Sep 13

Sep 13 Show Review: KISS Bring The 'End of the Road' Tour to Wheatland, CA

KISS
September 12th, 2021
Toyota Amphitheater
Wheatland, CA

Photos and review by Jared Stossel

I’m 28 years old. The era of massive arena rock bands, when “giants walked the earth”, was long gone by the time that I was born. But I fell in love with rock music at an early age. So whenever I was given an opportunity to see a band like AC/DC, the late great Eddie Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, etc., I always took that chance. I still do. It’s something akin to stepping into a time machine and seeing how things once were. I’ll never forget seeing Paul McCartney at the final Candlestick Park show; for a brief moment, I was back in the 1960s, watching The Beatles rule the world.

With that being said, there’s always an apprehension from people to check out acts like this. Some think that their time has passed, that they’re “not like they used to be”, or that they’ll just plain suck. This was not the case with KISS, the massively popular and theatrical rock band from the 70s and 80s, who brought their wildly intense stage show to the Toyota Amphitheatre in Wheatland, CA, just a few miles outside of Sacramento proper. I had never had the chance to see KISS when I was even younger (so no, before you ask, I never got to see them with Ace Frehley on guitar or Peter Criss on drums). But goddammit, this was one of the most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen.

KISS is not a technically proficient band; sure, guitarist Tommy Thayer can shred, but KISS isn’t about shredding, or playing like Rush; KISS is here to entertain, plain and simple. The entire band descends from the rafters as the largest amalgamation of pyrotechnics, sparklers, CO2 cannons, and fireworks I’ve ever seen in a concert goes off behind them in rapid fire succession. Gene Simmons still spits blood and fire. Tommy Thayer shoots down UFOs with the power of his guitar (no, I’m serious). Drummer Eric Singer plays a drum solo atop a platform that looks like it’s blasting off into space. Paul Stanley ziplines into the audience and plays two songs amidst the crowd. All of this occurs as the band careen through hit after hit after hit from their decades-long career, including “Detroit Rock City”, “Lick It Up”, “Calling Dr. Love”, “God of Thunder”, “Love Gun”, and countless others.

Even though the band is dubbing this “The End of The Road” Tour, many people have asked why KISS just haven’t stopped already (this is not their first farewell tour, it should be noted). But after seeing their nearly two-hour show, I completely understand why people keep flocking back to see this band since they burst onto the rock scene in the 70s. Their show is well worth the price of admission, they know how to write catchy songs that stay with you for days on end, and they give it their all. If this is truly the “End of the Road” for KISS (as far as their touring career goes), I’m glad that I was able to play witness to one of their shows before they crossed the finish line.

KISS Setlist
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
War Machine
Heaven’s On Fire
I Love It Loud
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
Say Yeah
Cold Gin
(Guitar Solo)
Tears Are Falling
Psycho Circus
(Drum Solo)
100,000 Years
(Bass Solo)
God of Thunder
Love Gun
I Was Made For Lovin’ You
Black Diamond

Encore:
Beth
Do You Love Me
Rock and Roll All Nite