KISS cranks up the spectacle for record Bluesfest crowd
Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA-Nothing could stop KISS in front of a record-setting crowd of 30,000 at Bluesfest last night. Not the rain, the decibel limit or even the snub to Shannon Tweed, who watched her man, bassist Gene Simmons, perform from a hastily installed VIP section on a raised platform near the sound tent.
Up on the massive stage, the band steamrolled over any obstacle, be it weather-related or bureaucratic, and delivered a concert that lived up to all expectations in terms of lights, volume and special effects. The lights were blinding, the sound was blasting and the effects included pyro, aerial wires and their trademark monster-glam costumes.
But what about the music? Well, you have to hand it to lead singer Paul Stanley for taking over the reins to the legendary ’70s hard-rockers. When he wasn’t shredding his voice at the microphone, he acted as host of the rock extravaganza, and did most of the talking. Word is he’s also the producer responsible for getting the band back to basics on its forthcoming album, the first in a decade, due for release in October.
The back-to-basics approach is exactly what fans want, and last night, it meant making the most of the old hits. The band kicked things off with Deuce, hammering the song with multiple blasts of green pyro, and then moved into Stutter, Hotter Than Hell, Got To Choose, and Nothin’ To Lose, which featured vocals by drummer Eric Singer.
Though Stanley seemed to stretch out the between-song pauses with every cliché in the language of rock concerts, he did it with gusto. “Ottawa is the capital of Canada,” he screamed. “Let’s make sure tonight you are also the rock- and-roll capital of Canada.”
At press time, guitarist Tommy Thayer proved himself worthy of replacing Ace Frehley with his deft soloing in She. Gene Simmons, meanwhile, spent his time pounding his instrument and stalking the stage, flicking his tongue to the cameras.
The wildly diverse assortment of acts that accompanied the main event included Somali-Canadian rapper K’Naan, experimental trip-hop ensemble Beast, roots-rockers The National and the rising Canadian band the Arkells.
On the main stage, the inventive Montrealers in Beast nearly lulled the swelling crowd into a trance with a set that was filled with hypnotic midtempo grooves. Finally, they busted out a singalong anthem packed with guitar riffing. Too bad their sound didn’t travel across the plaza; from the back, instead of live guitar, bass and drums, it sounded like a tinny radio.
Arkells had more success winning over the KISS Army, partly because they were louder but also because of their terrific songs. The band has come a long way since releasing their full-length debut last year. Sure, they’re playing the same songs, but they sounded fresher and more confident.
