KISS/Aerosmith Concert Review

[Paul Stanley 0]

KISS/Aerosmith Live @ Target Center , Nov. 10th 2003

 

Attendance: 11,312 Capacity: 14,000

 

I arrived there pretty early to get merchandise and got to my seat..

 

I had a pretty good view even though it was upper level, good decent folk around me except for the jackass 3 rows behind me, more to that later.

 

Anyways there was an opening band, i thought it was Cheap Trick since various websites said they were the new opening band. I was wrong.

 

At around 6:55 a band called Automatic Black took the stage, now KISS has been known to pick the oddest opening bands (Econiline Crush, Caroline's Spine, Buck Cherry, Saliva, etc.) but this was the strangest..we have two rock and roll bands and then we get this Punk/New Wave shit, anyway they did a 35minute set that felt like 3 hours and i couldn't hear what the guy said since he was screaming into the microphone half the time, anyway they finished with some punk ballad.

 

Intermission..

 

The crew took down AB's set which wasn't much, and started getting ready to work on the KISS stage..10minutes in one of the roadies gets on the P.A and says "KISS..in 10minutes!" while the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" blasted which meant it was almost time to go...the guitar solo hit and the KISS curtain fell to a LOUD ovation, that song finished and another one came up and quietly died down, i heard Peter's drums and heard the riser going up which mean..IT WAS TIME!

 

The lights went out and the crowd became almost at riot-noise..

 

"Alright Minneapolis...YOU wanted the best...YOU got the best..the HOTTEST band in the world.......KISS!!" and straight into Detroit Rock City. The boys played their asses off that night, Tommy Thayer is a great addition and better than that drunk Ace. Peter played like it was the 1996 reunion again and both Paul and Gene showed their usual showmanship. 4 times during the show some jackass kept telling everybody to "sit down..i can't see, i have a bad back & knee!" listen, it's a freakin concert..i paid my over $200 for two seats, one for me, one for my special gal..i ain't going to sit down, at one point he told ME to sit down as well, i gave him the finger and shouted a threat..i didn't see him again after that. Everytime you see KISS it's a treat, they love the fans. We love them, and they said "we're coming back soon" so i guess the 2004 tour of KISS/Ted Nugent is a go i think. This was much better than the 2000 Farewell Tour, sure they played a longer set but this was actually at regular tempo instead of slowed down, i'd rather have 14-regular songs than 23 at a slow pace. KISS did their trademark moves(Fire Breathing, Guitar Smashing, etc.) The fans gave KISS about a 3-5minute standing ovation after they left the stage.

 

Setlist:

 

Detroit Rock City

Deuce

Shout It Out Loud

Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll

Lick It Up

Firehouse

I Love It Loud(Gene's Bass Solo)

I Want You

God Of Thunder

Paul's Solo(Angie, Stairway To Heaven)

100,000 Years

Black Diamond

Beth

Love Gun

Rock And Roll All Nite

 

It was a good setlist, even though the next stop (Grand Rapids) they decide to do a setlist change and add HOTTER THAN HELL & C'Mon and Love Me...damnit.

 

The house lights came back on and that was my cue to go get 2 super-dogs and a soda. Why a soda? Beer prices aren't cheap, a guitar beer is $9!! that's insane..i see alot of fans head towards the exits, guess they didn't care about Aerosmith.

 

I come back and eat my dogs , the old lady hates hot dogs from the target center but i love 'em, more for me i say.

