PORTO ALEGRE, April 26th, Tuesday. The goal that day was simple: to see the KISS , who have been trying to put on their farewell tour since the pandemic began. The Brazilian leg is long and starts in the south, bringing enough to soothe the souls of generations of faithful fans who have followed the four masked members since the dawn of kissmania.
On their third visit to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul – which, like everywhere else, is in full post-pandemic turmoil and thirsting for cathartic events – KISS was scheduled for 9 pm. Before the masked revelers' party, a great opening act: Hit the Noise seemed harmless on the immense stage at the Arena do Grêmio, but brought with it a heavy sound, with influences of hard rock and some metal. Direct and with great vocals, the band delivers a lot live, and full of energy and great riffs, the quartet's repertoire worked perfectly.
After the show, the final adjustments: sound, lighting, beer, and restrooms, all for the long-awaited moment. The farewell was coming, and it began with the old pre-show checklist: Led Zeppelin blaring from the speakers, the voice announcing them, the audience in anticipation! As if by surprise, the curtain falls and there come Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer , and Tommy Thayer , the last and most enduring of the many incarnations of KISS, with the riff of "Detroit Rock City" in hand, descending from a super-high platform, landing on the Arena stage for a show of fireworks, explosions, levitations, and other creatures. The band followed with "Shout it Out Loud," and from then on it was a flashback.
“Wild animals, let me hear you!” shouts frontman Paul Stanley, hearing the warm reception from the gauchos. As the band lined up a series of classics, the fans were able to appreciate, in a mix of gratitude and nostalgia, the opportunity to see them one more time before throwing in the towel. “Deuce”, “War Machine”, “I Love it Loud”, “Say Yeah” – different songs, different decades, side by side in an anachronistic anthem, full of classics, memories and rock spirit.
Similarly, the audience spread throughout the Arena's sections included people of various age groups, all captivated by the iconic choruses and hypnotic audiovisual effects. It was impossible not to gaze in admiration at the band that seduced adults and children alike with its modus operandi : the kings of glam bring enchantment even to the most skeptical of blasés.
Besides a setlist that seemed to challenge the fearless Starchild to extensive and technically proficient high notes (especially the 80s-inspired "Lick It Up," "Heaven's On Fire," and "Tears Are Falling"), the repertoire of demonic abilities was also present. Watching Gene Simmons spit fire, soar onto the stage suspended by cables, or vomit blood and unleash "God of Thunder" from above, it was impossible not to be impressed: many albums, a reinvention of the audiovisual spectacle, worldwide success, and the guys are simply still in top form. To help, the show is full of technological innovations, light shows, multi-camera screens, all to forge a truly immersive experience for the audience.
Closing the show with a sequence of anthems, fans still have time to contemplate Paul Stanley's audacious zip line, which travels to the back of the audience and transforms the last into the first. Even in this, the guys get it right: on the other side of the lawn, Paul makes those furthest away feel like they're in the front rows. Divided into two different areas, the band continues as a trio on stage for "Love Gun" and "I Was Made for Loving You," with a huge disco ball on the screen that transforms the Arena into an unprecedented party, while Paul commands the audience from the back of the Arena. The singer and guitarist returns to the main stage in another flyover, and the fans already know: it's time to say goodbye.
Eric Singer's voice and presence captivated the audience in "Black Diamond" and "Beth," the latter of which he played on piano, adding even more to the spectacle. Tommy Thayer delivered solos full of passion and intimacy with the six strings, always faithful. Hats off to the stage and PA technicians, who provided impeccable sound for the event.
Finally, the band plays “Do You Love Me?”, but the question is rhetorical. Inflatable balloons energize the audience, and the song, with its apotheotic ending, segues into a huge shower of confetti, flames, smoke, and frightening explosions, and the rock anthem overflows from the speakers: “Rock and Roll All Night” crowns the night, finally bringing the closing of a truly legendary show.
Blessed with such a generous schedule, the people of Rio Grande do Sul had a night to remember, along with so many others filled with the sound and legends surrounding this extraordinary quartet, responsible for changing the path of so many people for so many decades. Today we see this band finally heading towards a well-deserved retirement, but one thing is certain – the story of the four made-up rockers will never stop being told. Those who saw it, saw it.
See below for exclusive photos of the show taken by our contributor Alessandra Felizari.
