KISS
TD BankNorth Garden in Boston, MA
October 5, 2009
KISS Live show review By DJ Sterling Golden
KISS Live Photos by Lena Lamoray
KISS never does anything in moderation. That's not what one expects from the group nicknamed "The Hottest Band In the World". When the KISS ALIVE 35 World Tour recently reached North America after a year and a half of performing to sold-out arenas and stadiums the world over, one had to know it would be one of their biggest, most impressive setups to date. The end result included a massive screen stretching across the wall of the stage like a movie screen that just got outed for steroid use. Said screen was anchored by an endless amount of smaller screens, all neatly wrapped in enough towers of flame and fiery explosions to level a small town.Â
Last night's show was the 10th time I've seen KISS. Just as they did at my first show in 1992, KISS held the standing-room-only crowd at TD Garden in their collective palm, treating the audience to a two-hour-plus set of hits and history backed by the aforementioned visual presentation. It's what the band is best known for in the live setting, and last night's show certainly reminded everyone why they are the unquestioned kings of the live concert experience. The set got off to a bombastic start, with their incredible cover of the Hollywood Stars' "King of the Night Time World" (thank you for sending this one their way back in '76, Kim Fowley), followed by "Deuce", a favorite dating back to the band's earliest days. Gene Simmons belts out the track with as much power and panache as he did when he was just a young, aspiring, twenty something Demon looking to attain rock 'n' roll stardom. Audience participation was rampant throughout the evening, as Paul Stanley -- the longtime star of the KISS center stage and the band's onstage emcee -- would lead the crowd through fist-pumping call-and-response sessions, punctuated by his acceleration above the audience from the main stage to a smaller stage in the back of the arena, to belt out "Love Gun" surrounded by some of his greatest admirers.
As Stanley made clear last night, KISS has never been a band who dealt with talking politics or preaching about the world's troubles. The music of KISS changed the world by providing music lovers with escapism in its purest, most basic form, better than any other band in history. In keeping with this ideal, the band turned TD Garden into a rock 'n' roll dance party, as fans of all ages and cultures filled the aisles, letting the music take over their minds and bodies. Tracks including new single "Modern Day Delilah" and classics ranging from "100,000 Years" to "Lick It Up" to the band's immortal anthem "Rock And Roll All Nite" provided the crowd with more than enough reason to forget their worries and concerns with everyday life and turn a Monday night into something resembling a late Friday night. Amidst showers of light and ivory confetti, KISS delivered what was, far and away, the biggest and best live concert event anyone in the Bean has ever experienced. Yes, that includes U2 and that silly giant crab they gave us at Gillette Stadium a few weeks ago. Sit down, Bono.
As exhibited onstage, the band's current lineup of Stanley, Simmons, lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and three-time KISS drummer Eric Singer is arguably the most musically dynamic KISS lineup since their acclaimed early 90's lineup (which, interestingly, contained a near-identical lineup; just swap out Thayer for Bruce Kulick). The overall musical performance was tight, precise, and more energetic than anyone could expect from a group whose members' age ranges from 48 to 60. In particular, Thayer and Singer impressed, the former exhibiting impressive guitar chops and the latter bashing the skins with ferocious execution. The snarling bass licks of Simmons showcased his underrated musical talent, while the golden voice of Stanley, while slightly weathered after over 35 years of performing, still showcased great range and brought chills up the spines of the beautiful cougars in the crowd who screamed ecstatically with every gyration of his hips and wiggle of his ass.
All of this comes during a tremendously exciting time for KISS. Their first new studio joint of original material in 11 years, Sonic Boom, drops this week exclusively at Walmart, amid huge anticipation and promotional hype. The band is fresh off receiving their long-deserved nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Without a doubt, the world's ready to be KISSed like never before. If last night at the Garden was any indication, it's a KISS they will not soon forget.
Once again, the people of Boston have experienced firsthand why KISS are America's biggest band ever. The Bean has been conquered one more time.
http://www.lenalamoray.com/
http://www.lenalamoray.com/kissreview2009.html
Monday, October 5, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
KMFDM September 2009 House of Blues Boston, MA
KMFDM
September 2009 House of Blues Boston, MA Live Photos & Show Review by Lena Lamoray
The German phenomenon known as KMFDM brought their KEIN MITLEID WORLD TOUR 2009 to Boston since they are “celebrating 25 years of the ultra-heavy beat.” KMFDM wrote the book on industrial music and rightfully so, they possess what many industrial bands are missing, powerful vocals and a talented real band to back them up. LUCIA CIFARELLI is an adept vocalist with enough power behind her voice to illuminate a small village. I would rank LUCIA as one of the best female vocalists I have seen live. ANDY SELWAY is one momentous drummer with just the right amount of aggression, flare and handsomeness to keep everyone captivated. JULES HODGSON and STEVE WHITE combined forces to deliver double guitar mayhem. SASCHA KONIETZKO is the founder and authority of KMFDM and I don’t think anyone could ever say no to him. His live presence is as demanding as his voice. KMFDM is a force to be reckoned with and after twenty five years they are still going strong by packing in clubs and delivering superb live performances. They have a strong fan base that is constantly evolving. Go and see KMFDM live and add their previous and current releases to your album collection. BLITZ is their newest release on KMFDM RECORDS/METROPOLIS.
