By Stephanie McKayFor fans, Tuesday night's KISS concert at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon was all about the music.
KISS has the market cornered on big, glam rock 'n' roll excess and the sold-out Saskatoon crowd licked up every minute.
KISS is a band that knows how to deliver what fans want - and expect - after 35 years. The concert included Stanley's requisite singing banter with the crowd and exposed chest and, of course, Gene Simmons' famous tongue acrobatics, fire breathing and blood-spitting. The makeup, platform shoes and synchronized guitar playing were all necessary elements, too.
The show opened with 1974 classics Deuce and Strutter. In fact the bulk of the night's songs came from KISS's first self-titled album.
Founding members Simmons and Stanley were joined by newer members Tommy Thayer (in Spaceman makeup) and Eric Singer (assuming the Catman face).
The concert stuck mostly to material from the 1970s KISS heyday, but Modern Day Delilah and Say Yeah from Sonic Boom also made it into the mix. KISS also performed Hotter Than Hell, Calling Dr. Love and I Love It Loud.
The concert - on a giant, Transformer-like stage - was full of lots of sensory touches like multi-coloured flames, confetti canons, on-stage fireworks and exploding guitars.
KISS shows are probably the only rock concert that also comes with a face painting booth. Plenty of fans donned the face paint of their favourite KISS member but demon-faced Simmons was probably the most popular look. In addition to fans, the crowd also featured Saskatoon native and Simmons' lady friend Shannon Tweed, who sat behind the sound board and danced along through much of the show.
KISS finished off the pre-encore performance with a confetti-spewing rendition of Rock and Roll All Nite then returned for what Stanley called "the longest encore you've ever heard." The lineup of Shout It Out Loud, Lick It Up, Love Gun and Detroit Rock City was the most memorable - and fireworks-filled - part of the night.
It's hard to believe Simmons is 60 and Stanley is 57, especially during moments that had each member flying through the arena on wires. At that age it wouldn't be surprising if they were startled by their own pyrotechnics. But there must be something in that makeup that is age defying.
