I just saw KISS in Regina, Saskatchewan. I am currently up in Saskatchewan doing some work for a piece I am going to write about playing golf in Saskatchewan and when I was in Regina, I found out KISS was playing. Yes that KISS, one of the greatest rock and roll bands in history and those dudes who wear the makeup. That KISS. But KISS in Regina? I couldn’t miss that!

So I changed my whole schedule for my time here in Saskatchewan to spend an extra night in Regina and it was so worth it. KISS blew the doors off the Brandt Centre; which is normally just a small time minor league hockey arena. They also have some shows but bands like KISS in Regina doesn’t happen everyday.

Just saying KISS in Regina (assuming you pronounce Regina properly, that is Ruh-Jine-Uh) is a lot of fun. If you don’t get it, say it fast a few times! Paul Stanley, the main lead singer and guitarist of KISS thought it was great too because he kept saying it over and over during the show.

I also happened to catch a guitar pick that Paul threw out onto the seats during the show so I was extra pumped about that. As for the rest of the band; Tommy and Eric were great and Gene Simmons was of course Gene-the demon.

This was actually my first ever KISS show. I had meant to go several times in New York and other places but it just never worked out but when I heard about KISS in Regina, I was beyond excited.

The other thing about seeing a band like KISS in Regina is that my seat on the floor in the 5th row cost C$150. That same ticket at Madison Square Garden in New York would have cost $1500-$2000. So needless to say I didn’t mind paying extra for a great seat.

KISS played pretty much all their greatest hits plus a few ones off their new album ‘Monster’. I’d be lying if I said I knew any of the new ones but the old ones like Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, I was Made For Loving You, Lick It Up and Rock N Roll All Night; which they closed with, all sounded great! The only one they didn’t do that I love is God Gave Rock and Roll To You.

To say it was loud in the Brandt Centre is an understatement. It was beyond loud but that’s KISS, that’s what they do, they blow the roof off arenas. It was great to see them still rocking after all these years.

The stage show itself was pretty awesome with a lot of fire and pyrotechnics. That’s commonplace nowadays with big concerts but still always cool.

The thing that I noticed the most live and being up so close is that they all wear massive platform shoes, especially Gene Simmons-along with the rest of his gear. He kind of looks like a mix of ‘Demolition’ (the 1990’s WWF Wrestling Tag Team) and ‘Gwar’ (a 1990’s band favorite by Beavis and Butt-Head). Some of you may be too young to have any idea what I’m talking about but just Google it!

The other thing about Gene Simmons up close is how much he does his tongue thing; which has made him so famous. First, the tongue is ridiculously long but what shocked me is how much saliva comes out of his mouth each time he does it and it just drips all over his gear. It was both gross and awesome at the same time-pretty cool for a guy whose real name is Chaim Witz, born in Haifa, Israel.

The crowd for KISS in Regina was pretty good but I was kind of shocked that it wasn’t a sell out. KISS may have skipped a generation of appeal so it doesn’t have as broad an audience as some of contemporary bands that would sell out a small arena in Regina in a heartbeat.

But any way you slice it, KISS rocked Regina and I was so pumped to be at my first KISS show and be that close. I had a blast in Regina in general, but that was the icing on the cake and ensures, I will never forget Regina.

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