KISS Turns Raleigh Into “Detroit Rock City” One Last Time
Rock Legends Bring The End of the Road World Tour to Coastal Credit Union Music Park
Tuesday evening the legendary rock band KISS descended upon Coastal Credit Union Music Park for what is more than likely their final Raleigh area show ever as the band is currently out on The End of the Road World Tour. Originally, the show was scheduled for last fall but had to be canceled when Paul Stanley came down with COVID. The band promised Raleigh area fans that they would be back and indeed they returned bigger, better, and more bad-ass than ever before.
Fans packed the venue grounds early on, tailgating in the parking lots and listening to their favorite KISS songs. KISS apparel and paraphernalia were everywhere as fans came Dressed To Kill, many with faces painted and completing the look with wigs, suits, and their own version of KISS stage clothing. The atmosphere was rife with anticipation as many knew this would be the last time seeing their rock and roll heroes live and in person. For some young fans, it was their first KISS show ever and for others, it was their 30th or 50th time at a KISS concert.
“Twelve o’clock, I gotta rock…”
Okay, I’ll admit, it wasn’t twelve o’clock, more like 8:30 when the crew came out to hang the enormous KISS Kabuki covering the stage. The crowd began to roar when they saw the black curtain emblazoned with a silver KISS logo because they knew it was almost showtime.
The venue lights went out as Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” began to play. People were screaming, crying, and shouting at the top of their lungs. Two spotlights danced across the curtain as the KISS logo shone in red. A voice came onto the loudspeaker system to make the announcement that anyone who has ever been to a KISS show is more than familiar with.
“Hey, Raleigh! You wanted the best, You got the best! The hottest band in the world, KISS!”
Boom! The Kabuki drops to the opening strains of “Detroit Rock City” as Gene, Paul, and Tommy descend from the heavens above on three floating platforms with Eric right behind them. It was a feast for the eyes with blinding flashes, fireworks, and tons of smoke and pyro. Would you expect anything less from these rock and roll gods?
“Get up
Everybody’s gonna move their feet
Get down
Everybody’s gonna leave their seat
You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City…”
This was a statement that didn’t need to be made because everyone and I mean everyone was on their feet, fist in the air, metal horns up, and ready to lose their minds one more time with KISS. From this point on, we were all in rock and roll paradise as KISS graced us with a set that spanned their career, giving us all the hits we wanted to hear just one more time. Of course, it wouldn’t be a KISS show without all the bells and whistles that make a rock concert fun and a KISS show really is a spectacle for the ages.
Both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons sounded better than ever vocally and even though they are both in their seventies, it seems as though the gods have favored them because they truly haven’t lost a step.
“Loud, I wanna hear it loud
Right between the eyes
Loud, I wanna hear it loud
Don’t want no compromise…”
One of the many highlights of the show happens at the end of “I Love It Loud” which also happens to be one of my favorite KISS songs off of their 1982 Creatures of the Night album. At the end of this tune, as red lights flash and fire sirens blare, Gene is handed a lit torch and performs his famous breathing fire routine. It is certainly a fan favorite and no matter how many times I have seen him do it, it still is amazing to watch.
“Ooh, it’s cold gin time again
You know it’ll always win
It’s cold gin time again
You know it’s the only thing
That keeps us together, ow…”
Gene isn’t the only one with a few tricks up his sleeve though and after the KISS classic “Cold Gin,” it’s guitarist Tommy Thayer’s time to shine. During a sizzling and spectacular guitar solo, Thayer shoots pyro out of his guitar, firing at a giant flying saucer that appears on the LED screen at the rear of the stage It’s awesomely over-the-top and totally KISS.
Much to the delight of fans, the hits keep on coming with everyone singing along to “Lick It Up” before Paul tells the crowd he thinks we better call out the doctor, and soon we are jamming along to “Calling Dr. Love.” After a rousing version of “Tears Are Falling” and a little bit of “Psycho Circus” it was time for drummer Eric Singer to bring the thunder from behind the kit with a timeless drum solo ending with an outro of “100,000 Years.”
