Bloglander

Gene Simmons still has blood on his chin. After doing his best lizard impression, spewing fake scarlet liquid from his mouth onto his metal armor and then flying high into the air to rock out on a platform way above the stage, the famed bass player is back on the ground. He struts on his platform boots as if he’s walking around in the lightest Nike tennis shoes. Guitarists Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer do so as well. They play hit after KISS hit, along with some deeper cuts. Then Simmons breathes a fire ball.

Last night, KISS pulled out all of the stops for their Freedom to Rock tour stop at the Spokane Arena. It was huge and bombastic. Pyrotechnics went off nearly every song, because if you got them, you might as well use them. The very end of the show included lasers, fireworks, confetti, smoke, high-powered fans, streamers and, oh yeah, the musicians played “Rock and Roll All Nite” (two of them doing so while standing on swinging platforms that rotated over the audience). Of course, last week Simmons told the Inlander to expect the spectacle. He did not exaggerate.

From the beginning of the show, when the big KISS curtain fell and the whole band started playing “Detroit Rock City” on raised stage platforms, it was clear what the band came to do. Paul Stanley, who lost his shirt early on, yells into the microphone: “Alright Spokane, you wanted the best, you got the best.”

Throughout the night, Stanley, in a tone somewhat reminiscent of a nagging grandmother, introduces nearly every song. In the process he probably says the name Spokane more times on stage than any artist in history. He explains it’s an honor to play for us and that even though we weren’t the largest crowd (the upper level of the arena was completely closed off), we had the power to be the loudest.

He explains: “We got all the stuff you want to hear. You’re hearing the band that’s in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. They hate us, but they had to listen to you. And for that we say, ‘thank you.’”

This is a band, together for more than 40 years, who’ve sold over 100 million records worldwide. They’ve played almost every stadium there is, including the smaller towns they hit up for this tour (they’re going to Bozeman tonight) and they know exactly what they’re doing. Sure, they may look silly — these men in their 50s and 60s still wearing makeup and strutting around like royalty. But the whole thing is supposed to be a little ridiculous. It’s about having (pretty family-friendly) fun. Currently, they can still play those awesome standards like “Creatures of the Night,” "Black Diamond" and “I Love it Loud”, so they’re not going to stop yet.

Here were some of the highlights:

Beth
Drummer Eric Singer has a beautiful voice and his rendition of KISS’s ballad “Beth” especially showed that off. For this number, they even let him come to the front of the stage. People took out their lighters, swayed and sang along.

The Demon’s tongue
Oh, it was there — red, long and wild as ever. There was even a point where Simmons tried to lick Thayer with the thing, but luckily he was able to evade.

Fourth of July re-run
And then Stanley went super patriotic. He told the crowd that the military is what holds this country together. The audience started chanting “USA, USA, USA!” He told us the band was donating $150,000 to the Hiring Our Heroes foundation and then invited the Spokane Marine Corps Color Guard to come out and we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Then to top it off, KISS plays the “Star Spangled Banner” in glorious electric guitar harmony. “Patriotism is always cool,” Stanley said from the stage.

Costumes
Where were all of the costumes, people? There was only one group of guys who went full out, nearly tripping over their platforms. Other than that, between a few painted faces and wigs, people simply donned KISS T-shirts. I truly expected more. However, let it be known that the actual costumes worn by the guys on stage were impeccable, the detail brilliant. Their costume seamstress is a genius. Through all of the sweat, the spandex, horns and rhinestones held strong. 

Cookies
The Spokane Arena nearly outdid themselves with these awesome KISS cookies, and the guys were impressed, posting this on their Facebook page: