Paul Stanley @ The Palais,Melbourne [21/04/2007]

Thu 26th Apr, 2007 in Gig Reviews

Kiss fans rejoiced at news that influential front man Paul Stanley would be playing a series of shows around Australia to support his 2nd solo release Live to Win which comes 28 years after his last solo effort. It would be his first solo tour of Australia and provide a chance to hear some rarities that Kiss themselves never touch in what has become a rather manufactured and somewhat stale live show in recent years.

Having played one show already at The Palais, the Starchild was very relaxed as you’d expect from a seasoned professional on what was his second night at the iconic St Kilda venue.

Paul and his band (none other than the house band from Fox’s Rockstar series) emerged from backstage and greeted the crowd before introducing the first song Live to Win. It was a much more down to earth affair and a far cry from the “you wanted the best you got the best” introduction that is a staple part of any Kiss show.

Live to Win was well received by the crowd, even though as Paul explained, the album was very hard to come by in Australia (no doubt the internet played its part). However, the place erupted when Paul’s band played the opening bars to 1989’s classic Hide Your Heart. It is a song that today’s Kiss never plays live and was last heard when former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick toured Australia. This was followed up with 1983’s A Million To One and by now the crowd knew that they were in for a treat and not just another generic Kiss set list!

Paul joked about his last solo album having come out 29 years ago and by the time the next one is released, rather than calling it Live to Win, it would be called “hope to live”. You’ve got to respect a rock star that isn’t afraid to joke at his own expense. With that, he played Move On off his 1978 solo album followed by Bulletproof from his 2005 solo effort. It must be said that even though Paul’s band was a 6-piece, the production was near perfect.

Young Brazilian born guitarist Rafael Moreira was very animated on stage and more than did justice to the licks initially put down by the likes of Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick, adding his own flair to the tracks and was truly a joy to watch!

The band then went back in time again and played Tonight You Belong To Me, 1983’s party starting Lick It Up and Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me, also off Stanley’s 1978 solo album. The Kiss army in attendance would then be treated to Magic Touch from Kiss 1979 pop-rock effort Dynasty. Although the album turned a lot of the hardcore Kiss fans of the time off the band, the track was very warmly received by the crowd.

“Eat more pussy!” screamed a voice from near the front of the stage in between tracks to which Paul replied “thanks, I had to come all the way to Australia to learn that, eat more pussy”. If somewhat conveniently a pair of pink knickers were soon thrown up onto the stage, well I guess Paul did say that he was welcomed to Australia with “open arms and open legs”.

1982’s ballad I Still Love You was up next and during a long interlude Paul really showed off his vocal talents. His voice is almost as powerful as it ever was which is saying a lot for a 55 year old who has been touring almost without fail for 35 years now. Not only was his voice in top shape, but physically Paul still had it as well as the moves to boot!

The band then delved further back into Paul’s impressive catalogue, playing Strutter off Kiss’ debut 1974 self titled album before fast forwarding to 2006 and Paul’s latest ballad See You Around. The pounding bass drum of the talented Nate Morton began the familiar intro to Kiss’ Do You Love Me and was followed by 2 other classics from the makeup era in I Want You and Paul’s signature track, Love Gun.

Paul then joked that “we know that you guys have all been to rock shows before so you know how it works” with regards to fake goodnights prior to an encore, adding that “but you gotta let us know you want more”. The crowd did not fail to comply making a lot of noise before the band hit the stage again with an impressive encore which featured 1980’s Shandi off the Unmasked album which enjoyed unparalleled success in Australia. The band then played the rock disco anthem I Was Made For Loving You, Detroit Rock City and rather than close the show as expected with the predictable Rock n Roll All Night, the boys played the strategically placed Goodbye, Paul citing that Melbourne hadn’t seen the last of him.

It was an enthralling show and although many were expecting to perhaps hear more songs from the 80s era of Kiss when Paul virtually ruled the roost and Gene Simmons rode the backseat, many running high on emotion still claimed that it was better than any Kiss show they had been to. A big call but this reviewer will safely say that it was a most enjoyable show and a much needed breath of fresh air from the commercial machine that Kiss has become.

Lets just hope it really isn’t another 28 years until the next solo album and tour!