KISS // UTILITA ARENA, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
KISS RETURN TO NEWCASTLE AFTER FOUR YEARS TO BRING THEIR UK LEG OF ‘END OF THE ROAD: FARWELL WORLD TOUR’ TO UTILITA ARENA IN GREAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STYLE.
★★★★★ (5/5)
KISS PERFORMING AT NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE’S UTILITA ARENA
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN
After four years since their last performance at Newcastle’s Utitila Arena which then we thought was final UK Tour ever, KISS announced last year they were set to return to Newcastle again to bring their final UK Leg of ‘End Of The Road: World Tour’. This time round special guests were… ‘The Wild Things’ and true rock legends ‘Skindred’.
First up opening proceedings of the night was ‘The Wild Things’. The four piece fronted by lead vocalist and guitarist ‘Sydney Rae’ came on stage with electrifying performance, the crowd were really going for them from start to finish, I had never heard of them till this night and have already became a fan.
Their set consisted tracks from their debut album “You’re Really Something” and newer tracks off their forthcoming album which is still to be released at some point. Tracks included such as ‘Only Attraction’, ‘Does Your Mother Know’ and newer release tracks ‘Paradise’ and ‘Heaven Knows’.
The highlight of their set was when Sydney Rae White decided to smash her guitar into the amplifier which definitely bought some dramatic excitement to their performance. Would guess some their inspiration for their music has came from Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain who did this on stage and Muse’s Matt Bellamy who does on stage at times over past few album tours.
Overall their performance was full of energy and left Newcastle crowd with great lasting impression of what to expect from them coming up and also really got the crowd going for Skindred who was next and Kiss later on.
Next up was the main support of the night which was the brilliant ‘Skindred’. This was definitely another highlight of the night for me, I’ve seen this band before always full of great energy on stage so was definitely real treat to have them opening up for one of the greatest
rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time who are due on stage next.
Skindred are four piece fronted by ‘Benji Webbe’ and have been on go since 1998. With true fashion Benji comes stage asking for the crowd to start jumping about and this went on from start to finish and the crowd certainty loving it. He certainly knows how to get a crowd going.
Their set consisted of eight songs and eight songs which were belters for sure. Their set included their iconic hits ‘Nobody’, ‘That’s My Jam’ and also included some new tracks ‘Set Fazers’, and ‘L.O.V.E (Smile Please)’.
The highlight of their set was definitely their new single “Warning”, as the band started playing their new track, Benji asked the crowd help with “Newport Helicopter” chorus of the song which seen Newcastle crowd get t-shirt or jumper and started waving around air like a helicopter which crowd actually did it was incredible moment to witness.
Overall performance was one of best performances I’ve witnessed seeing Skindred live. The energy of the room was awesome and band’s love for the crowd was awesome and brilliant to see they’re returning Newcastle in October. Crowd was mixture of ages but definitely a lot more older rockers.
Now onto the most final act which everyone is here for… the rock ‘n’ roll legends that are… KISS. The iconic rockers come onto stage in true fashion appearing the from the roof coming down on what looks like UFO’s with pyro, fireworks and massive bang of smoke which was probably one of best entrances at true rock ‘n’ roll shows I’ve ever been to.
As usual fronted by ‘Paul Stanley’ , ‘Gene Simons’ original members of KISS from day one and ‘Tommy Thayer’ and ‘Eric Singer’ which joined later on. From Song one to finish iconic rockers bought phenomenal energy to the room which they do at every show they’ve played over past 49 years since their first show in 1973. Despite most of seats at back of venue were either given away for free or price of ticket lowered , iconic rockers managed to leave the crowd stars trucked and hungry for more after they left the stage for final time in Newcastle.
Their set consisted of 23 songs and included all big hits such as ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘Shout It Out Loud’, ‘Lick It Up’, ‘Psycho Circus’, ‘God Of Thunder’ and ending their set with iconic ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’. Dressed in their iconic outfits, iconic rockers also played solo performances which was incredible to see. We even seen Gene Simons appear up on roof on top of one UFOs platforms spitting out blood during ‘God Of Thunder’ and breathing out fire earlier in the set during ‘; ‘I Love It Loud’.
But the biggest highlight of the night was seeing front man ‘Paul Stanley’ who is 71 years old zip-wire across the Newcastle crowd to the B-stage centre middle of general admission standing zone in middle of the room. Surprisingly he didn’t have harness or anything on just hold to pole and circle hoop to make his quick travel across and back to to main-stage afterwards.
Stanley was across on b-stage to play two tracks including ‘Love Gun’ and their most iconic hit number ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’.
Overall despite the arena actually being a lot more fuller due to free tickets and cheaper tickets which promoter had to end up doing help fill the arena… This was final time to see KISS in the arena and the iconic legends actually put incredible show and from three times I’ve seen them live this was definitely best performance. Their will be one band which really be missed and their music will live on for years to come.
I’m grateful to witness this moment.
