It was “Rock N Roll All Nite” as KISS brought their End of the Road Tour to Tinley Park as they make their final rounds.
The sudden drop in temperature did not deter the swarms of KISS fans as many donned the iconic face paint and outfits of their idols who rolled into town to say a final goodbye to life on the road. At least that’s what they are saying for now, and let’s face it, we’re all hoping this is one of those times, we often hear of, where they renege on it.
The excitement was palpable as the screens sprung to life with a video showing the band being led from their dressing rooms to the stage by long-time manager Doc McGhee. Shortly after, the large KISS-logo emblazoned covering of the stage fell to the ground, revealing each band member as they were lowered on their individual platforms down onto the stage from up above. The entire venue went crazy!
For two full hours, KISS rocked the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, delving back through their ample catalog of hits. With a career spanning almost 50 years, they have plenty of material to choose from but remembered their roots as they performed “Cold Gin,” “Deuce,” and “Black Diamond” from their 1974 debut album. They opened the show with a quick one-two of “Detroit Rock City” and “Shout It Out Loud” which brought the amphitheater alive. There was something in the setlist for everyone, fans old and new. Judging by the excessive number of cell phones in the air recording the majority of the show, this was a night the fans wanted to remember for prosperity.
This had every single thing that we have come to love and expect when these guys take to the stage. We had Gene’s signature spitting of blood, breathing fire, and sticking his tongue out at various audience members. We had Paul flying across the crowd on a zip-line to the back of the venue, as well as playing his guitar through his legs with his pick on his tongue. Of course, we had the sky-high platform boots, face-paint, and iconic outfits, but that’s just a given.
If there’s one KISS can do, that’s put on a spectacular live show. Their showmanship is second to none, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a band that interacts with the crowd as much. The show was filled with an impressive amount of pyrotechnics, flames, and lasers. Let’s not forget Tommy Thayer’s guitar shooting down the UFOs during his solo!
We sincerely hope this wasn’t the last we’ll see of these guys. While all good things must come to an end, we’re not sure we’re quite ready for it yet. Although the End of the Road Tour has been going on since 2019, with a little delay in between thanks to Covid, and still has dates scheduled throughout next year, we’re (not so) secretly hoping they just keep going. We can dream, right? If this is truly the end of the road for them, we would like to thank them for the fun, the memories, and the shows.
There are still a handful of North American dates scheduled including their Las Vegas residency before they head overseas. Check out their remaining dates and get yourself along if you can. It’s one you won’t regret.
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