Ok, lets get this said from the start.
This show was stunning! Honestly, I was amazed at how good this show was. Even songs if I never heard live again (ILIL/Deuce/Love Gun...yes LG! Yawn) were outstanding.
Now, I have to admit my expectations for this show were not high. All the usual shit, the set list, what state will Paul's voice be in, TT copying Ace's solo's, ES playing well with himself just the normal stuff. Perhaps I've just grown to accept that KISS is what KISS is and it aint gonna change, or maybe this band, that I have loved for the past 38 years, has just proved that they really can still rock!
Either way, I honestly don't care, because I came away from this show as happy as I could be. The one issue is still Paul's voice, and while it was the best I have heard him from 2008 onward, he no longer sings many of the high stuff (Eric mostly takes that over) and that's a pretty good move the band. He's still ropey, but what with the volume and the excitement you could overlook any shortcomings.
Wierd bits of the show, Paul walked over to Gene, said something in his ear and walked off. Gene stood there, shook his head and forgot to start singing again! TT was singing his back up and looking at Gene kinda confused! Would LOVE to know what PS said to throw Gene off like that!
All the guitars dropped for a few seconds. Thought they'd lost power, but the sound guy prob pressed the wrong button!!
But best was Paul doing his flying thing in Love Gun. He got to his small stage and the ring slid backwards, back over the crowd! Some body jumped up and grabbed it and started swinging from it! The crew eventually got it back and then when he was on the way back to the stage he stopped short!!!! Had to do a Tarzan swing to get back on the main stage! PMSL!!!
Charlotte, the spider, which again I was really expecting to be naff beyond words was a sight to see. It's huge! And when it lowers and starts to move its leg and all that, it's pretty cool to see! This sounds really dumb, but during the middle Who bit of LIU the abdomen bit lowers right down over PS & TT and they walk over it. Really impressed me for some reason!
The light show is second to none and that's something KISS have always done better than other bands.
I wasn't going to bother with this tour and the bit that got me to change my mind was the announcement of a new show. And while it was more GS bullshit 'a mechanical walking spider', I think not!, if I'd missed this I'd be gutted. And as for the rumoured HR Calling gig that KISS were supposed to be doing, the promoters of that really dropped the ball not getting KISS in to play. This would have been a huge draw cos everyone seems to be talking about it and for good reason too.
Is this KISS of old? Of course not. Will todays KISS ever create anything musically to compete with old KISS. NO. But that's no longer what KISS are about. KISS are happy to churn out the same set list with a few new tunes thrown in (well pleased to see Say Yeah back!!!) and as long as they can put on shows like this, then they might have some life left in them!
Highlights for me were Psycho Circus, War Machine, God Of Thunder, Say Yeah, Let Me Go (always class) & the return of 1983 live ending of Black Diamond. Love that!! Charlotte is brill!!! Downpoints, really sick of IWMFLY but the crowd LOVED IT! Everyone was singing along. Not sure Heavens On Fire really works so tuned down but tha was it!
The venue also was excellent! An arena that still had an intimate feeling. Reminded me of the NIA in B/ham, more square than rectangle in shape and as a result no one seemed that far from the stage. The Milan crowd were brill! Really got into the show. I would certainly go back if KISS ever play there again. Just not in June, please! It was beyond hot. 4 showers in oneday is not my idea of fun! Still, it was worth it.
Subject: KISS MILAN 18/06/13 
Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:29 pm
