It was a cold and snowy winter’s night in Western New York but inside the Keybank Center things got heated up where KISS brought their End of the Road tour to play one last show in Buffalo on Feb. 5. This tour is called End of the Road because KISS is doing one last world tour before packing it in.
Thousands of fans made their way into the arena. For some, this was just the latest of many KISS shows they had seen over the years and on this tour while for others this was their first, and most likely, last time seeing what KISS is all about.
And KISS did not disappoint!
But before KISS came out Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth warmed up the crowd with a 45-minute set that consisted mainly of Van Halen songs and songs from his solo career.
Roth and his band started out with The Kinks‘ classic You Really Got Me followed by Beautiful Girls and Unchained. It was hit after hit and the 11-song set finished with the 1984 classic Jump. It was a great way to warm up the crowd!
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-hour set with 1976’s Detroit Rock City and Shout It Out Loud. The set list was filled with a great mix of KISS hits and gems topped off with fireworks, fire flares, confetti, balloons and more – all that fans have come to expect at a KISS spectacle.
Near the end of the show Paul 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 before flying back to the main stage rejoining his band mates to end their main set with Black Diamond.
But the night wasn’t over yet! KISS wasn’t finished! The band played a three-song encore which began with Eric Singer playing piano and singing 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.
And before we knew it the night was over, KISS bid farewell to Buffalo and as the song God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You II played over the speakers fans wandered back out into the cold and snowy night.
KISS Set List:
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Say Yeah
I Love It Loud
Heaven’s on Fire
Tears Are Falling
War Machine
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
Bass Solo
God of Thunder
Psycho Circus
Parasite
Love Gun
I Was Made for Lovin’ You
Black Diamond
Encore:
Beth
Crazy Crazy Nights
Rock and Roll All Nite
David Lee Roth Set List:
You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover)
Beautiful Girls (Van Halen cover)
Unchained (Van Halen cover)
Panama (Van Halen cover)
Jamie’s Cryin’ (Van Halen cover)
Tobacco Road (John D. Loudermilk cover)
Runnin’ With the Devil (Van Halen cover)
Just Like Paradise
Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (Van Halen cover)
Just a Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody (Louis Prima cover)
Jump (Van Halen Cover)
All photos by Yvonne Gan Photography
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