Not wanting to get my hopes up for the KISS Alive 35 concert in Seattle after seeing them 22 times before this show, I went in with no expectations. Well, maybe a little, and a lot of hope.
Thus far my favorite KISS concerts have been the Alive (74), Love Gun (77), Alive II (77-78), and lets throw in Dynasty (79) for good measure. The one thing that I have noticed over the years of going to a KISS concert is the family atmosphere and circus entertainment value that it started carrying, and so did the band. In some ways it was good, but in many ways it was detrimental to the band and its live performance.
Unlike the Alive and Love Gun tour’s where you had hard-core fans acting out their fantasy’s and emotions (maybe they were just high on something) the concert goers of the 90’s and 2000 era have almost become either too mellow or too violent at shows.
With the recent release of Sonic Boom (2009), KISS set out on a world tour in support of that CD by celebrating its 35th anniversary since the Alive tour. Knowing in advance that much of the material they were going to perform would come from the first live album which KISS put out in September of 1975, I was excited to say the least. Not over confident of what I was hoping for, but nonetheless excited for the possibility of a good show.
The supporting act, Buckcherry did a fine job of warming up the crowd, and they have always been a favorite of mine since they first hit the music scene.
With the crowd growing in numbers, the electricity intensified in the venue. Fans dawning makeup of their favorite character (KISS member) and living-out their 15 minutes of fame walked the floor waving to the crowd and acting out their fantasy of being a member of the band. I don’t know if there is a KISS Army anymore, but there was a legion of fans that night, that were thousands strong.
In typical fashion KISS took the stage withtheir standard opening line that goes something like this. “You wanted the best, and you got the best, the hottest band in the land, KISS!” Then came the big boom, and flash of lights and pyro-technics as the giant black curtain dropped, KISS started their 2-plus hour set with Deuce, followed by Strutter. Which, were the only two songs we “Professional Photographers” were allowed to shoot. Sometimes I have to laugh at myself for saying “Professional.”
Anyhow, I was suddenly thrust back into my youth recalling these great classic songs of KISS. The only thing missing was maybe some alcohol and marijuana (not for me of course). Come to think of it, the place really didn’t smell of it either, which was somewhat surprising to me.
After shooting from the pit area for those two songs, I moved to the upper side of the stage and then walked around taking in the memories of days-gone-by, and trying to relive what I have been missing at a concert-fun!
KISS delivered, and they did it in a big way. Much to my amazement there were so many people dressed in full makeup and honoring one of the biggest and influential bands of the past 30 + years.
This was they way I remembered my early concert going experiences. Loud, high energy, girls in short minis (even in the rain and cold) and friends getting carried away acting stupid and being loud before and after the show. Mind you, this was done safely without or very little violence or the slamming of bodies that many fans of other performers today tend to engage in.
It had been a very long time since I sat through an entire concert, and this will be added to my list of one of the more memorable experiences. It’s too bad though that it wasn’t a sell out, and for those who didn’t make it to this show, I don’t know if KISS will ever be able to top this or any of their other “better” shows.
With the two founding members, Gene Simmons, and Paul Stanley nearing retirement age they may find themselves taking an extra long break from live performances after this tour and find other ways to keep themselve entertained and busy.
In closing, I have only one this to say, and that’s; Rock and Roll All Nite, and Party Everyday!
