CHECK IT OUT: KISS rock out at Tribeca Film Festival to celebrate A&E documentary
Photo: KISS are ready to head out on their End of the Road tour. Photo courtesy of Jen Rosenstein / Provided by official press release.
NEW YORK — On a cool, cloudy night, right along the banks of the Hudson River, one of the most iconic and successful rock bands in history officially opened up the New York City concert season and celebrated their nearly 50 years of musical dominance. KISS, consisting of singer Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, drummer Eric Singer and lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, took to the stage in Battery Park for a five-song, electrified set before a crowd of socially distanced concertgoers.
The occasion was the premiere of A&E’s new two-part documentary Biography: KISStory, which is set to air on the network June 27 and June 28 at 9 p.m. Fans of the band who were lucky enough to score free tickets took in part one of the project at the annual Tribeca Film Festival. Attendees were scattered around an open lawn in pods of chairs, with free caramel popcorn keeping them company until go time.
Following an opening address by the film’s creative team, the 90-minute first part of KISStory played beneath the open skies to much fanfare, and the crowd had definitely swelled by 9 p.m. because the legendary band was set to take the stage for a special performance — their first in the United States in a long, long time.
There were previews of what the night would have in store as soon as concertgoers entered the lawn area. Enormous KISS signs were standing nearby and ready to ignite. At one point, before the event formally began, Singer came out on stage and waved to fans; he was apparently checking out his drum set. Platform risers were strategically placed around the performance space as well. This was going to be big.
Then, with darkness falling upon the Big Apple and the documentary screening complete, Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” blared from the speakers, which is a longtime signal to the KISS Army that the band is about to take the stage. And, boy, did they take the stage. The four current members of the rock band emerged to torrents of fan adulation, assumed their positions, welcomed the crowd, and kickstarted the mini-concert with a spirited, and pyrotechnic, performance of “Detroit Rock City.” It was an awesome start to the five-song setlist because Detroit is an important part of KISS’ story, made obvious in the Biography: KISStory documentary.
The flames flew vertical on the expansive stage, while fireworks artfully lit up the sky. The temperature clicked up a few degrees thanks to the plumes of smoke and fire. Those KISS signs that flanked the stage were no longer dark; they emitted high-wattage brightness, and the movie screen played through a series of animations and KISS logos, much to the delight of the crowd.
After “Detroit Rock City” came the sing-a-long “Shout It Out Loud,” a wonderfully realized anthem that typifies the KISS sound. Then, somewhat surprisingly but definitely welcomed, the four members of the band launched into “War Machine,” a bit of a deep cut for the real members of the KISS Army in the audience.
The special night finished with “Heavens on Fire,” which had the fans dancing, and “Rock and Roll All Nite,” the song everyone was expecting. Streamers flew out into the audience for this final number; a guitar was broken on stage by Stanley, while Simmons, Singer and Thayer ascended the heights on those raised platforms; general pandemonium ensued.
KISS came to the Tribeca Film Festival and rocked the lawn of Battery Park with electric gusto. Their promise of a longer set for the rejuvenated End of the Road tour, purported to be their last, will no doubt have the KISS Army coming out again for one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time. That North American leg kicks off in August, but for now, fans can soak in the memories of this awesome night in New York City, where it all began five decades ago for the band.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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