News Archive October 2009

KISS Still Knows How To Rock
From: The Tampa Tribune
by Jeff Houck (photo by Julie Busch)
Posted: October 22, 2009

When they finally get around to stuffing Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley into the Rock 'n' Roll Time Capsule, (no doubt manufactured and trademarked by KISS), it will no doubt include much of the highlights from Wednesday night's show at the Forum.

Does anyone use as much dry ice as these guys? Certainly nobody bothers to shoot sparks from a guitar neck anymore. And the blood-spitting and fire-breathing, well, that went out with the Ford administration.

Their two-hour concert, part of the "Alive 35" tour, was like a trip through the wayback machine as the band busted out hits fans hadn't heard in decades.

Sure, they started with the swaggering "Deuce," using pyrotechnics like musical punctuation. And, yes, there were the chestnuts of "Strutter," "Dr. Love," "Shout It Out Loud" and the venerable "Rock & Roll All Night."

But who thought we would hear "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" after spinning it on vinyl on "KISS Alive" in 1975? Even their rendition of "Hotter than Hell," with requisite flames and sirens, seemed fresh again 32 years after its release.

Stanley and Simmons, the two remaining members of the original band (guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss left about a decade ago) appear invigorated by playing the old music. And lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer played their traditional roles like seasoned pros.

Thayer expertly sang and played his way through Frehley's trademark "Shock Me." And Singer performed an extended drum solo on top of a swiveling drum kit that was, gasp, entertaining.

The group performed "Modern Day Delilah" off their new hit "Sonic Boom" album. The good news: It matched the texture, energy and ballsy grit of their first albums.

Amid all the confetti and flames and campy theatrics, there was more than a hint that the band might have enough juice to make it into another decade.