fans alike have always shunned the band for being a visual sight with no great musical depth to back it up the impressive "look." Anyone who was there last night would strongly disagree. Say what you want about Kiss' marketing practices but when it comes to putting on a live show, their aren't many that can live up to the standards that Kiss has set forth over their 40 year career.

Kiss rocked the crowd into a frenzy from the moment the video board showed the band being lead to the stage by their manager Doc McGhee and beginning with the hit 'Detroit Rock City,' all the way up until the final notes of their closing anthem "Rock & Roll All Nite."  The performance of course was accompanied by plenty of visual stimulants including your normal pyrotechnics and explosives that comes hand in hand with any Kiss concert.

There were also amazing solo performances as well. Tommy Thayer's guitar solo during 'Shock Me,' was outstanding, including watching the fireworks fly out of the top of his guitar near the end of the jam with he and drummer Eric Singer. Singer, not to be outdone, stood up from behind the high drum riser and set off a bazooka of fireworks, as an answer to Thayer's explosives. Singer continued on later in the show with a great vocal performance of the vintage hit 'Black Diamond.' Then of course, no Kiss show would be complete without Gene Simmons turning up the heat by breathing fire and then later on watching the Demon spew blood before flying high onto the rafters to perform 'God of Thunder.'

As far as solo performances go, my personal favorite was right up and close and personal as singer Paul Stanley treated the fans by getting on a pulley and and performing 'Love Gun in the center/back section of the PNC Bank Arts Center. Here is footage from that performance, right up close:

Here is the full set list from last night's show:

Detroit Rock City

Shout It Out Loud

I Love It Loud

Firehouse

Hell or Hallelujah

War Machine

Shock Me

God of Thunder

Love Gun

Lick It Up

Black Diamond

Encore:

Hotter Than Hell (1st time performed on this tour)

Rock and Roll All Nite

The crowd was filled with generations of Kiss fans from the young to the old, friends and families, all there to celebrate being part of the Kiss Army. One of the coolest things last night was walking though the crowd and seeing young kids, all dressed up in the makeup of their favorite Kiss artist. Seeing those kids last night made the group I was with, remember how young we were when we first started loving he band. It just goes to show that whether you are young or just young at heart, you are NEVER too old to enjoy the band Kiss.