Review: Motley Crue, KISS at Klipsch
by Joey Megan Harris
Slideshow
Last night, I got to see a band that introduced me to metal when I was a wee little tot. Last night was the culmination of many dreams over the years that I would one day be in the same vicinity as Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx. Last night, I got to see Motley Crue, Kiss and The Treatment. And it was one of the best nights of my entire life.
Unfortunately, because of the weather, the show was delayed a half an hour. All the people on the lawn had to evacuate to their cars. I was not about to walk two miles back to my car, so I waited in the merch tent until they gave us the all clear. I'm really glad I didn't go back to my car, because most of the people on the lawn that did leave and come back missed half of The Treatment's set.
The Treatment are a fantastic metal band from England. How did I not know of this band beforehand? The vocalist's range was incredible, and the whole band gave a really energetic show. They may be a young band, but they showed that they can keep up with monster bands like Kiss and Motely Crue.
A ticking clock counted down Motley Crue's entrance, essentially whipping the entire crowd into a frenzy before even a drumbeat or a chord rang out. A circus-like parade flowed through the pavilion crowd, including stilt walkers, dancers and flag bearers most of them masked. Then, Crue arrived.
It honestly was a dream come true. Everything I had ever imagined and seen on YouTube clips did not prepare me for the show that I witnessed. There were back up dancers with to-die-for skimpy outfits and big voices, scarf dancers in the air, dancers hanging from chains, stilt walkers with fetish pets underneath their skirts, a roller coaster that sent Tommy Lee and a lucky concert goer named Brian upside-down through the air while they were still on the drum riser. The stage platforms were set on fire more than once during the night. There were mirrored pianos, lasers and fireworks. So many fireworks. Nikki Sixx's bass shot flames, and clowns shot water cannons at the crowd. It was a fantastical circus of mayhem and debauchery.
I don't know how many people I have seen commenting that Vince Neil's voice is shot or isn't what it used to be. I can tell you that Vince Neil's voice is still incredibly strong, and he can still hit most of the high notes. He is still every inch of the charismatic frontman he has always been. I've always raved that Mick Mars should be listed alongside such greats as Eddie Van Halen and Angus Young. Last night, though, witnessing Mick play right in front of me and hearing him playing live, my belief was validated. Mick Mars' playing deserves to be worshipped and used as a template for new guitarists everywhere. He is, simply, a guitar god.
KISS finished out the night, proving that 39+ years into their career, they can still blow a crowd away. Paul Stanley has the same voice as he did at the beginning of their career. Gene Simmons spat blood and it was still as horrifying-ly awesome as ever. Both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley flew high above the crowd. Paul to right in front of the lawn crowd to ecstatic cheering and Gene to the rafters, looking like a demonic angel. As controversial as it may be that Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer have taken up the Space Man and Cat Man personas, they proved to be show-stopping and fantastic in their own right.
In my opinion, KISS should have played second, with Motley Crue closing out the show. Motley Crue had dancers, backup girls, extreme pyro, and much more, but KISS only had minimal pyro and a lot less of the pageantry and mayhem that the Crue brought. Tommy Thayer shot sparks out of the headstock of his guitar, and Nikki shot flames out of his. KISS shot flames in the air, and Crue set the actual stage on fire. Tommy Lee showered the crowd in champagne, and Gene Simmons stood on security's head. But, regardless of who should have gone first, the entire show was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the most incredible performances I've ever had the honor of watching. Long live KISS. Long live Motley Crue. Long live all of the memories of last night.
Related Locations
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Klipsch Music Center
- 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville Noblesville Indiana 46060
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(317) 776-8181
- www.livenation.com
- (based on 3 user reviews)
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