This year I have have been getting back into Arena gigs, but only if it’s something I think will be special or good fun. I have seen most bands I want to see live and although I never been a massive Kiss fan, but being a fan of rock, they seem to be one I should really make the effort to see.

Only having really heard the big hitters, as a band Kiss have never really done much for me, but have a couple of friends that are big fans and with Newport’s finest Skindred supporting, being the Rock/Metal fan I am I thought I should make the effort before it’s too late, and seeing as this is their final, final, final Tour I should grasp my (supposed) last opportunity and judge them where it matters; live in the flesh.

I got Into the Arena just as Skindred were entering the vast stage and they jump straight into new track ‘Set Fazers’, taken from their forthcoming album ‘SMILE’. From that it was into the classic track ‘Rat Race’. They then play tracks from all parts of their back catalogue, With my particular favourite being ‘Kill The Power’.. Their final track in the forty five minutes set was the brilliant ‘Warning’ and a chance for that Newport helicopter to get going in the O2… Skindred really did get the audience pumped and ready for Kiss and left everyone with a SMILE on their face. In Benji they really do have one of the best frontman in the UK and someone who can win anyone over no matter whos crowd it is.

Now I won’t pretend I know too much about the Kiss catalogue and will put aside the social media rumours of miming and backing tracks and give an honest untarnished opinion. What can I say? From the moment the announcement came of the iconic opening and then into ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘Shout it Out’ into ‘Deuce’…Hang on, I know all these songs after all and with the stage show and flash pots n fire – this is amazing… They played ‘Psycho Circus’, which for some strange reason I do know and love that song but never thought I’d see it live…. Guitar solos, bass solo, Drum solo, these were all boxes ticked and done exceptionally well.

Everyone was up from the off and even being in seated area no one was sat down through the whole show. It really was a spectacle and smiles all around it was a show where it was hit after hit after hit and Finishing with ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’ the whole show was a full on blur of Rock, Pyro, confetti, rehearsed posing, blood and tongue waggling. All the clichés were there and some.

There’s a reason bands like Kiss are where they are and this is it, fun, fun, and fun. I have seen the likes of Rammstein at the same arena and this Kiss stage show blew them out of the water. A night of pure joy from the opening song of ‘Set Fazers’ from Skindred right through to the closing of ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’ that was entertainment of the highest standard.

Author: Gordon Lancaster