By Heath McCoyKiss performed a sold out show Thursday at Pengrowth Saddledome
CALGARY - The "Demon" tongue of 60-year-old Gene Simmons still flickers and coils like an obscene pink snake. He still blows fire too, like a carnival attraction.
Bare-chested "Starchild" Paul Stanley, who's way too ripped to be 57, still struts like a rock star and his overblown blues rock howl still throws a kick, as it did on the appropriately titled rock anthem Strutter.
Hardcore Kiss fans, male and female, young and old, still masquerade as their idols. The bomb blasts, fireworks and bright lights, all the big budget popcorn-movie frills that hard rock legends Kiss are worshiped for, were on proud display Thursday at the Saddledome.
Oh, and the "Spaceman" Tommy Thayer on lead guitar? He fired up one garage-dirty, arena ready riff after another, from Cold Gin to Parasite to the point where he used his six string as a canon. Literally.
As for the opening cut Deuce? The "Catman" Eric Singer hammers the drums with acrobatic flair on that one. Ditto for Hotter Than Hell and 100,000 Years.
Thursday night's 'Dome gig felt very much like a classic Kiss concert, which is a beautiful thing. Painted faces and comic book personas really have given Kiss an edge over other classic rock bands when it comes to carrying the torch 35 years and running.
Given the iconic stature of those four grease-painted faces in pop culture, it really is possible to dress up different musicians as classic Kiss and still have it feel like classic Kiss. Much like various actors have pulled off Batman over the years, so too is it possible to recapture the mystique of a classic Kiss concert.
The over-the-top show is not the only key to Kiss's lasting appeal, despite what their detractors say. The band really has crafted a considerable catalogue of awesome, mindlessly fun rock songs over the years and Thursday's gig offered much proof of that.
As blasts of confetti showered the 'Dome during Rock and Roll All Night, just before the encore - it had to said that the show was a blast.
