“KISS Rocks Vegas” by KISS [Blu-ray/CD]

Artist: KISS
Title: “KISS Rocks Vegas” [Blu-ray/CD]
Label: Eagle Vision
Release Date: 8/26/2016
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 4.5/5

The opening copy of the press release that arrived with this concert video and audio piece asked “Is there ANY live experience like KISS on stage” and to that inquiry I can only say “no, there is nothing else like this” and now I can get into the examination of the upcoming “KISS Rocks Vegas” release that will hit the shelves in about a week. I’ve had the discs for a few days already and watched them a couple of times but also was fortunate enough to see this presented on the big screen at the AMC Empire 25 back in May. Readers who are interested in my topical thoughts on that experience can click on THIS LINK to see what I had to say. Knowing what was to be found on the Blu-ray release makes these words easy and I will try to not be too repetitive.

“KISS Rocks Vegas” comes from the band’s first ever historic residency at “The Joint” in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In my humble opinion, there is probably no better band to see in this kind of setting and since the space would not be arena size it would be interesting to see what kind of show KISS would give their fans. Starting off with the classic opener “Detroit Rock City” the band shows that they still have what it takes to bring you the most exciting show possible. The stage is a dizzying array of screens that bring you right up closer than you would be in the first row and if you have a decent sized television in your home then you are in for a treat. As I said in the film review the tune selections were awesome for me since some long missed tunes were back in the bands set such as “Creatures Of The Night”, “War Machine” and “Tears Are Falling”. I do miss “Firehouse” for the flame splitting by Gene Simmons but I guess I can deal with some change at this point.

From top to bottom the show is more hit-loaded than with newer material and that is something that KISS prefers to do with their shows. Both Gene and Paul have maintained while new songs are important to them, the fans come to see the songs that made their earliest memories special to them in the first place and on that they deliver. KISS has far too many solid albums in my humble opinion and I do think that I would like to see them doing some kind of full album focus show with peppered in hits at some point. Perhaps an “Unmasked” or “Dynasty” show or even “The Elder” in full along with selected must do hits. During the show the audience was seen singing along and you will find yourself doing the same thing when you watch this one and I suggest that you do it at maximum volume.

All of the expected stage happenings take place with the fire-breathing, the blood spitting, the ride into the crowd on trapeze and performance on a center bridge along with the guitar smoking and drums rising. Such exciting stuff that still sends a chill through my musical psyche even after seeing the band so many times in concert. It still bothers some fans that Tommy and Eric are sporting the Ace and Peter makeup but I am not letting that stop me from enjoying anything at all. I just love having another live KISS video and album in my collection of their works and I choose to keep enjoying the stuff until it ends for good. Now let’s examine the bonus features.

Bonus Feature: KISS Acoustic 1. Coming Home 2. Plaster Caster 3. Hard Luck Woman 4. Christine Sixteen 5. Goin’ Blind 6. Love Her All I Can 7. Beth

*** The acoustic segment is rather interesting and is from what I understand something that KISS has done before shows for a few years now for the VIP Ticket holders. This is a pricy ticket according to research and it’s great to find KISS offering this kind of premium to them. For those who have never seen this in the flesh for themselves, the band is NOT in costume – that comes later with the big show. There is a great selection of classics done during the acoustic set which I also think is done by a fan vote. None of the songs in the acoustic set are delivered during the electric set in the main program and some of these are deep cuts.

The packaging was important to me as a lifelong KISS fan as well since there is nothing we like more than lots of photos or cool other visual presentations of the masked foursome. The booklet inside this set spans sixteen pages with at least three times that amount in actual photographs to enjoy. I loved all of them with the exception of how many guitar picks they show across the package. I collect those things so seeing a collected bunch of KISS ones just makes me drool LOL.

My only gripe is that the documentary part that was seen during the film screening doesn’t appear to be on the dick and I felt that it should have been there. Overall I loved this release and happily add it to my music library’s KISS section. Several different editions exist for this and will serve many needs. This one includes a CD that features all the main program tracks so you can bring that in the car with you. Or upload it to your cloud and have it everywhere you desire.

Blu-ray Tracks:
1. Detroit Rock City
2. Creatures Of The Night
3. Psycho Circus
4. Parasite
5. War Machine
6. Tears Are Falling
7. Deuce
8. Lick It Up
9. I Love It Loud
10. Hell Or Hallelujah
11. Guitar Solo
12. Bass Solo
13. God Of Thunder
14. Do You Love Me
15. Love Gun
16. Black Diamond
17. Shout It Out Loud
18. Rock And Roll All Nite
19. God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II (Credits)

CD Tracks
1. Detroit Rock City
2. Creatures Of The Night
3. Psycho Circus
4. Parasite
5. War Machine
6. Tears Are Falling
7. Deuce
8. Lick It Up
9. I Love It Loud
10. Hell Or Hallelujah
11. God Of Thunder
12. Do You Love Me
13. Love Gun
14. Black Diamond
15. Shout It Out Loud
16. Rock And Roll All Nite

Official Website: http://www.kissonline.com

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