The 4th installment of the KISS Kruise acoustic show was to take place on the island Stirrup Cay but due to inclement weather the band was forced to play on the pool deck for the 4th straight year. No matter how nasty some of the wind gusts became, the fans took in a solid show by KISS.
It’s almost becoming tradition due to the 2nd year in a row KISS opened up with the ever so appropriate “Comin’ Home.” Some gems were played as “Plaster Caster” and “All The Way” were dusted off of the “Love Gun” and “Hotter Than Hell” albums respectively. Bassist Gene Simmons never sat as he chose to play the entire show standing up. The rest of the band pretty much stayed on their respective stools until the end when rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley stood a few times to play and interact with his bandmates.
I love the song “See You Tonite” and glad it made its way back into the Kruise acoustic set. Since they expanded a tad and added a song from the solo albums, maybe they can add “Tonight You Belong to Me” next time? One of the more well-crafted KISS songs “Hide Your Heart’ has also recently made its way back into the set after their last handful of performances. Stanley sang it and let the crowd sing some of the chorus as well. Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer did a commendable job singing “Shock Me.” Besides his solid drumming, Eric Singer really makes his mark on the current KISS. Anytime the band plays acoustically, you really do hear what a difference his voice makes. Some examples of this can be heard on “All the Way” and “Got to Choose.” He also took lead vocal duties on “Nothin’ to Lose.”
The band at various times brought kids up to sing with them, hand out guitar picks along with giving them attention to the delight of everyone on the boat. The hour and a half set wrapped up with the rarity now a days “Cold Gin” and fan favorite “Do You Love Me?” After the latter, Stanley shocked the audience by smashing his acoustic guitar. This may be the first time he has ever done this after an acoustic performance from what I know.
Another year and the same result; a solid KISS acoustic performance!
Setlist:
Comin’ Home
Plaster Caster
Got to Choose
God of Thunder (snippet)
Hide Your Heart
Christine Sixteen
Nothin’ to Lose
Lover Her All I Can
See You Tonite (Gene Simmons song)
Hard Luck Woman
All the Way
Shock Me
Hotter Than Hell
Firehouse
C’mon and Love Me
Cold Gin
Do You Love Me
We would like to thank Alaidriale Derway and Anthony Diaz from Sixthman for the credentials to review the show.
