Cleveland/Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Media Reviews

KISS and Def Leppard rock Blossom in the rain By Michael Heaton

Shortly after KISS took the stage at Blossom Music Center Tuesday night, Paul Stanley, lead singer and guitarist, addressed the audience.

"This band you see up here on stage is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," he said to thunderous applause. "And it's all because of you."

It was the first of several sweet moments during the headliner's set.

I saw KISS for the first time two years ago, also at Blossom, and the first thing that struck me about their show was how rote everything was. Despite all the pyrotechnics and stage business, the band was about as spontaneous as as insurance underwriter's report.

Even the set list marked what kind of stunt would follow which song. "Gene swallows fire. Gene spits blood. Paul flies," it said matter-of-factly.

How tedious this must be for them, I thought. They've been performing this exact paint by number carnival for decades, night after night. Where do they find it within themselves to make it fresh and fun, I wondered.

But Tuesday night I had a new appreciation for their dedication to their loyal audience and just how damn hard they work to pull this show off, night after night, year after year.

At one point, Stanley asked how many people had brought their children to the concert. He asked for a show of hands and there were many. One little girl, maybe 5 years old was in full KISS face make-up complete with a black wig. Stanley brought her onstage and held her in his arms.

"I just want you kids to know," he said to the almost sold-out venue. "We've been here for your parents and we will be here for you, too."

It was an emotional love fest that wasn't in evidence two years ago when the night's most off-the-cuff moment came when opening band Motley Crue's lead singer Vince Neil broke his ankle while leading a parade up to the stage. He played on gamely through his set hobbling around the stage.

But Tuesday night Stanley seemed to be speaking from his heart in between songs. At one point he even became unapologetically religious.

"We've been coming here a long time," he said about Blossom. "Before some of you were born. And I thank God, I thank God," he said repeating himself.

"For the honor and privilege of performing here. I mean we used to play the Agora."

It was a funny line and local reference not lost on anyone who has followed rock music, even casually, in this town for the last 50 years.

Gene Simmons did his usual kooky kabuki and tongue wagging routine. Local boy Eric Singer beat the cheese out of his drum set all night and Tommy Thayer got his guitar licks in when required.

But there was a sense of audience appreciation Tuesday night that wasn't there two years ago. Maybe it was that the audience on the lawn endured a soaking after a rain shower rolled through early in the program. It might have something to do with the Rock Hall induction. Who can say? But even though the set list and stage gags remained the same, the vibe was very sweet and sincere. KISS could have gotten away with calling themselves SMOOCH Tuesday night.

And who knew there were thousands of people in Cleveland who know all the lyrics to a dozen Def Leppard songs? Not me. But it was in clear evidence at Blossom Tuesday night that the '80s British metal, power-anthem band has not been forgotten by folks in Northeast Ohio.

A forest of fist-pumping fans, many holding aloft a sea of blue, Bud Lite tallboy cans, sang along with every word.

The band's muscular and at times melodic opening set delivered high voltage favorites such as "Love Bites," "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" and their classic rock radio hit "Pour Some Sugar on Me" for a very appreciative crowd.

Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott mentioned that one dollar from every ticket on the tour went to the Wounded Warrior Foundation for returning veterans. It was yet another feel-good moment for the loud and large evening.

By The Plain Dealer 2014.

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