KISS @ The Bell Centre

KISS... One of the most well known bands to grace the face of the earth. To find someone that doesn't know KISS is like finding a lost tribe in the jungles of the Amazon, and probably just as rare. Most every person in every country has heard of and has a basic working knowledge of KISS, but thanks to high ticket prices, less and less people get to see the band. I however, cannot be counted among these people, as I went to the Bell Centre to see them on a Monday night in July, 2013.

To be frank, I didn't go to see KISS at all. Earlier in the day I interviewed the drummer to the opening group, Shinedown, who I had seen when they were touring on their first album, Leave a Whisper in my home town at a small club as a band who had to work for every fan they could convert, and it showed. They had passion, and a kind of drive reserved for the up and coming, hungry for success. 

Flash forward to the Bell Centre, where Shinedown is opening for KISS. Earlier in the day, when I spoke with the drummer, he said that he knew their job was to open up for KISS, and it kind of showed. I'd be interested to see them headline to see how it compares, but to me, it felt a bit phoned in. Though I've got to say, Brent Smith has a set of vocal chords on him that is nothing short of impressive. Also, it's been a long time since I've seen a band actually encouraged concert goers to interact with each other, in this case with high-fives, and the idea of trying to form even a temporary community at a show is a noble idea that I fully support.

After Shinedown, came "the best" KISS. I was fully expecting a full rock spectacle filled with all of the things that come with it, and truth be told, it was all there. Full makeup band... check. Pyrotechnics... check. Large lightning rig designed to look like a spider... check. Everything was in play for it to be a spectacular event. 

But then, about three songs in, something happened. I started to get... bored. I chalked this up to a general apathy for KISS music, but after the third song from their last two albums in a row, I noticed that other people, even those die-hards in the face paint, were also sitting down and generally looking as though they didn't really care what was happening, and that was when I realized something. These people were here to see KISS for the same reason I was. Sure, some of them probably grew up with the band and the music, but now, they were here because they felt required to be there. Just like I felt required to stay for KISS, so did these fans seem to feel required to come see the band.

I stayed through Gene Simmons spitting blood and flying to the top of the spider rig, but after that, I left because I had checked all of the boxes of things that people have been seeing at KISS shows since the 1970s, but ultimately left feeling disappointed that nothing new was there to greet me.

All in all, this may be heresy to a KISS fan, and as such, I won't change your mind, and I suppose if someone buys you tickets to see them or you go to a festival and they play you should see them, but don't expect anything you haven't seen before. Though, I guess with the money they make off tours, if it ain't broke...

--Andrew WIXQ hosts Grade A Explosives, Sundays at 4-6 PM EST on CJLO.