www.lenalamoray.com
September 2009 House of Blues Boston, MA Live Photos & Show Review by Lena Lamoray
The German phenomenon known as KMFDM brought their KEIN MITLEID WORLD TOUR 2009 to Boston since they are “celebrating 25 years of the ultra-heavy beat.” KMFDM wrote the book on industrial music and rightfully so, they possess what many industrial bands are missing, powerful vocals and a talented real band to back them up. LUCIA CIFARELLI is an adept vocalist with enough power behind her voice to illuminate a small village. I would rank LUCIA as one of the best female vocalists I have seen live. ANDY SELWAY is one momentous drummer with just the right amount of aggression, flare and handsomeness to keep everyone captivated. JULES HODGSON and STEVE WHITE combined forces to deliver double guitar mayhem. SASCHA KONIETZKO is the founder and authority of KMFDM and I don’t think anyone could ever say no to him. His live presence is as demanding as his voice. KMFDM is a force to be reckoned with and after twenty five years they are still going strong by packing in clubs and delivering superb live performances. They have a strong fan base that is constantly evolving. Go and see KMFDM live and add their previous and current releases to your album collection. BLITZ is their newest release on KMFDM RECORDS/METROPOLIS.
www.lenalamoray.com
Thursday, October 1, 2009
MIKA Live Photos & Review The Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
MIKA
October 2009 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
Live Photos and Show Review by Lena Lamoray
I was first introduced to MIKA on THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW in 2007 and I have been hooked ever since. MIKA fills the void that is missing from music today. He is bubbling with charisma, flare and unabashed talent. His album LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION got my attention with LOVE TODAY and GRACE KELLY being my absolute favorites. THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, his new album came out in September and is definitely worth owning so pick up both and go into a MIKA induced feel good coma.
It was my first time seeing him live and honestly I knew he was going to be good but he proved to be magnificent. You can tell MIKA puts his all into his live shows. Everything is carefully planned out from the stage sets to the black light make-up. I love it when artists put the time in and develop a live stage show that tells a story and leaves us eager to know how it ends. I can’t think of a show that I have ever seen that has pieced together a moon landing, a half naked astronaut, a teapot on steroids and a puppet show and made a magical evening out of it. MIKA was performing so hard during the first couple of songs that he split his trousers. Luckily, this isn’t a death metal show so a costume change in front of us was a welcome event. MIKA is a good looking man with a tall in shape physique that includes perfectly tousled hair, nice feet and did I mention his British accent. I can certainly see why women and men fawn over him. All that being said and I still have not even gotten to the best part of MIKA, his voice! To say this man can sing doesn’t do him justice. His voice is in the realms of FREDDIE MERCURY and GEORGE MICHAEL. His voice is just so pure and downright beautiful and he can pull it off live. In fact, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about his show at all. Everything was perfect and the show featured some of my favorite things; retro clothing, feather hats, costume changes, colorful sets, moons, confetti and of course, MIKA. He even invited the crowd to sing with him. Of course, my favorite performance was LOVE TODAY but perhaps that is because that was my introduction into the wonderful world of MIKA. One thing is for certain, when you see MIKA live you will leave feeling a million times better than when you went in. With all the bad things happening in the world today it is nice to take a break from them and go on a musical journey with a true inspiration. Thanks MIKA!
http://www.lenalamoray.com/mikareview.html
http://www.lenalamoray.com/
October 2009 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
Live Photos and Show Review by Lena Lamoray
I was first introduced to MIKA on THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW in 2007 and I have been hooked ever since. MIKA fills the void that is missing from music today. He is bubbling with charisma, flare and unabashed talent. His album LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION got my attention with LOVE TODAY and GRACE KELLY being my absolute favorites. THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, his new album came out in September and is definitely worth owning so pick up both and go into a MIKA induced feel good coma.
It was my first time seeing him live and honestly I knew he was going to be good but he proved to be magnificent. You can tell MIKA puts his all into his live shows. Everything is carefully planned out from the stage sets to the black light make-up. I love it when artists put the time in and develop a live stage show that tells a story and leaves us eager to know how it ends. I can’t think of a show that I have ever seen that has pieced together a moon landing, a half naked astronaut, a teapot on steroids and a puppet show and made a magical evening out of it. MIKA was performing so hard during the first couple of songs that he split his trousers. Luckily, this isn’t a death metal show so a costume change in front of us was a welcome event. MIKA is a good looking man with a tall in shape physique that includes perfectly tousled hair, nice feet and did I mention his British accent. I can certainly see why women and men fawn over him. All that being said and I still have not even gotten to the best part of MIKA, his voice! To say this man can sing doesn’t do him justice. His voice is in the realms of FREDDIE MERCURY and GEORGE MICHAEL. His voice is just so pure and downright beautiful and he can pull it off live. In fact, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about his show at all. Everything was perfect and the show featured some of my favorite things; retro clothing, feather hats, costume changes, colorful sets, moons, confetti and of course, MIKA. He even invited the crowd to sing with him. Of course, my favorite performance was LOVE TODAY but perhaps that is because that was my introduction into the wonderful world of MIKA. One thing is for certain, when you see MIKA live you will leave feeling a million times better than when you went in. With all the bad things happening in the world today it is nice to take a break from them and go on a musical journey with a true inspiration. Thanks MIKA!
http://www.lenalamoray.com/mikareview.html
http://www.lenalamoray.com/
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