Gene, Paul, Tommy and Eric, weren't the only ones wearing makeup as hundreds more in the audience joined the face-painting ritual. The band looked great and sounded great. The Oshawa fans were ready to rock and roll all night, but it wasn't a perfect marriage -- and it never has been.
Right from the start with the misstep of Oshawa council publicly reacting to not being announced on the first posting of tour dates after winning the online contest, to a band set list that was enriched by classic material mostly taken from the band's recent alive35 tour with a newly released Sonic Boom tune. It was immediately obvious that this crowd, many seeing a rock concert for the first time, grew up in the '80s period of KISS, not the classic '70s.
It made for some very interesting observations -- observations I feel confident in expressing since, unlike most reviewers who are unfamiliar with the band, this was to be my next to 30th KISS concert.
The crowd was noticeably younger then at past year's concerts, obviously a sign of the success KISS is having in attracting a new fan base what with Gene's Family Jewels reality show, an appearance on American Idol and an exclusive agreement with Wal-Mart to release their new album.
The classics which are normally the backbone of the show: Deuce, Hotter Than Hell and Black Diamond, were generally unknown to this Oshawa audience. A menu of I Was Made For Lovin' You, Heaven's On Fire, Tears Are Falling, Crazy Nights, Forever and Psycho Circus (all absent from the concert) were the songs this crowd was waiting for.
Even Stanley addressed this while introducing 100,000 Years, asking if the crowd even knew it. They didn't.
The solos were huge hits with the audience as the old gimmicks were fresh and in full effect to this audience. Gene breathed fire, spat blood and flew to a platform some 50 feet atop the stage. Tommy had guitars that bazookaed rockets into surrounding speakers and Eric pounded his drums atop a rotating drum riser on a fog-spewing hydraulic lift.
The encore was impressive with Shout It Out Loud, Lick It Up, Love Gun (during which Stanley flew above the audience on a wire to the back of the arena) and Detroit Rock City concluding with canon booms, flame bursts and a tonne of fireworks.
Stanley hinted the band would revisit Oshawa after it travels across the border for the U. S. portion of the tour. And considering the record sell-out of this concert, that might be a solid bet.
That would impact the chance of Peterborough fans to have their own date as word at the concert was that the band wouldn't schedule tour locations in such close proximity to each other.
If the band does return, hopefully it will bet on its newer material and bring that KISS along to its newest sweetheart: Oshawa.
Text and Photos copyright 2009 by Darryl Andrews. This post may not be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, by any means, without the express, written permission of the author.
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