“I am the Lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command thee to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll…”
Now, if you’re familiar with KISS and with bassist Gene Simmons in particular, you know that he would never let anyone steal his thunder. The lights go dark with an eerie green glow as the demonic sounds of Gene’s bass begin to reverberate throughout the venue. Gene appears through the thick fog with his signature battle axe bass for a thundering solo during which he performs another one of his famous feats, the spitting of the blood as the crowd shrieks in delight. Gene screams “I can’t hear you!” as a platform raises him to the sky in a plume of smoke for the mighty “God of Thunder.” Greek mythologists may point to Zeus as the god of thunder while Roman mythologists claim it to be Jupiter but rock and roll fans know the one and only god of thunder is none other than Gene Simmons.
“No place for hiding, baby
No place to run. You pull the trigger of my, Love gun (love gun)…”
Up until this point, we have seen a solo from Tommy, a solo from Eric, and a solo, breathing fire, and spitting blood from Gene. But what about Paul? Don’t worry, it is time for Paul to fly, literally as he stands on a ring and is whisked across the seats of the venue to a stage situated right behind the box seats and in front of the last section of seats during “Love Gun.” To my amazement and of those around me, we were lucky to be right there for this spectacular part of the show. Paul wasn’t even strapped in, just hanging on as if he didn’t have a care in the world. From this smaller stage, Paul gave those in the back a great view as he sang, danced, shimmied, and shook. He asked the audience if it was ok if he stayed out there for one more song before diving into KISS’s foray into the disco world with “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” Even though there was a technical glitch with Paul’s guitar, he was unphased by it, continuing to perform until the issue was resolved which took less than a minute before taking to the air once more to head back to the main stage.
“Out on the streets for a living
Picture’s only begun
Your day is sorrow and madness
Got you under their thumb
Whoo, black diamond, yeah
Whoo, black diamond…”
It was time for the final song of the regular set as KISS gave us “Black Diamond,” the closing track off their 1974 eponymous debut album. Eric Singer got a chance to show off his vocals as the band jammed and his kit rose up in the air and fireworks spun on each side of his kit. It was an epic ending to the evening.
“Beth, I know you’re lonely
And I hope you’ll be alright
‘Cause me and the boys will be playing all night…”
The lights went out but this is a KISS show ladies and gentlemen and it ain’t over til it’s over. Everyone began chanting “KISS! KISS!” as the crew rolled out a beautiful, dazzling piano. We knew what was coming and we were ready for it as Eric Singer took his spot on the bench and began playing the opening notes of “Beth.” Cellphones lit up the ampitheatre as everyone sang together in unison to what is no doubt the most beautiful ballad ever done by KISS. Right before the song ended, the other band members came out one by one. Gene bent down to polish the piano, Tommy held up Eric’s drumsticks high in the air, and Paul pointed at Eric and clapped. It’s hard to follow up a beautiful moment like that but if you know KISS, you know that they are taking us out in true rock and roll style. Next up, we had giant KISS balloons floating through the air as we all shouted a resounding YES when the band played “Do You Love Me.”
“You show us everything you’ve got
You keep on dancin’ and the room gets hot
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party’s just begun, we’ll let you in
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin’, you keep on shoutin’
… I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day…”
Gene shouts out “Raleigh, we love you” as the band kicks into the ultimate party song, the phenomenal finale, “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Cue the pyro and confetti cannons, so much confetti, confetti like you have never seen before and never will again unless, of course, you’re at another KISS show. Feet were stomping, hands were clapping, and we kept on shoutin’ because at that moment in time we all wanted to rock and roll all night and never have this party end. There were lights flashing and the band was on fire. Paul came out to do his iconic smashing of the guitar and guess what? Yes, there was more confetti. It was the party of the year at Coastal Credit Union Music Park and a night none of us will ever forget.
So many of my memories in life involve KISS in some way or another. I remember dancing to “Shout It Out Loud” at my cousin’s wedding, getting my first kiss under my neighbor’s giant weeping willow tree to the sounds of “Beth” and partying with friends to “Rock and Roll All Nite,” not to mention the countless KISS concerts over the years. Indeed, KISS was the soundtrack for much of my life so I want to say thank you. Thank you to Paul and Gene, Tommy and Eric, and all the band members that have come and gone over the years. I’m going to admit that I’m selfish and I’d love to see KISS playing shows for another 100,000 years. But if that doesn’t happen and this truly is The End of the Road, I bid you a fond adieu. Until next time…?
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