- We think we see Kiss
The last big action blockbuster of the summer, and possibly the most explosion-filled, came to town last night in the form of Kiss’ at Blossom Music Center.
At the start of the decade, it seemed the energy from the band’s 1996 return to facepainting had run its course, with surprisingly lackluster performances only half-filling venues across the country. But for whatever reason, the band once again is in full possession of its distinct mojo onstage and staking claim as the true kings of the arena-rock spectacle.
Perhaps the newer guys in the band — Cleveland native Eric Singer on drums and Tommy Thayer on lead guitar — have given mainstays Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons a shot in the arm by so faithfully recapturing the spirit of the band’s ’70s heyday, even on newer material.
Kiss played three songs from their latest album Sonic Boom, and they all held up admirably next to warhorses like “Detroit Rock City” and “Duece.”
Stanley in particular seemed to be having a fantastic time, dropping Led Zeppelin and Who riffs in the middle of the band’s own surprisingly muscular songs, demonstrating an uncanny ability to deliver guitar picks to any corner of the venue, and generally never letting the crowd’s attention wander back to the fact we all had to get up early for work the next morning. —Matthew Wilkening
Did you go to the show? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments.
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This article appears in Sep 8-14, 2010.
Fantastic show. My husband and I took our seven and four year old. My seven year old rocked the house right along with them until the very last song. My husband, who’s seen them four times, said this was the best show by far. I loved that they sang Beth, too. BTW. Being an ACE fan from WAYYYYYYY back, I wasn’t sure about Tommy Thayer…but, my gosh, I’m sold. AMAZING. I’m now a Tommy Thayer Groupie. And local boy Eric Singer was phenomenal!! Loved it. It couldn’t have been better.
Wow, Wow, Wow! Growing up in my teens in the 80’s was great… I never made it to a kiss concert… Over the last 20 yrs I mostly listened to country.. I have seen a ton of country concerts an most of all the big name over the years… My wife had been to rock concerts in her teens an seen KISS twice.. I took her to a country concert a couple years back.. She said this is so boring… So with the show Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E and my 6-yr old daughter wanting to see Gene sing live… My wife bought lawn seats… Wow! I am still blown away and the little one went off to school singing “Beth”… What a show! Rock On!
Thanks Kiss…
Pottsy of bbpfab.com
Having seen KISS a multitude of times (every tour since Dynasty in 1979), I’ve got to say that I wasn’t overly impressed with the Blossom Music Center show last night. Paul’s normally powerful voice was painful to listen to. He was really struggling to hit the high notes, and his voice overall was just not up to par. During the beginning of “Black Diamond” when Paul attempted to do a bit of “Whole Lotta Love”, I cringed as sour note after sour note came out of the P.A. Even when he spoke between songs, his voice was cracking. On a positive note, Gene sounded great, and his “bass solo/blood spitting” was as good as I’ve seen. As much as I love Ace and Peter, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer played their roles just fine. However, I don’t think that Tommy singing “Shock Me”or Eric performing “Beth” was necessary, and “Crazy Crazy Nights” could have been left back in 1987. With such a huge catalog of great songs, I thought the set list could have been much better.
First saw KISS in 1978. And many times since. Caught them twice on the last tour at COBO in detroit and my hometown of pittsburgh(don’t boo). But i HAD to catch them in cleveland. I LOVE ERIC SINGER!!! meet him at the kiss expo a few years ago. Eric is the greatest drummer of all time. from black sabbath to alice!! he is the main energy in this band. Cleveland should be PROUD!!!! the rest of band feed and live off his input. and with the addition of tommy thayer they are stronger than ever. in the early years it seem like gene and paul were always having to carry the band. Eric Carr and Bruce were fantastic!! but what kiss without the war paint!! God did give rock and roll to us! he gave us KISS!!!
OMG!!!!This concert was insane.My whole family realllyyyy enjoyed the preformance(Mom,Dad,two sisters and my little brother 11yrs.old)That band really knows how to put on a show.I’m 20 yrs. old and I did not realize how epic these guys are.In my opinion Kiss blows every band from my generation out of the water!!!Kiss could most def. show bands now a days a thing or two!!!!!I wish I was around when they first hit the music scene.You can bet I would have been a kiss babe in the 70’s.I’m sad that I’ve only seen Kiss once:((I hope they never stop touring I want to see them again and again:))))Kiss music is soo real and soo rock and roll I can’t get enough of their music. This band is the definition of fine classic rock.And for God sakes they are still making epic songs.I LOVE KISS!!!!!That concert was the best time of my life a dream come true!!!!!oh yea and I am in love with Paul Stanly.His voice is amazing!!!I would have his babies :)))
This was a great show by the bad boys of Hyper-Rock! The weather had broke earlier in the day and I was in Cleveland eating at a restaurant in Coventry. I took a friend of mine who had never been to the big show before! As we drove out to Blossom I wasn’t sure what to expect myself? As show time approach everyone was getting pumped and my buddy Dave was really starting to get hyped-up! Well, as the the show started the people both in the pavilion and on the hill were getting all wound up..and as the announcer belted out KISSSSS!! In they came over the stage on a hydraulic lift..if you had know idea? The effect was, as it was for us…all hell breaking loose!! The crowd was electrified and this show was definitely on!!! My first concert was the Blizzard at Richfield in 1978 and although there have been a few bland kiss concerts through the years, these guys were hear to play this night and play they did! My buddy Dave was screaming “This was the best show he ever saw,” and he couldn’t get enough! I looked around and everyone young and some old were having a great time! The only two parts of the show that are getting old is Gene’s solo’s..he’s a little to much into the self thing and stops to long for the adulation from crowd it takes away from the show(substitute God of Thunder for Love it Loud)The other is Paul’s hard screams through the show it generally ruins his voice and isn’t needed…work the crowd, stick to the show and deliver the music! Outside of this, it was a really good show..these guys have so much material to choose from it should be a three hour show?You always have a great time at a KISS concert and as this one wound down the encores set everyone off to the point nobody wanted to leave Blossom! It was a great night…a perfect night for a KISS concert outdoors and everyone had a great time in the falls!!!
I’ve been a fan from the first time I saw them on T.V. on the “Paul Lynd Halloween Special” back in 1976 (I was 11 yrs old) . My wife in I drove down from Toronto to see the show. We missed the chance to see them locally a couple of weeks ago. However this turned out to be an amazing “road trip”! Spent a couple of days in Cleveland at the Westin hotel downtown. Went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the morning of he show, had a late lunch on the patio at the “House of Blues” by the “Arcade”, then headed to the Blossom Music Centre for the show. And what a Show it was!!!
The other “comments” from fans posted above sum up the show perfectly.
All I Really want to share with you is the fact that “CLEVELAND ROCKS”!!!
My wife and I had an amazing time. We LOVE your city and all the good people of Cleveland. Your city has a TRUE musically vibe that flows from every corner of every street to every person we met. Cleveland should not only be proud as the “home” of the Rock Hall of Fame, But the Rock & Roll museum should be proud that Cleveland is their host.
Thank you, Cleveland
Thank You, KISS