KISS @ Barclaycard Arena, 28th May 2017
Since their inception in the early 1970s, KISS has fully embraced a flamboyant live show suited; tonight is no different. As the eminent phrase “You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world … KISS” blares out around the arena, there is a rousing cheer from the near sell-out crowd.
The band appear on a raised movable platform surrounded by dry ice smoke, a ludicrous lighting rig and vast screens. The quartet’s rhinestone-clad black lycra outfits reflect light from all angles as they launch into Deuce, from their eponymous debut studio album, and ensure they play up to the cameras. Unlike any other band, KISS has this phenomenal ability to create a party atmosphere with their upbeat songs that are complimented by their stage presence and exuberant antics. The opening riff of Shout It Out Loud continues the buoyant ambiance that is resonating with every member of the audience whether they are at the front or the back of this vast space. With sensitivity, Paul Stanley interrupts the party to lead a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Manchester bomb. Needless to say, a respectful peace descends over the 16,000 people who are gathered tonight in defiance.
A round of applause breaks the silence before KISS continue the revelry by questioning whether we like being licked, considering the positive response from both the male and female audience members Stanley proposes Birmingham is a dirty crowd and then unleashes the 80’s hit Lick It Up including a brief segue into Who Are You? by The Who.
To ensure KISS have the whole audience in the palm of their hands, Stanley leads in a cheerathon, pitting different sides of the crowd against each other and then suggesting that the Brummie audience could be louder than the Londoners. The set proceeds with lavish displays including Gene Simmons fire breathing after Firehouse and Thayer shooting sparks from his guitar during Shock Me.
However, it is Simmons’ classic pre-cursor to God Of Thunder that gets a deafening response as the blood spills from his mouth and his notoriously long tongue contorts for the camera before he “flies” to a platform near the ceiling to continue with the rumbling bass. For Psycho Circus, Paul Stanley takes off over the crowd to a revolving platform just in front of the sound desk that enthuses those who are nearer the back of the standing area especially when he throws out guitar picks. One female audience member proclaimed that she does “love a man in a cropped top whatever his age” which demonstrates how toned Paul Stanley is, clearly the physical nature of these concerts is paying off.
The main part of the set finishes with the classic rock party track, Rock and Roll All Nite as ticker tape galore cascades over the singing and dancing fans. KISS do not leave the stage for long before returning with the awesome disco track I Was Made For Loving You which ends up being the song of the night and quite possibly sees me playing air drums as I am so caught up in the excitement. To continue with the extravagance, Simmons and Stanley climb into cranes that move them over those in the standing area and eye level with many who are in the seated sections neither one missing a note of Detroit Rock City.
Unfortunately, this is the last song of the night but the encore has certainly encouraged the venue to reach fever pitch assisted by pyrotechnics and more ticker tape. Apart from the evening having to end, I was disappointed not to be hit by KISS’s Love Gun as song that could have easily replaced later tracks such as Psycho Circus or Say Yeah but with such a vast back catalogue it is going to be tricky to please everyone.
I have said it before but if you have never seen KISS live you have no idea what you are missing out on. They are truly skilled at creating the ultimate party by drawing every member of the audience into this exuberant and unforgettable experience, and to top it all off, they are the originals.
Review: Toni Woodward
Photographs: Chris Bowley