I Can't Wait To See KISS Later This Month!

At the end of this month, I'll finally see KISS live for the first time ever. I don't know why I've never made it to a KISS show... except maybe super high ticket prices or something. I'll be going to the KISS/Motley Crue show at Riverbend in Cincinnati on August 31 with my husband and a friend who is flying in from D.C. I'm pretty pumped!

The other day, KISSONLINE published some exclusive video clips of the band live on The Tour. I'm surprised at just how great KISS looks and sounds. I'm hoping to upgrade my tickets day of show -- we'll see what happens I guess.

Comments

[glamrockerarchie]

ive seen kiss at least a dozen times over the years from the original line up to eric carr and vinnie, mark st john and bruce kulick and eric singer a couple diff times and the line up now, they have never disappointed and almost always have great opening bands, ticket prices havent been too bad much cheaper before but still nowhere near what bon jovi charges, anybody who hasnt seen them will be in for a great show they sound great and visually awesome and with crue they are good live too should be a great show i have my tickets for the show around here.

[brickman48]

I saw KISS last year and they put on a great show. I would think twice about seeing the Crüe/KISS show this tour because both bands are only playing 13 songs, including solos. Last tour was around 23 songs.

[Kenny Ozz]

Make sure you get there early to see the opener. 'The Treatment'. Good stuff.

[Metalboy!]

Get the VIP Meet & Greet Package if you can. I'm not gonna give it away but one of my Metal Brothers just saw 'em in Tampa and from what he told me they experienced, it was worth every penny he paid!

[Metalboy!]

BTW, I saw 'em point blank, 4th Row at Madison Square Garden 2 nights in a row on their first reunion tour and, Allyson, all I can tell you is you will be STUNNED!

The only thing is, finally seein' 'em made me feel like I should kick myself for every time I missed 'em back in the day when, as everyone has probably guessed by now, I could have easily seen 'em every tine they came to town (I used to live 20 minutes from Capital Centre in D.C. (since detonated) where they used to do Multi-night sold out stints regularly from '75 until they blew the place up (the powers that be, not KISS, hahaha!!!).

[Metalboy!]

Here I go again -- AND, I hate sayin' it, believe me -- Even though Ace wrote a lotta the stuff, Thayer's the better player -- I mean, just listen to those leads!

The guy is a total MONSTER and I ain't talkin' 'bout just the way he's dressed, which is kinda unfortunate. Actually, if ya think about it as the coulda easily come up with just as cool a "persona" as Ace's for him.

[Geo2]

Walked out on KISS. visually, fantastic, but they sounded awful. They played My 3 favorite songs in the first 4 of their set. I still walked out. The other 3 people in my group put up NO fight at all.

[Him]

I hope the concert is everything you hope for Allyson!

I like Kiss. Don't love them. And I happen to find the whole range of their catalog interesting in spots (still think "Charisma" is a hilariously great song . . . like a better version of "Domino").

I just don't happen to be a fan in the "I want to see them before I die" sense, especially without it being a reunion show or one that featured Kulick (underrated in my book). Call me crazy.

I think the formula they have--it works, granted--is part of the problem for me. It seems too scripted. I think I would just as soon watch them on AXS than pay the price to watch them live.

And I also question how they treat their fans and their supporters. You can take or leave Trunk, but the guy has raised (and raised, and raised) some great points about their approach to criticism even while promoting them:

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2895&Itemid=42

While the last album (and likely Monster) is more a return to form, with a more focused approach, it isn't as if they are bringing us something that we have never heard before . . . from them, or from countless other bands, or that they have improved upon the formula that got people hooked on them in the first place. A return to form, for them it seems, means having less filler. I know, I know. The show. The theatrics. But how much have them improved upon that aspect as well? At this point they rank alongside bands like AC/DC (or even Steve Miller). They are a greatest hits machine live. But I would pay to see AC/DC (and have) before I would pay to see Kiss. Why? The songs are better even if they are just as formulaic.

I suppose that is the great thing about fans. We all are, even if we aren't all fans of the same bands in equal measure.

Like I said, I hope the show goes great Allyson.

[Rita]

I've seen them about 15 times as well and, although KISS was my life for many, many years, I think it's just lost the magic for me. Saw them 4 times in 96/97 and I think that was the best ever, since I never got to see the original guys until then.

