A Date with KISS
Well, last night was the big KISS/AEROSMITH concert and the WHITE RIVER AMPITHEATRE. And I must say, what a night that was. Going solo, I high-tailed it to Auburn's landmark and, upon getting there, quickly found my seat and got back down to the food places and beer garden. There I indulged in a polish dog and a nice large red hook beer (drools). Since it took so long to get my food and beverage due to that unnecessarily long lines and 1-mile zig zagging gate mazes, I had to quickly eat my food and drink my beer for the show to start (even though it was the opening band I was rushing to see). None other than Saliva opened the evening. And let me tell you, these Memphis boys sure can entertain for an opener. Though their aggressive roaring style didn't particularely appeal to me, I was quite entertained nonetheless. Well, after their performance Kiss came on. And damn was it an amazing performance on their part. The band came down on a hydrolic platform where the drumset was mounted and the stage was decorated in a space-age metallic style with their name in lights and two video screens mounted on either sides of the center drum platform. Throughout their performance they played numerous songs as Detroit Rock City, Lick It Up, and of course Rock and Roll all Nite. In addition to the great screen shots, fantastic light choreography, and awesome instrumental performance, KISS held their own reign on the stage with Gene Simmons blowing fire from a torch and his all-too-famous blood vomiting. Peter Criss also made a solo performance when he sung a soft melodic piece and passed out roses to people in the front row. And let's not forget to mention Paul Stanley's disregard for his guitar when he smashed it on stage after they played their finale, Rock and Roll all Nite.
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Aerosmith was next, and from the way the audience responded and the way I saw it when they actually performed, KISS should have been the last performance. I personally am not so much of an Aerosmith fan. Especially after seeing KISS. Who, in my opinion put on a hell of a show not matched by Aerosmith in this case. When the band came on, Steven Tyler came dancing out with the microphone stand tied with colorful ribbons. The walls around the elevated platform where the drums were mounted were lined with amplifier heads and speaker cabs stacked on top of each other. The stage lights seemed to be glowing with energy in their bright oranges, reds, and yellows (among other colors) that eccentricated the bands already lively, energetic music. Steven Tyler seemed to moreso be the life of the band as he continued to dance around to such hits as Jaded and Pink (which were among the few I stayed to hear played). He had quite the interaction with the audience as he scooped up water bottles and hats from audience membersl, but compensated for their losses by letting them do some of the singing for him. And with a voice like that, I wouldn't blame Tyler one bit.
However, being a KISS fan, seeing them was just enough for me to be satisfied and I said an early goodbye to Aerosmith as I headed out of the ampitheatre and back onto the road leading me home.
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Aerosmith was next, and from the way the audience responded and the way I saw it when they actually performed, KISS should have been the last performance. I personally am not so much of an Aerosmith fan. Especially after seeing KISS. Who, in my opinion put on a hell of a show not matched by Aerosmith in this case. When the band came on, Steven Tyler came dancing out with the microphone stand tied with colorful ribbons. The walls around the elevated platform where the drums were mounted were lined with amplifier heads and speaker cabs stacked on top of each other. The stage lights seemed to be glowing with energy in their bright oranges, reds, and yellows (among other colors) that eccentricated the bands already lively, energetic music. Steven Tyler seemed to moreso be the life of the band as he continued to dance around to such hits as Jaded and Pink (which were among the few I stayed to hear played). He had quite the interaction with the audience as he scooped up water bottles and hats from audience membersl, but compensated for their losses by letting them do some of the singing for him. And with a voice like that, I wouldn't blame Tyler one bit.
However, being a KISS fan, seeing them was just enough for me to be satisfied and I said an early goodbye to Aerosmith as I headed out of the ampitheatre and back onto the road leading me home.