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Kiss Still At Top of Its Game On New DVD/CD
Kiss Rocks Vegas Worthy Addition to Band's Legacy
Kiss Rocks Vegas (DVD/CD)
Eagle Rock Entertainment
More than 40 years into their career, Kiss remains at the top of their game. The band is in fine form and still larger-than-life on the excellent new DVD/CD, “Kiss Rocks Vegas,” out Aug. 26. The set captures one of the quartet’s concerts during a November 2014 nine-show residency at the Hard Rock Hotel. The DVD also includes an informal, pre-show acoustic set.
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Though the venue is more intimate than Kiss’ normal arena shows, the band doesn’t skimp on its hallmark, elaborate stage production. There’s pyro, hydraulic platforms that lift band members high above the audience, fire-breathing and other special effects.
As singer-guitarist Paul Stanley has often said, the production wouldn’t be worth much if the music didn’t back it up. He’s right, and Kiss bring the goods here. The setlist is a heavier-than-usual treat, with more aggressive tracks like “War Machine,” “Creatures of the Night” and the classic “Parasite” fitting in nicely alongside staples like “Detroit Rock City,” “Deuce” and “God of Thunder,” and latter day tracks such as “Psycho Circus” and “Hell or Hallelujah.”
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Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons provide the vocal and visual power while guitarist Tommy Thayer reels off fiery solos, riffs and licks, and drummer Eric Singer provides a thunderous foundation. Stanley is especially impressive, his voice never straining even after belting out hard rock anthems for four decades.
The band is spot-on yet loose throughout. At this point in their career Kiss could easily give a rote performance, but they’re clearly having fun and that shines through in the music.
A great bonus is the informal, seven-song acoustic set the band performed before a studio audience sans makeup. Kiss has a great rapport going with the audience, especially the youngest members of the crowd. The setlist is a real treat of rarely-played material, including “Comin’ Home” off the “Hotter Than Hell” album and “Love Her All I Can” from “Dressed to Kill.” Singer does a superb job on lead vocals on “Beth and “Hard Luck Woman.” Best of all is a rendition of the underrated early track, “Goin’ Blind.” It’s an awesome song and “Kiss Rocks Vegas” is a release worthy of inclusion in the Kiss pantheon.
