KISS: End Of The Road World Tour at Huntington Center,Toledo

Toledo,Ohio(August 25, 2021) – Those of us whose musical appetite was shaped by the broad range of artistry that defined the 60s, 70s and 80s are now being bombarded with a slew of farewell tours selling one final chance for a walk down memory lane. Many of these offerings are costly and, in some cases, only a shell of the original band that musically invigorated you.The KISS:End Of The Road World Tour however, should top the list of farewell shows worth attending, as fans at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio can surely attest.

Since unleashing its vinyl debut in 1974, KISS has been dismissed by snooty critics, focusing not on the music, but rather the makeup, stage theatrics and larger-than-life nature of a band. In a rebellious style, fans have stood by their heroes, insisting that songs, more than flash-pots and explosions, legitimized their devotion. Now, 47 years later the naysayers have faded into obscurity, KISS is still at it on the End Of The Road World Tour, doing what legends do best, perform live.

In typical over the top KISS fashion, this show is a blueprint that should be followed by others when putting together a farewell production. It is the ultimate fan experience packed full of greatest hits and includes the many stage theatrics KISS has become renown for. Paul Stanley is still the ultimate front-man in this current incarnation of the band and a master at crowd interaction that was evident throughout the evening. Gene Simmons, on the other hand, has done the most with his character development that is brought to life on “God of Thunder”. Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer accomplishes the original Ace Frehley guitar feel, but also incorporates his own style during the extended solo part in “Cold Gin”. Likewise, percussionist Eric Singer has elevated most of the Peter Criss drum parts and exceeds most expectations during the encore performance of “Beth”.  Perspectively, this is not a knock on any previous members of the band from any era what so ever. Technology has changed the live music experience by leaps and bounds. Gone are the 2-day loss of hearing of yesteryear now replaced with a high decible, low distortion fan friendly output that makes the bands sound more precise no matter who the musicians are.

KISS covers a substantial amount of material during the 2-hour, 23 song set which makes you realize just how many memorable songs they managed to crank out over the years. As the iconic foursome dropped from the rafters on lit platforms, and an incredibly assortment of pyrotechnics repeatedly exploded, as Detroit Rock City” their signature opener segued into “Shout It Out Loud” and “Deuce” to start things off on a high note. While at times the flames and smoke machines created a thick fog that obstructed the audience’s view of the stage, the spectacle was tantalizingly entertaining.

Some fans might have complained about the choice of songs in the set list but there were enough here to remind them of each of the band’s incarnations. The current band showed no signs of aging, which can only be partially attributed to their makeup; their performance rivaled their studio recordings which contributes to fan familiarity and interactions. The voices of Paul Stanley and drummer Eric Singer, who are 69 and 63 respectively, are as rich as ever – weathered, but far from worn out. Their vocals were accompanied by the fiery licks of lead guitarist Tommy Thayer (who replaced Ace Frehley in 2002), with Gene Simmons sharing licks of his own, both on bass and with his iconic tongue, much to the delight of fans. Although Stanley and Simmons are the only two remaining members of their original lineup, there was plenty of chemistry among the well seasoned veterans, Singer and Thayer.

In a typical KISS over the top fashion, Paul Stanley ziplined to a platform in the of the audience for performances of “Love Gun,” and the disco era stalwart “I Was Made For Lovin’ You.” It gave the fans toward the back of the arena an opportunity to be a part of the extravaganza instead of just an observer. Honestly, the zipline setup was electrifying, making the sold out arena feel much larger than it was.

“Lick It Up” was a popular selection from the early 80s that was loud and raucous, just as any fan would expect. More recent material also was included in the set in the form of “Psycho Circus” from the late 90s and “Say Yeah” off 2009’s “Sonic Boom”.  “Black Diamond” also deserved some recognition for KISS’ creatively catchy instrumental interludes and overtures that was repeated during select cuts throughout the set. Cant forget about the classic elements of any KISS show: Gene Simmons amid a roaring siren, spitting fire on the 1982 deep cut “War Machine” (then drooling“blood” all over his torso, after which he rose to the rafters on a riser to sing his showcase “God of Thunder” later in the set).

To end the night in style, KISS reached far back into the archives for 3 of their most prominent hits of their career: the ballad “Beth,” “Do You Love Me” and the finale “Rock and Roll All Nite,” which had confetti shot out of air cannons, large balloons and sparklers engulfing the stage as the last track came to a close.

With a career that has lasted through and adapted to different phases in rock music, their anthology is diverse, but holds true to their shock-rock roots. The performance and setlist were a full tribute to their career, focusing on beloved hits and double-platinum ballads from their earlier years, including “Beth” and “Rock and Roll All Nite,” while highlighting a couple of tunes from their later albums, like “Sonic Boom” (2009).

KISS claims The End of the Road Tour to be their last and by all indications it could very well be. After all Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are men 72 and 69 years old and neither Tommy Thayer nor Eric Singer are young road warriors either. It is probably time to put this massive KISS machine to rest but instead of going out with a whimper, KISS is going out with a bang with one of the most pyrotechnic, flame throwing concert sets you’ll ever experience which is exactly what you would expect and want from KISS.

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