 

Next was Aerosmith...i wasn't to keen on seeing them again after they played 9 songs at a radio station show a couple of years back and they were the headliners! they did 9 songs and left..anyway a british guy comes on the P.A and says "Aerosmith..5minutes"..i read online what kind of setlist Aerosmith had, i heard about a blues stage and how it killed the crowd, they were opening up each show with "Mama Kin" and i don't like that song very well...Aerosmith came on and opened up with "Back In The Saddle!" i was thrilled. They also did "Ragdoll" which has only been on the setlists for a few shows this tour. The blues stage was good, better than i expected..they rotated the stage to make it look like a motel complete with neon sign, Steven started with "What It Takes" and then after that is when the fun started, the crowd had been kinda dead ever since the start but it quickly grew alive when Joe Perry took the stage and did a song off the new blues album called "Stop Messin" he even did the vocals, and i tell you what.. i like Joe's voice..the song was awesome and the crowd loved it even more, then the crowd died again when Steven took the stage to sing the final song of the blues stage "Baby Please" before that he said this show was being taped for Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve, so he told us HAPPY NEW YEAR and confetti came out during the song..the song was 4minutes too long, and slow..a girl in the row above me was actually SLEEPING! it continued that way until "Walk This Way" came on and the crowd finally woke up again, 'Sweet Emotion' was also played as the 'encore' while a video of Aerosmith hijinks was played, i was looking at the video not the band that song..more confetti came, and that's the show..

 

Setlist:

 

Saddle

Elevator

Toys

Let The Music

Pink

Jaded

 

B-Stage:

 

What It Takes

Stop Messin

Baby Please(Fans left before this)

 

 

Dream On

Ragdoll

Cryin'

Walk This Way

 

 

Encore:

 

Sweet Emotion

 

 

 

Aerosmith was good, but couldn't match the electricity KISS had, i liked both bands, i can't tell you if i liked the opening band cause basically i couldn't understand them! A good rockin show.

[HellSpawn 0]

...KISS has been known to pick the oddest opening bands (Econiline Crush, Caroline's Spine, Buck Cherry, Saliva, etc.) but this was the strangest..we have two rock and roll bands and then we get this Punk/New Wave shit, anyway they did a 35minute set that felt like 3 hours and i couldn't hear what the guy said since he was screaming into the microphone half the time, anyway they finished with some punk ballad...

Ha!

 

I still remember...

 

Reunion Tour, guest band? Pantera !!!!

 

Same like you, 30 minutes of some guy barking and stuff

 

Psycho Circus Tour, guest band? Rammstein?!?!?!

 

Err... when your opening band had some "@$$ F**K act"... you have to think a little more about your choosing, dont you think?

[NoCalMike 0]

Ha!

 

I still remember...

 

Reunion Tour, guest band? Pantera !!!!

 

Same like you, 30 minutes of some guy barking and stuff

 

Psycho Circus Tour, guest band? Rammstein?!?!?!

 

Err... when your opening band had some "@$$ F**K act"... you have to think a little more about your choosing, dont you think?

I'd rather go to a Pantera/Rammstien concert then see Kiss.........

 

Oh and $200 for KISS? umm, NO.

[pochorenella 0]

Went to the September show in Florida and the best thing that could've happened is that my friends went strictly because of Aerosmith but at the end becamed hooked with Kiss and had to admit they were light years better that Tyler and Co.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Aerosmith, specially their old-school stuff, but 9 out of 10 people I talked to at the show couldn't understand why Kiss was not the headliner when everybody knew they would blow Aerosmith out of the water.

 

Pretty much the same set list for both bands on my show, although I was disappointed Kiss didn't play "Strutter." Aerosmith pretty much played all the songs I wanted to hear.

 

As far as opening acts, we got Saliva, who were pretty good but not really appreciated by the local crowd. Most were still buying their hot dogs and T-shirts. Highlights for Saliva were "Click Click Boom" and "Always". BTW, Siv was the opener on the Reunion Tour. Never heard of them before or after that.

 

Overall, tremendous show. I went home pretty happy. Tommy was a nice surprise (Ace is my all-time favorite) and a welcome addition to the band.

 

I'd rather go to a Pantera/Rammstien concert then see Kiss.........

 

Oh and $200 for KISS? umm, NO

 

Have a nice show, man.