That said, I am going to see this show with Crüe and am curious to see how I will feel about it. I have never fully accepted this version cuz I agree with Metalboy that Ace and Peter's personas should have been retired.

But I do think you have to see them at least once, so enjoy Allyson!

[Rock-It]

I saw the opening night of this tour...

I must say that I've never really been a "fan" of KISS, or at least not in the sense that many are. I've always liked a lot of their song even though they aren't great. I've just always liked the energy or their song. I would never pay to see them no matter how cool their live show is. I just don't like the way they pimp themselves out... therefor I'll not contribute to them.

Anyway.. back to the show on opening night:

I'm not sure how much having front row seats had to do with it.. but I totally enjoyed the show. At times Crue seemed like they would rather be somewhere else... Vince did actually sing (or attempt to sing) most of the words this time around. I'm wondering if that has kept up as the tour goes along. Of course Crue played everything that you would expect them to play. Included in the set was Tommy's "roller coaster" drum kit and plenty of mostly nude chicks. To be honest, Crue was better than I had seen them in the last 15 years this go around.


As for KISS... Just a fun time. Again... as I'm not a huge fan, my great seats may have influenced my perception of the show. Of course there is the standard constant pyro and the fake blood. Both Paul and Gene sounded surprisingly good. I have no problem with Tommy and Eric wearing the "Ace" and "Peter" make-up... both are great musicians and that is what matters to me. The set list was pretty predictable... KISS did leave out a few really popular songs this go around. I'm not sure what people paid for the seats around me but everyone was having a great time.. just one big party. I guess walking away with a Eric Singer drum stick and 5 guitar pick made it seem pretty cool also. Actually I only walked away with 3 picks as I gave a Gene and Paul pick to a young kid in a wheel chair who was seated next to me in the isle at the front of the stage.

Anyway... Enjoy the show. If nothing else it will be one big party.

I also way lucky enough to go to the invite only "dress rehearsal" the night prior to the official opening night. It was obvious why they did this rehearsal as there were a few kinks to be worked out. It seemed like everything was straightened out before the next night's show.

[Ace Steele]

I'm probably going to take the record here, being one of the ahem, "Elder" members of BBG. I've seen KISS every tour since 1975's "Dressed To Kill" tour. I've spent about 60 nights of my life at KISS concerts! I was lucky enough to become aware of them early on in their career, thanks to Circus & Circus Raves (remember those magazines?) At this point, I still see every tour, just to "keep the streak going". I've had every vantage point possible, from multiple times in the front row, (and it's fun to see the 17 year old me in "KISS Meets The Phantom") to sitting in the very back of an arena. No matter where I sat or stood, KISS has always delivered, always putting out 110%! There's not a harder working live act out there. (KIX comes a close 2nd.)

If you've never seen it, it's a spectacle that has to be witnessed. While they are in no way as active & rambunctious onstage as they were in the early 70's, I don't expect them to be. But for a bunch of guys in their 60's, they still put on a hell of a show & can still show the younger bands how to do it right.

[Metalboy!]

WOW! Rock-It! Killer ya got to see the opener! AND the dress rehearsal. AND Neil singin' most of the words (that was my experience when I saw Crue last Summer at Outlaw Jam). And I'm glad to hear Paul and Gene sounded good as many of us have heard mixed reports on Paul's voice.

I can tell ya now, I'm gonna be kickin' myself for missin' this go 'round. And like I said, a Metal Bro of mine just saw 'em in Tampa on the VIP package, first row and was also treated to an exclusive feature as part of the Meet & Greet not even the press was privy to.

He even offered me his other ticket but I didn't have the extra $1,250. But now I feel like I shoulda begged borrowed and stolen the bux for it cuz of the extra special attention he wound up getting along with the other 20 people who went for the VIP Treatment. But my Metal Bud (also a card carrying member of Kiss Army since '77) had know idea what was gonna happen so I just thought it was gonna be the typical Meet & Greet mill I've always heard about. Au contraire, my Fellow Glamsterz, cuz I seen the pictures! From the way Rock-It describes his experience, he may not have seen it or heard about it either.

But that's a whole other deal, anyway.

