You could be forgiven for thinking it was the set of a remake of 'Evil Dead' set on the streets of Vegas and directed by Michael Bay. With more makeup than a Californian teen beauty pageant and more fireworks than a Chinese New Year, there's no doubt which band is owning this town tonight. New Yorkers Kiss have been around for almost 4 decades and with one of the most heralded back catalogues in the history of "All American Rock 'n' Roll", this show is destined to be a melt-your-face-off display of 'total awesomeness' (dude).
It can only mean one thing when a black curtain falls and "You wanted the best, you got the best" booms over the arena P.A to reveal Kiss descending from the freakin' sky, lowering to a stage beset with Lucifer's fury -as imagined in pyrotechnics- and illuminated by God's mobile disco. The band waste no time in launching into the energetic, over the top, theatrical performance they are best known and loved for. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the original Kiss members, are veteran first class performers - constantly striking poses for the photographers and the video cameras as they are projected onto a massive screen behind them ensuring even the cheap seats of the arena are not left behind.
From the very start we are witnessing a rock show that puts the rest of the gigs I have witnessed in this arena to shame. From Simmon's fiendish bass solo where he covers his serpentine tongue in blood to drummer Eric Singers 'rocket launcher' which blows up part of the lighting rig - the show is packed with rock n' roll antics.
Despite this being the 'Sonic Boom' tour, the audience are not alienated by a set of self indulgent song choices as the band deliver a "greatest hits set" heavily peppered with their back catalogue. 'Crazy Crazy Nights', 'Love Gun' and 'Detroit Rock City' are all Kiss classics that would fill the dance floor at any local rock club and when Stanley says "Tonight you have showed us Glasgow is a rock city" he couldn't be more right. The working man likes 'Rock 'n' Roll' and Glasgow is a working man's town.
After promising "the longest encore you've ever heard", Stanley flies over to a rotating platform in the middle of the arena and we are treated to 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' allowing the seated audience to get up close and personal with the action as well. After 'God Gave Rock n' Roll To You' comes the finale 'I Wanna Rock 'n Roll All Nite' and the entire hall is drowned in confetti - a spectacular end to a jam packed 2 hour set of America's finest Rock n Roll band. A band that through clever use of their marketing strategies continues to find a new audience with each of the passing decades it's legacy endures through.
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