[haVoc 0]

Kiss would never blow Aerosmith off the stage musically. Kiss is lucky they have the 4th of July behind them and I've seen both bands a number of times. Anyway, I'm going to see this show Friday and if I'm wrong, I'll come here and admit it.

[HellSpawn 0]

I'd rather go to a Pantera/Rammstien concert then see Kiss.........

 

Oh and $200 for KISS? umm, NO.

Suit yourself man.

Have fun and good luck.

 

I prefer to listen music and well, UNDERSTAND what the heck they are singing.

[HellSpawn 0]

Kiss would never blow Aerosmith off the stage musically. Kiss is lucky they have the 4th of July behind them and I've seen both bands a number of times. Anyway, I'm  going to see this show Friday and if I'm wrong, I'll come here and admit it.

Well...

Kiss have been doing a TM KISS show from early 2Ks. And with TM Kiss show I mean, Music & 4 of july stuff, but updated every time... Symphony !!! 3D, PAul walking over YOU!!!

 

Aerosmith is the STALEST (sp?) band ever. Since their biggest triumph with Get a Grip... Aerosmith played the same songs time after time... after time after time.

[haVoc 0]

The Hell? KISS has been playing the same set for 20 years. Night after night. Take the make up off, put it on, bring clowns on stage, whatever, it's still the same songs.

 

Aerosmith's set list changes every tour and every night.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Since when was their biggest triumph Get a grip?

 

Also, if you can't tell what Phil Anselmo from Pantera is saying, you're deaf, or don't have a grasp on english.

 

Like he said, Kiss is one of the most repetitive bands ever. Their show is always, by design, the same thing. Fire, loud noises, and shiny objects. Any time any of those guys make an appearance someplace, they just hawk their merchandise. Kiss isn't a band as much as it is a brand name any more.

[haVoc 0]

I think he meant "Get A Grip" was Aerosmith's biggest triumph because it's their biggest selling album. 12 Million. It may be their top selling album, but it sure as Hell isn't their biggest triumph musically.

[Paul Stanley 0]

The Hell? KISS has been playing the same set for 20 years. Night after night. Take the make up off, put it on, bring clowns on stage, whatever, it's still the same songs.

 

Aerosmith's set list changes every tour and every night.

Aerosmith doesn't change their damn setlist everynight, once a blue moon they replace "Mama Kin" with "Back In The Saddle" but that's about it, go check out the setlists from www.aeroforceone.com. KISS also does the same setlist every night for this tour, with some one-off songs here and there like Aerosmith. KISS's setlist changes every tour, hell even with the make up off they would still blow them out of the water!

[Guest Choken One]

KISS is easily the biggest whores in the Musical Industry.

 

Yes, even more so then Madonna. If you can believe it.

Edited November 26, 2003 by Choken One

[pochorenella 0]

KISS is easily the biggest whores in the Musical Industry.

 

Yes, even more so then Madonna. If you can believe it

 

You better back up your statements with facts, man. If you're just spewing out shit because you don't like a certain band or your favorites are being criticized then just shut up. Go ahead, I'll wait for you.

 

Also, if you can't tell what Phil Anselmo from Pantera is saying, you're deaf, or don't have a grasp on english

 

I understand them quite perfectly, thank you. I understand them even better when they're singing Kiss' praises as one of their main influences and when they're covering Kiss songs on their live shows. Rammstein I heard very little, so I'm not sure they even sing in english or german. And I don't care.

 

Like he said, Kiss is one of the most repetitive bands ever. Their show is always, by design, the same thing. Fire, loud noises, and shiny objects. Any time any of those guys make an appearance someplace, they just hawk their merchandise. Kiss isn't a band as much as it is a brand name any more

 

Kiss have changed they're set list each and every tour, even more so after each new album. They even played songs they've never played before on their Australian Symphony show. What they've done is play pretty much the same songs since the Reunion Tour with a few changes every now and then. And their stage show has been different each time, too. So, again, if you can't back up your facts then just shut up.