So, Al! Enjoy the show. I think you'll be floored by it. For me, it was a Life Changing Spectacle of the Highest Order! Contrary to what others have said about it and some of their reasons for not attending that have nothing to do with the music or the show -- I already read Chump's recent Rant on Metal Sludge (talk about another jack*ss -- Stevie Rachelle, tho I DO like your band, dude -- TUFF) AND listened to all of Chumpy's amatuerish Bullsh*t on That Metal Show.

You see there's one thing KISS knows better than anybody that all their detractors, especially Chump, will never be able to fully understand:

ROCK AND ROLL!

Note to Rock-It: Cool ya gave that kid one of the picks you scored. It's moments like that that make life special -- for BOTH parties!

p.s. Whoa! Rita! You saw KISS 15 times! I asked it before and I'll say it again... Are you married?! In the words of the immortal KISS, "You wanted The Best, you got The Best!"

[Metalboy!]

Ace! Ya musta been postin' same time as I posted he last one. Are you in L.A.? Please tell us you are living out KISS's biggest song, "Rock and Roll All Nite" because I figure, if you ARE indeed in L.A. than ya musta clicked "Create Post" around 6:45 A.M. PST, hahaha!!! Real Rockers never die (or get up early these days).

[Velonese]

I saw KISS on the reunion tour, now that was a fun show. The opening band was awful though, I believe "Outhouse" was there name.
KISS came to our state fair last year but after seeing all the videos of how shredded Paul's voice was I just couldn't go. I would look on YouTube for some video to see how Paul sounds now. Obviously KISSONLINE will only put up the best.
It is too bad they can't give Tommy & Eric there own characters. I think it would give more credibility to this line up. I still think Eddie Trunk is douche though.

[Metalboy!]

Velonese! Hear! Hear! on all points!

[Gary]

1st concert I ever went to was in 1976 in the (now leveled) Philly Civic Center. Kiss destroyed! My 13 year old eyes and ears were hooked from that point on. That began a streak of countless Kiss shows.(actually about 8?) They've never dissapointed me once in concert,Never once did they "mail it in". Ally, you should have a blast! Say what you want about $immon$ and $tanley (and I've bitched plenty over the years) but they ALWAYS seem to give it their all live.

P.S. Yeah Ace, I remember Circus! ( I subscribed for about 5 years.) Also used to always buy Hit Parader and Creem, if any of you other "elders" remember those mags.....LOL

[Rock-It]

Metalboy... I may be going to the KISS show later on this summer in Scranton, PA... If I do I'm sure I'll have tix in the first few rows. Not sure 100% if I'm going or not (and it may be a last minute thing)but If you are interested I may be able to hook you up.

For the shows in Virginia I actually had a all access backstage pass so I could take as many people as I wanted in. I could only get 4 front row but the others watched from the lawn.

Shoot me an email address at dtoxinproductio@aol.com

[Rock-It]

Opppppssss... That ids.. dtoxinproduction@aol.com

don't forget the "n" like I did.

[Metalboy!]

To "The Elders" -- Yeah, LOVED all those mags! Still got some. I've got an issue of Relix with a huge cover piece on Cheap Trick. It's like 10 pages! Used to love goin' through Creem or one of the others lookin' at all the pics of our heroes partyin' backstage or at some Record Release Party in L.A. or New York.

Where else could your eyes bug out at pix of Gene Simmons (in full regalia) and Joan Jett (while still in the original line-up of The Runaways) in '76 hangin' out drinkin' beers (Joan was only 16 and back then nobody cared) at a KISS Record Party or sumthin'.

Note to Rock-It: Appreciate the invite, Brother! I'll drop you a line!

[Barry]

Its funny, I recall the liner booklet of my Alive II record, which I still have. It says something to the ffect "you either love KISS or hate KISS, there is no in between". I browsed some of the comments but stopped because it doesn't matter, I'n going in a couple of week to say I saw one the most entertaining groups ever, regardless if they are in their 50's and 60's. I've seen youtube clips where Paul hasn't sounded his strongest but fucking A, the guy has been doing it for 40 years! He still puts on a great show as does the whole band. Plus, who sounds the same after 40 years? It will be a spectacle for sure regardless plus I kinda know Vince sings himself these days. Its going to be a show.