Kiss at Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, Ontario – August 17, 2019

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Joel Naphin

**Kiss** brought their **End of the Road** tour to Scotiabank Arena on August 17 where they played their last Toronto show. (Photo: Joel Naphin)

Kiss
Scotiabank Arena
Toronto, Ontario
August 17, 2019

The Scotiabank Arena was the place to be on August 17 where Kiss brought their End of the Road tour to play one last show in Toronto. This tour is presumed to be the band’s last trip around the world. Kiss played the same venue back in March and decided to give Toronto fans one more show. And what a show it was!

Fans of all ages filled the arena for this sold-out Toronto finale. Many were dressed as their favorite Kiss member. Some had seen the band many times over the years and some, like myself, were seeing Kiss for the first time. But everyone who was there on this August night was there for one reason and one reason only – to see Kiss play!

And Kiss did not disappoint!

But before Kiss took over the stage, performance painter David Garibaldi got the night underway and painted three portraits in a 30 minute period including one of Angus Young of AC/DC, Freddie Mercury of Queen and of course, Kiss – which was going to be signed by all four members and be given away to a lucky fan who donated to a charity. It was quite entertaining to watch and listen to Garibaldi as he painted on stage and to see his portraits come to life from a blank canvas.

Then it was time! Kiss‘ show got underway after Led Zeppelin‘s Rock and Roll blasted over the speakers and it wasn’t long before Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer (all dressed in character complete with platform shoes and makeup) descended from the rafters above the stage with flaring fire and smoke filling the stage.

Kiss began their two-plus hour set with 1976’s Detroit Rock City and Shout It Out Loud. The setlist was filled with a great mix of Kiss hits and gems. It was a show filled with fireworks, fire flares, confetti, balloons and more! At one point Stanley flew over and across the crowd to the back of the arena and onto a stage where he performed Love Gun and I Was Made For Loving You – surrounded by fans. The set ended with all four members back on stage for Black Diamond.

But the night wasn’t over yet! Kiss wasn’t finished! After a brief stage break the band played a three-song encore which began with Eric Singer rising up from the stage floor playing a grand piano and singing a beautiful rendition of Beth, a song originally recorded and performed by former Kiss drummer Peter Criss.

The encore finished off with Crazy Crazy Nights and Rock and Roll All Nite. Flares and fireworks went off, confetti shot out all over the arena and large-sized balloons bounced throughout the crowd.

“Toronto, did you have a good time?” Stanley asked the crowd. “You know something? We love you people. Good night!”

And before we knew it the night was over. This was it. Kiss finished their last show in Toronto.

My only disappointment of all this is not having seen them live prior to this and knowing that this will be the last time many of us will get to see Kiss on stage – if they stick to their word of this being the End of the Road.

Setlist:
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Say Yeah
I Love It Loud
Heaven’s on Fire
War Machine
Lick It Up [with a snippet of Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who]
Calling Dr. Love
100,000 Years [with drum solo]
Cold Gin [with Tommy Thayer guitar solo]
God of Thunder [with bass solo]
Psycho Circus
Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Love Gun [Paul on stage in crowd]
I Was Made for Lovin’ You [Paul on stage in crowd]
Black Diamond