 

I think he meant "Get A Grip" was Aerosmith's biggest triumph because it's their biggest selling album. 12 Million. It may be their top selling album, but it sure as Hell isn't their biggest triumph musically

 

I agree that's not Aerosmith's biggest musical achievement, but you have to admit that Aerosmith's biggest success has come after Permanent Vacation, when they started colaborating with people like Desmond Child. They never sold the insane amount of records they have until then, when they went more poppish, commercial, and mainstream with their videos, ballads and pop-rock stuff.

[Guest Choken One]

KISS is easily the biggest whores in the Musical Industry.

 

Yes, even more so then Madonna. If you can believe it

 

You better back up your statements with facts, man. If you're just spewing out shit because you don't like a certain band or your favorites are being criticized then just shut up. Go ahead, I'll wait for you.

 

You are well aware that Gene Simmons will put the KISS name on ANY product and has NO shame in relentless self promotion.

 

Whoa Bro, When did I attack them? I've seen them twice and while the music is atrocious, the shows fun.

[haVoc 0]

hell even with the make up off they would still blow them out of the water!

Musically, Kiss can't touch "Jaded" let alone a song like "Same Old Song and Dance."

[Guest Choken One]

Paul Stanly is to Kiss as Bob Barron is to Norm McDonald.

 

Over the top obsessive fans of generic acts.

[pochorenella 0]

You are well aware that Gene Simmons will put the KISS name on ANY product and has NO shame in relentless self promotion.

 

Whoa Bro, When did I attack them? I've seen them twice and while the music is atrocious, the shows fun

 

I'm well aware of that fact. Gene Simmons has said so in numerous interviews. He's a musician but he's also a business man, wether you agree with his business tactics or not. He's out to make music and he's also out to make money. To which degree each only he knows. So, contrary to some other bands or artists, he's said in public he loves money. I believe most musical acts are somewhat out to make money, aren't they? It's your choice if you agree with his tactics or not.

 

Personally, while I'm a huge fan - always will be - I don't agree with some of Gene's approach but I can somewhat see his side. So I'll buy all their CDs, DVDs, etc., but I won't buy their condoms or caskets.

 

Easy, Choken One. I'm not out to offend anybody, so if that came out too harsh then I'm sorry...

 

Over the top obsessive fans of generic acts

 

...but if you categorize my absolute-favorite band like that, then I can't help but feel offended. You don't like them? Fine, don't buy their records. 85 million people around the world already have, and a few more still will. Don't like their music? Don't go to their shows. I bet there's lot of other places you can watch fireworks, fire and things getting blown up.

 

And hey, you can also put me in the "over the top obssesive fan" batch. I'm not ashamed to be a tattoo-wearing Kiss fan.

 

Musically, Kiss can't touch "Jaded" let alone a song like "Same Old Song and Dance

 

Tell that to all the people that on the same night sang along Kiss songs at the top of their lungs and later groaned thru much of Aerosmith's set. Again, you don't like Kiss music? Fine, I get it. You'll go to the show on friday and give us your report and see for yourself wether people liked more Kiss, Aerosmith, equally, or neither. I have no reason not to believe what you'll report.

[haVoc 0]

Millions of girls will chant and sing along to a Britney Spears song too. Means nothing. That's like saying some little pop punk band is better because they can get a mosh pit going at their show with their 3 chord wonders.

 

I was talking about musicianship and I like slow bluey jams, so my opinion will be different from yours.

[pochorenella 0]

Except that those people weren't girls. They were adults like me and teenagers that were having a good time with music they enjoy. I never said Kiss were the best musicians, there's tons of better drummers, singers, bassists, guitar players. There's probably some unknown blues guitar player that can play as I've never heard before. You like more "bluesy-jazz" music, I like more rock-oriented music.

