Sealed With A Big, Brash KISS

By Joey Guerra

KISS revels in rock ridiculousness. Everything -- the pyro, the drum solos, the platform boots -- is big. (No, BIG.)

But not just BIG. It's all brash and rocket-fueled and obvious. The group's Saturday night show at Toyota Center, part of its Alive 35 Tour, blasted into the heavens on leather wings and a rock 'n' roll prayer. The KISS Army was there, an impressive mix of young, old and very young in full makeup.

Gene Simmons lords over the crowd like some sort of simian spandex vampire. (He could totally wipe the floor with those Twilight boys). And Paul Stanley is equal parts ringmaster/drag queen/hype man/exotic dancer.

It works so well because the band -- also guitarist Tommy Thayer and oh-so-tiny drummer Eric Singer -- is in on the joke. Simmons licked Thayer's neck during Cold Gin and spewed blood before rising to the rafters. Stanley swung like Tarzan over the crowd and onto a small stage near the rear of the venue.

Joey Guerra: Chronicle The littlest KISS fan poses for a crowd.

Musically, the band was forceful, even if Stanley, 57, can't quite conjur the rebel yell of his youth. The band tore through snarling, spirited renditions of Hotter Than Hell, Calling Dr. Love, Parasite, 100,000 Years, Black Diamond, Rock and Roll All Nite -- songs that had middle-aged fists pumping in the air and grade schoolers hopping in the aisles.

There were the usual tricks: extended guitar solos, professions of love for the city, toast-your-face fireworks, a revolving drum kit. But what might have felt utilitarian in lesser shows was high drama here. Every moment was punctuated with a BOOM! BANG! CRASH!

New tunes Modern Day Delilah and Say Yeah -- from the group's 19th studio disc, October's Sonic Boom -- rallied the crowd (as did seemingly endless blasts of confetti). Stanley addressed fans frequently, often lapsing into banshee wails. And Simmons is still an undeniable force with a gymnastic tongue. He was alternately funny, frightening and full-on freaky.

The quartet rolled out Shout It Loud, Love Gun and a set-closing Detroit Rock City -- ending the set on the same furious, feverish note it started. Youth be damned. Expect to see KISS stomping through town in another 35 years.