KISS

There are a few things that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Swim in the ocean...visit the Grand Canyon...see KISS in concert. It's not very often in today's music scene, that you find a band with the longevity and impact that KISS has had. (FYI...their first album was released in 1974)

THE ROAD TO KISS

Shannon, Toby and I headed to the concert early, so that we could grab a bite to eat before the show. Deciding where to eat was easy, as we all know when 3 guys get together and go out to eat, it is a FACT that you will get the guy waiter. Why this is could stand the test of time as one of the great mysteries. So, with that being the facts, we went to Hooters.

We were enjoying ourselves, I with my Ham and Cheese, Toby with his beer, and Shannon with his breast (chicken breat sandwich, that is...come to think of it, the sandwich did bear a stricking resemblence to breasts...) The evening was going great, and then, Shannon made the error of all errors...he said, don't worry, it's not going to rain.

Within what seemed like minutes, the downpour began. Rain hard enough to make the road disapear flooded down on us as we drove to Deercreek...er, I mean Verizon Music Center. And it rained, and it rained, and it rained. When we finally arrived, it was still raining. We were there a full hour early, so we decided to wait it out. A half hour later, the rain was all but gone.

LET THERE BE ROCK

ZO2 opened the show. They were an 80's sounding band that apparently had just signed a recording contract. They were alright, but not really my kind of music. (Why are you at a KISS/Poison concert if you don't like 80's music?) Poison was next, and they played all the hits, sounded great, and I enjoyed them.

Once Poison left the stage, the three of us began talking, looking around the crowd, observing the massive audience. We observed grey haired grannies, hard looking Harley riders, wheelchair bound people, even children (scattered amongst the pot smokers, and the "normal" people like us.)

To our left, there were 3 girls who were maybe old enough to drink...I say maybe, because they were drinking, but I'm not so sure they were suppose to be. They were wild girls, jumping and gyrating all night. After the opening band, another group of people rolled up next to them. A guy with his three kids (roughly 8-10 years old), who were decked out in their KISS make-up. After Poison performed, we noticed the dad standing with his back to the stage, camera in hand. I remember thinking "that's cool, he's taking a picture of his kids in the make-up."

So, as he's getting the shot ready, I turn my head to see his kids. Well, the kids were all posed for the shot, along with one of the gyrating girls, who was sitting in front of them, shirt lifted, boobs exposed!! What was that girl thinking, jumping in the shot? Oh, no...she was asked to pose...BY THE DAD!! That was quickly followed by gyrating girl #2 pulling her boobs out and proceeding to give the kids a second anatomy lesson.

Now, I don't have kids, but I can predict this guy isn't getting the Parent of the Year award anytime soon. Well, that coupled with the fact he lit up a joint when KISS took the stage. I'm just guessing, but I doubt that's what the Parents Association is looking for...

"OK, Mr. Smith, why should you be Parent of the Year? Ah, casual drug use around the kids, good, good...Have you exposed your 8 year old to nice teenaged titties yet? Ah, you have!! Great! Congratulations!!"

KISS TAKES FLIGHT

I had never seen a show with fire, explosions, and the likes, so this was a change. The band sounded great...very kick ass. Halfway through the show, with fire blazing, Gene Simmons started some funky, dark bass riff. Then he opened his mouth, oozed some blood, lifted his arms, and was wisked to the roof of the stage where, from a platform high above, he sang and played. That was the highlight for me...

They rocked through 17 songs, and then, during the last song of the night (Rock and roll all nite) the rain busted loose, absolutely drenching us. We almost made it...so much for Shannon's prediction.

Overall, it was worth it. If you haven't seen KISS in concert, do it...it just has to be done, for the sake of ROCK and ROLL. (Plus, they were really good, so it's worth it.)