KISS w. opener Buckcherry
Calgary Saddledome
Nov 12, 2009
The night kicked off with Buckcherry, who delivered a solid ten-song set. Their pop radio pleasing hit ‘Sorry’ set the tone to their closing ‘Crazy Bitch;—a staple on Calgary’s CJAY 92 at the time—stood out as the highlight, earning the strongest response from the crowd. The rest of the material was decent: competent playing, decent energy, even sneaking in a remake of Deep Purple’s ‘Highway Star’.
Setlist:
Tired of You
Next 2 You
Out of Line
Broken Glass
Lit Up
Rescue Me
Highway Star
Everything
Sorry
Crazy Bitch
KISS hit the Saddledome stage dressed for success, and from the very first note the spectacle was undeniable. Lights, pyrotechnics, confetti showers, and even musicians flying above the crowd turned the arena into a rock carnival. Visually, the band delivered exactly what fans expect: over-the-top showmanship with all the flash and fire.
But when it came to the sound, things got complicated. The mix itself was serviceable—about what one might expect from the Saddledome—but the vocals were another story. Instead of the anthemic roar KISS is known for, much of the singing veered into desperate shouting. Enthusiasm and energy were there in abundance, but the execution fell short.
The set list also raised eyebrows. While a few classics like Rock and Roll All Nite, Shout It Out Loud, and Lick It Up still carried the spirit of KISS, other “hits” landed flat. For die-hard fans, the packed house and roaring crowd may have compensated, but for some the show bordered on the cartoonish—fun, yes, but with a childish edge.
That said, the value was hard to argue with. At $20 a ticket, seeing KISS in full arena-rock form, complete with explosions and theatrics, was worth the price of admission. As one fan quipped on the way out: “Watch the concert with your iPod playing KISS’s greatest hits, and leave the live sound behind.”
KISS promised a spectacle, and on that front they delivered. But sonically, it was a night where the visuals outshone the music.
Setlist:
Deuce
Strutter
Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Hotter Than Hell
Shock Me
Calling Dr. Love
Modern Day Delilah
Cold Gin
Guitar Solo
Parasite
Say Yeah
100,000 Years
Drum Solo
Bass Solo
I Love It Loud
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Nite
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
