Media Review - Def Leppard, KISS provide electrifying show in Pittsburgh stop By Kellie Gormly

KISS and Def Leppard gave electrifying performances Sunday night at First Niagara Pavilion, as the legendary bands took fans through the rock and roll of the '70s and '80s in front of an audience that included all ages.

Technically, since KISS wrapped up the show, it was the headliner, but Def Leppard, a British rock band known mostly for its energetic hits from the 1980s, is nobody's opener. It was definitely a co-headlining concert.

Def Leppard nailed it with an understated, simple performing style that used few theatrics or pyrotechnics. The band focused on performing the strong music with charisma and giving fans some good, clean rock and roll. Video effects, like the series of clips that showcased the band during its 30-plus year run during the playing of “Hysteria,” were rare.

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott still sounds very good and, at moments, he sounded like he would have at a concert 25 years ago. His aging tenor voice can't hit some of the very high notes, but to remedy that, the jeans-clad Elliott sang at a lower octave during high-pitched songs like “Love Bites.”

Def Leppard's 75-minute setlist included all of the favorites from its phenomenal 1987 album “Hysteria,” including “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Animal” and “Rocket.” Def Leppard also touched on its “Pyromania” album, playing earlier hits like “Rock of Ages” — its encore song — and “Photograph.”

Rick Allen amazed the crowd with his one-armed drumming, using extra foot pedals to compensate. Guitarist Vivian Campbell looks healthy and energetic after his treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

While a Def Leppard show offers a feast for the ears and emphasizes music over showiness, a KISS show — with those outlandish costumes, clownish makeup, fiery special effects and fancy stunts — offers a visual spectacle that's still entertaining even if the music isn't.

The centerpiece of this tour's KISS show was a giant, illuminated spidery structure that introduced the band members at the beginning of the show. They appeared on top of the spider singing “Psycho Circus.” The eight-legged spider, with plenty of lighting effects, hovered over the band for the whole show, often squatting down or rising.

Gene Simmons, the KISS class clown, entertained the audience with his ever-present tongue wagging like Miley Cyrus, and his grotesque, but popular shtick of bleeding from the mouth.

Lead singer Paul Stanley flew out over the audience on a cable near the end of the 75-minute set to perform “Black Diamond” on a mini stage. Stanley clearly loves his fans, as he spoke to the crowd between every song in his New York accent and telling Pittsburghers to go crazy with the music.

KISS ended the set with its signature hit “Rock and Roll All Nite” in a shower of confetti.

By The Pittsburgh Tribune 2014.

Media Review - KISS DEF LEPPARD CONCERT REVIEW AND PICTURES By Maximus McCullough

The KISS Def Leppard concert yesterday was cool! A good break in my action thanks to my brotha Rich Wyant and his beautiful wife Gina Wyant who got me a ticket we were on our way to see these legendary rock bands. I am not a KISS fan and I listen to Def Leppard very little so I feel this review is somewhat unbiased. The fact that we go to a lot of concerts and venues also put me in a good position to leave this review.

The weather for the concert was exceptional. Not too hot and not too cold. As I proceeded out of my driveway and onto the the highway I felt the soft wind in my face. The smell of the clean cotton linen on my body where filling the air as I flew down the highway. Only another biker could understand what I mean by soft air. There were not any bugs out either. I pulled in to Rich and Gina’s place and we loaded up the Escalade and off we went.

KISS Def Leppard Concert Tickets and Seat Positions

One of the things that we did at this concert is we got 2 front row tickets and several lawn seat tickets. We were at the First Niagra in Burgettstown Pa. As the concert went on we would take turns going to the front get some pictures and then let the next guy go. Rich and Gina crafted this master plan and it worked perfectly.

The Sound Quality at First Niagara Pavilion

Th First Niagara Pavillion has been called many things. Coca Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre, Post Gazette Pavillion and more. it’s hard to keep up with the name changes but irregardless of its name it is the best place in our opinion to watch large concert venues.

