KISS and Motley Crue, 'The Tour' - Live Review
On Friday, August 31, I saw The Tour with KISS and Motley Crue. The show was at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati and I went with my husband Eric and friend Joe, who flew in from D.C. for the weekend. We sat/stood on the lawn.
When we got to the venue, Motley was already playing, which surprised me because it was still very early. Turns out the band was on their first song, "Saints of Los Angeles" as we were being scanned in, so it didn't much matter.
I've currently got a messed up back and leg and was in a ton of pain that night, so I sort of hobbled up to a "family area" and was pleased to find a little barrier to lean against. People couldn't bring alcohol into the area, so it was basically empty. I was grateful for that barrier and the direct sight-line to the stage.
The Motley show was pretty typical. Vince Neil sounded better as the show went on. Joe had never seen them before, and I think he enjoyed it. Eric mocked Vince's high notes. Typical. I enjoyed Tommy Lee's drum solo and was jealous of the guy who got to ride along. I was thankful, for once, of not being down front because Motley blasted people with water cannons and that just would've been uncomfortable to be all soaked while waiting for KISS.
The new song, "Sex" just didn't sound very good live. I don't know if it is because the song doesn't translate well or what. I just wasn't impressed. As always "Dr. Feelgood" and "Girls Girls Girls" was a highlight for me. The band ended with "Kickstart My Heart" and poof - they were done. The set felt incredibly short.
After what felt like a longish wait of me getting up and down, trying to stay comfortable, KISS began. Before their curtain dropped, I couldn't help by laugh at all the promos asking people to text a number to receive KISS Army alerts. If Gene Simmons could bottle and sell air, he would!
This was my first KISS show (same for Eric and Joe) and the real reason why we were at the concert. KISS opened with "Detroit Rock City" and I decided I definitely need a pair of those famous platforms. "Shout It Out Loud" and "I Love It Loud" were next. Gene breathed fire, Paul Stanley pranced. During "Love Gun" Paul flew out on a little platform in the middle of the audience and that was cool. My favorite KISS song is "Lick It Up" and they played that next with a bit of an extended end. Then the band left the stage, giving audience the cue to beg for an encore. Since I was limping and had to be helped down steps, we decided to cut our losses early and leave while the band was playing "Calling Dr. Love" and "Rock n' Roll All Nite." It didn't matter that we left our positions as we could hear both songs clear as day while we walked the nine miles out to the car.
Later I learned that was the first time KISS did "Calling Dr. Love" on this tour. Apparently they've been switching up the second-to-last song quite a lot. I was a little surprised at not hearing "Duece" or "Strutter," but like Motley, the KISS set seemed super short. It was over in a flash!