 

I'll agree "Jaded" is a catchy tune, and "Same Old Song and Dance" is one of Aerosmith's best, although my favorite is "Sweet Emotion". But Kiss has lots of good stuff, too numerous to mention. And their appeal is worldwide too, not just bratty little girls or idiots jumping and hitting each other on a mosh pit. I'm shure Kiss didn't sell 85 million records only because they wore make-up or smashed their guitars, right?

 

Bottom line, you like Aerosmith better. Just try and have a good time at the show and we'll talk afterwards.

[bob_barron 0]

Paul Stanly is to Kiss as Bob Barron is to Norm McDonald.

 

Over the top obsessive fans of generic acts.

1) Norm isn't generic.

2) It's Macdonald.

 

I could go on and on here but I think that sums it up nicely.

 

Glad you had a good time Paul

[haVoc 0]

I went to the show last night and had a lot of fun. Little hung over today, so I'm not doing a full blown, song by song review.

 

Anyway, the opening band, The Porch Ghouls are pretty decent. Dunno if their going anywhere in the big time, but their a good band. They kind of reminded me of a mix between The Doors, ZZ Top and Black Crowes.

 

This was my third time seeing Kiss and it's always a fun show. "Rock and Roll All Nite" is always fun live and their other songs like "I love it loud" and "Shout it out loud" are fun. I was glad to hear them, because I saw KISS twice on the reunion tour and they left them out. "God of Thunder" I've never been a big fan of, but it really does come to life live and I always get caught up into it. Gene does justice on that song. "Beth" I've never really liked and I still don't. Sorry.

 

Okay, I was there mostly for Aerosmith so hear it goes. They were on fire all night and feeling the groove. "Love in an elevator" kills live. This song was meant to be played live as the album version never does it justice. "Toys In The Attic" was great. You really feel this song from the get go when you hear Joe's opening riffs.

 

I do have to admit I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to hear "Train Kept' a Rollin" or "Same old song and dance" but they made room, like every night it seems, for "Pink" and "Jaded." Now, I don't hate those two songs. I think their fun songs and come off much better live, but they obviously don't carry the excitment, groove and energy of the other two.

 

They also kept "What It Takes" and "Cryin" in the sets and I didn't mind. Those are my two favorite "love ballads" by Aerosmith and they really do rock live and don't bring the concert down for me. Some Kiss fans might argue that though because some around were getting pretty bored with "WIT" since it followed "Pink." .. "Cryin" really keeps the energy of the show up since it comes off more as a rocker then slow ballad. Especially at the end where the song picks up and Joe rips the lead.

 

There isn't much more I can say about "Sweet Emotion," "Dream On" and "Walk This Way" that hasn't been said 5 million times already by people. Except that those three songs never get old and are a must have on the set list and if Aerosmith ever took them out people would go home feeling robbed. No matter how many times I hear "Dream On" live it always makes me a little light headed. Very powerful feeling I get from this song.

 

Now onto the fuckin' BLUES! They only played two songs and I don't think a lot of people were that into "Baby Please Don't Go," but I liked it and Tyler gets his voice nice and rough for this song.

 

Joe Perry's "Stop Messin" had a better response with the crowd and that's probably because people are use to it since they been covering it for years. Joe and Brad rip it on guitar and sharing the leads. Joey, Tom and Russ get the groove just right in that song and Tyler plays the shit out of the harp. Good times!

 

Well, I had a fun last night and this was the first concert I attended in a while. However, I really don't have anything against Kiss, but I hope Aerosmith come back around on their own. I felt a little empty at the end of the night and that's probabaly because I'm use to Aerosmith being on stage for two hours or more. I'm sure Kiss fans probably feel the same. 90 minutes for these bands just aren't enough.

[Paul Stanley 0]

I'm glad you had a good time!

 

I just posted this review to share my experience, not start a big argument!

 

In the end it's all about the fun show.

 

"Remember, It's About The Music Stupid" - G. Simmons