KISS @ Casino Rama

Mike Fowler Corus Radio

December 12, 2017 12:27 am

KISS @ Casino Rama — ORILLIA, ON - AUGUST 18, 2017: KISS perform live at Casino Rama Resort.
Mike Fowler / Mike Fowler Photography

KISS, on their current Freedom to Rock Tour, made their one and only Canadian stop at Casino Rama and made their presence known long before they hit the stage.

Fans swarmed into the sold out, 5000 seat theatre, toting everything from vintage posters, banners, records and programs only to hover over and purchase this tour’s latest merchandise. Vintage to modern KISS Army apparel was the uniform of purpose as a sea of KISS t-shirts to full body suit costumes filled the lobby and stadium. Due to safety and casino regulations, only patrons, devoid of their traditional kabuki-style face make up of their favourite band members were missing from this circus.

KISS opened the show with the iconic song “Deuce” to pyrotechnics, smoke and light show fitting such a glam-rock spectacle that set the pace for the night. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer took the audience on a KISS-coaster ride through an amazing sixteen great songs from their massive anthology with a choreographed performance that is as fresh and yet expected from the band.

From the primal pounding of the drums to the growl of the bass, guitar solos to the ever powerful vocals of Paul and Gene, the band powered through each song with purpose. The audience was a sea of old and new fans who stood non-stop for the entire performance and sang loud through classic material such as “Shout it Out Loud”, “Love Gun”, and “God Of Thunder” to newer material of “Say Yeah” to “Psycho Circus”.

Prior to their encore, KISS welcomed to the stage Cpl. Kayla Harris, a Canadian Armed Forces soldier, who was chosen as a KISS Roadie for a Day. Joining her on stage was the CFB Borden Colour Guard where KISS thanked them for their service and then, joined by everyone in the venue, sang a heartfelt “O Canada”.

As the night ended, Gene blew fire, spit blood, flew to the rafters and waggled his tongue while his bass work rumbled through the theatre. Paul’s distinctive and dynamic voice belted out each song with conviction as he danced around the stage like a teenager, only to top that by flying out to meet the crowd at the soundboard for a song or two. Tommy’s melodic lead guitar work and Eric’s hard hitting double bass drum sound made the KISS experience a night to remember at the sold out show at Casino Rama.