KISS gives one (presumably) last spectacle at SPAC

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Farewell tours are a funny thing in rock music since no one, band or fan, takes them seriously. In 2000, KISS came to SPAC for a farewell tour, then returned to the Capital Region in 2003, 2010, 2014 and Saturday night. This show was part of its multi-year End of the Road tour, billed as the last-ever KISS tour. While it’s easy to scoff at another retirement announcement, Saturday’s concert at SPAC indeed felt like the last KISS.

That isn’t to say KISS’ set was lackluster; on the contrary, the band promised its biggest show to-date and largely delivered on that. For over two hours KISS offered up pyrotechnics so strong they distorted the sound mix each time they went off, monstrous riffs, blood and other gloriously fun audiovisual dazzlers to experience in person. But even thought it was an entertaining show that had all the hallmarks of a top-notch KISS show, it felt like the group had finally run its course.

Lead singer Paul Stanley is 67 and his vocals have become a little ragged, accurately described as “quite strained" by TU reviewer Greg Haymes in 2010. Stanley still strained but sounded better overall at this show, successfully rejiggering the high notes and phrasing on “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Lick it Up” to avoid any miscues. In fact, Stanley even nicely busted out the falsetto intro to “Heaven’s on Fire,” a portion he’s largely abandoned on this tour. Vocal changes aside, Stanley remains an impressive physical presence on-stage, constantly dancing and shimmying about and using his body to cajole the audience into reactions.

Bassist Gene Simmons sounded strong on “God of Thunder” and “Calling Dr. Love.” On a pummeling “War Machine,” he did his trademark fire spit. Before the aforementioned “God of Thunder,” Simmons spat blood. Unlike past years, however, ripcords didn’t pull him to the rafters during that tune. Instead, a riser lifted him above the stage. It felt like a concession to safety as he becomes a septuagenarian (Simmons turns 70 today), but that wasn’t the only sign the Demon is slowing down. Simmons really didn’t move much all night. On past tours, he’d roam and take exaggerated stomps across the stage. Saturday he didn’t really move around at all, excepting back-and-forths with Stanley and lead guitarist Tommy Thayer on “Deuce” and “Cold Gin.”

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