Def Leppard Review at First Niagara

The sound quality was excellent and the bands talent had not diminished one bit. I started back in the field and as it was my turn to approach the front row I felt the bass beating my chest harder and it was an exhilarating feeling. Joe Elliot’s vocals were superb and the band sounded just like the record. They played for a good while and I was totally impressed with their performance.

KISS Review at the First Niagara Pavillion

When I was a child KISS scared the bejesus out of me. I was never crazy about their music. I think their music is simple, too simple however their showmanship is unbelievable. They had everything right on cue from pyrotechnics, lighting, lasers, fire and more. Truly a sight to behold. Their sound was just like their records and although I don’t care for their music I have great respect for this band and its fans. It looked like the KISS fans were in KISS heaven when the band performed and what more could you ask for from a legend like this?

KISS Meet and Greet

I also have to say that according to my good friends Gina Wyant and Adonis Wyant the KISS meet and greet was awesome. The band took the time to talk with each and every person there and even had to be told when the time was up for visiting. They took back several things to sign but the rules were that you could only have 2 things signed by the band members. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were great, they signed everything that the fans wanted them too irregardless of the rules! Long Live Anarchy and Long Live KISS!

By Maximus McCullough 2014.

Media Review - Kiss still blazes in shorter set at First Niagara Pavilion By Scott Mervis

A re-energized Kiss has released two albums in the past five years, so you would think that at least one new song would crack the set list.

After all, the album titles were "Sonic Boom" and "Monster," suggesting something on there had to rock in some mighty way.

That wasn't the case Sunday night at the First Niagara Pavilion on this post-"Monster" summer tour as the band stayed with the tried and true in a lean, mean 14-song set of mostly classics.

The new toy to lay on the Kiss Army was the "spider stage" lighting rig that lowered three-quarters of the crew down to launch "Psycho Circus," something of a scene setter even if was the newest song in the set. Paul Stanley delivered it in his own shrill, pitchy way and from there it was Kiss in all its gory glory.

"We've been coming here since a lot you were born!" Mr. Stanley, the absolute master of between-song banter, shouted. It was one of the evening's few understatements, as they've been coming before some of the parents of the kids there were born.

"You're looking at a band that's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!" he added.

Kiss is in the fire, blood and greasepaint wing of that dubious institution, and once again unleashed it all on stage.

Gene Simmons, 64 and one of rock's premier loudmouths, sounded dark and forceful growling "Deuce" while handling the fire-breathing between "War Machine" and "Hotter Than Hell" and flying and blood-spewing on his demon anthem "God of Thunder."

Mr. Stanley did his flying, out to the B stage, on "Love Gun," just another song you don't want to explain to the kids.

They made "Lick It Up" all the more tasty and exciting by rising up on the spider while breaking into the "Won't Get Fooled Again" jam. From deeper in the catalog came "Hide Your Heart," which allowed Kiss to throw a little R&B into the mix.

Kiss, which still rocks all these years later, thanks in part to Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, brought the brief set to an explosive climax with its three big hitters: "Black Diamond," "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Nite."

For the little ones in the facepaint and Kiss T-shirts, out late on a school night, Mr. Stanley repeated a point he made the last time: "Here's a message to the children: We were there for your parents and we'll be there for you!"

Fans who got into Kiss as teenagers around 1975 in the "Kiss Alive" era (raises hand) might not have be big on Def Leppard, which made its mark about five years later with "High 'n' Dry." The British band, a headliner at this shed many times, struck more of a chord with the slightly younger set.

Def Leppard seemed more suited to an opening role as frontman Joe Elliott was not pushing an overwhelming volume of sound out of his once high voltage pipes. So, add Def Leppard to the list of bands that could use a young tribute singer, or just use Motley Crue's backup singers for that occupational hazard. It doesn't help that the songs aren't all great to begin with.

The crowd did its part by joining in on the big hits like "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Rock of Ages," part of an encore fans didn't call for with much enthusiasm. On a life-affirming note was the one-armed, barefoot drum solo from Rick Allen, and guitarist Vivian Campbell being there having battled his way back from cancer.

By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2014.

Reviews from the 2014 Pittsburgh, PA Show.