Oh hell, I may as well admit it. I love kiss. Basically a living cartoon, they embody the spirit of the American rock ‘n’ roll dream, as envisaged by the likes of Wayne’s World, Bill and Ted or Beavis and Butthead, and they have carried that flame for nearly fifty years. And here’s the thing, while the band’s output may not have been entirely even, even the worst reviewed albums in the band’s canon throw up the odd gem, meaning that the band always entertain in the live arena. And not just because, as their critics argue, they pack the show with explosions. No. Kiss are a band that have written a ridiculous number of bona fide classics, all the while maintaining a live presence most bands would die for. It’s that age old combo – hard work and showmanship – and it has kept the fans flocking back year on year. As such, it’s actually kinda strange that Kiss have released so few live albums (a paltry seven, versus the myriad Rolling Stones live efforts), and here is where the Off The Soundboard series seek to redress the balance.
In many ways it’s a surprise, given the control Kiss typically seek to exert over every aspect of their image, that the band would opt for something as raw as a bootleg series. That said, this is the band who gave the fans the packed, warts and all Kissology DVD sets, and it says much of the superhuman confidence of Messrs Stanley and Simmons that they are happy to let the shows speak for themselves, shorn of fancy packaging and reminiscent of Aerosmith’s Live Bootleg album. Anyhow, I digress. Live In Virginia Beach follows in the footsteps of last year’s Tokyo 2001, and it finds the band on an impressively belligerent form.
A revitalised unit in 2004, guitarist Ace Frehley had been replaced by Tommy Thayer and the band sound a tighter unit overall. Better still, this 2004 show sees a remarkably different set list. Gone are a number of hits, including Talk To Me, Firehouse, Do you Love Me, Calling Dr Love, Heaven’s On Fire, Let Me Go Rock N Roll, Shock Me, God Of Thunder, Cold Gin, I Still Love You and Black Diamond. Great songs all, but ones already covered on the last album and a reminder that Kiss have plenty more from which to choose.
In their place, then, are blistering takes on Christine Sixteen, Tears Are Falling, She, Got To Choose, I Want You, King Of The Night Time World, War Machine (YES!) Unholy (HELL YES!!) and God Gave Rock N Roll To You, all of which are dispatched with gritty vigour by the band.
Otherwise, like Tokyo 2001, this is a strictly no-frills release. There is no proper cover art, no fancy inlay and no post-gig meddling to tune vocals, fix guitars or tidy the sound. And it works. If you’ve been to a Kiss gig (and if you’re contemplating this release, it’s a safe bet that you have), you know already that they’re a hard-working unit, occasionally ramshackle as they navigate the enormous stages they inhabit, but fully committed to the rock ‘n’ roll show, and that’s what these live sets capture far better than any spuriously edited fantasy concert. There’s a raw energy that comes from a band playing their hearts out in front of a massive crowd, and everything from Paul Stanley’s deliriously ludicrous stage raps to the band’s thunderous instrumental displays help to transport you to the gig.
The sound, as you might expect, is a touch scrappy, with vocals in particular fluctuating in levels. But for the most part, it’s a powerful show with solid, well-defined bass and well separated guitar. Turn it up (let’s face it, Kiss has to be loud) and let the defiant intro set the scene for a rock ‘n’ roll show that, even without the spectacle, still has more than a few tricks to show the newcomers. Listen, for example, to the way the band tighten up around the delirious intro for Got To Choose, nod along as the ludicrous I Love It Loud echoes around the arena (sadly missing the stadium sized drums of the original) and duck for cover as the berserker fury of War Machine comes marching into town (still one of the band’s finest moments). Hell, it’s all great – and best of all, you can’t escape the notion that Kiss, well known for inhabiting the role they created for themselves, are actually having fun with this one.
Music has many purposes. It can be cathartic, it can be emotional… hell, it can even be educational. Sometimes, however, you just want to rock, free from any further motive, and Kiss are simply the perfect band for that. They epitomise the hedonistic spirit of rock ‘n’ roll and in 2004, down at Virginia Beach, the band delivered a surprisingly heavy set to a clearly ecstatic crowd. In all honesty, Kiss have been around long enough that you know if you want it already, but this truly is a thrillingly raw document of a band hell bent on giving the audience exactly what they want. For sure, the packaging is bootleg-style, but the focus here is the music and, as Carly Simon once sang, when it comes to Kiss nobody does it better. 8/10
