Kiss At John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA 2-7-2020

KISS who is currently out on their ‘End of the Road’ world tour made their final Virginia appearance in front of a packed house at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA on Friday night. Friday was the fourth night of the final leg of the tour which is scheduled to come to an end on October 20th in Fort Worth, TX. The guys have also announced the very final KISS show will happen where it all started in their hometown, New York City when they play Madison Square Garden on July 21, 2021. Fans can purchase tickets as well as VIP and Meet & Greet packages at kissonline.com.

Getting things started for the evening was the one and only David Lee Roth, best known as the frontman of the one and only Van Halen. At 65 years young, David showed the Charlottesville crowd he still had the energy and stage persona to entertain the crowd as he played a roughly 50 minute, twelve-song set that consisted primarily of material from David’s days with Van Halen. 

Dressed in checkered pants, vest, sunglasses, and a shiny server jacket Diamond Dave kicked off his set with The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” before moving on to the classic Van Halen hits “Beautiful Girls,” “Unchained,” “Panama,” and “Jamie’s Cryin’.” Although his voice may not be what it once was Dave showed the crowd he still has what it takes to once again be the frontman for Van Halen should the band reunite and tour again. Also mixed into the set were the covers of “Tobacco Road,” “Just a Gigolo,” and “I Ain’t Got Nobody” as well as Dave’s own “Just Like Paradise.” The set wrapped up with the 1984 hit “Jump.” David Lee Roth is one of those must-see performers for any true fan of rock n roll.

David Lee Roth Setlist:
You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover), Beautiful Girls (Van Halen song), Unchained (Van Halen song), Panama (Van Halen song), Jamie’s Cryin’ (Van Halen song),

Tobacco Road (John D. Loudermilk cover), Runnin’ With the Devil (Van Halen song), Just Like Paradise, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (Van Halen song),

Just a Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody (Louis Prima cover), and Jump (Van Halen song).

At roughly 8:30 the curtain dropped, the pyro began, and KISS was slowly lowered down to the stage as they kicked off their set with “Detroit Rock City.” From there the guys set off on a twenty-one song set that spanned the band’s forty-seven year career. The set was filled with classic KISS hits like “War Machine” with Gene spitting fire at the end, “100,000 Years” which included a drum solo by Eric Singer, “Cold Gin.” where Tommy Thayer put on a guitar clinic during his solo, followed by Gene’s bass solo and spitting blood. Not to be outdone by all the solos Paul took to the sky as he ziplined out to a small stage at the back of the arena for “Love Gun,” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”. The band posted a small snippet of “Psycho Circus” to their website, giving fans a small taste of what to expect on the tour. The video clip can be seen below. The night concluded with a three-song encore kicked off by Eric leaving his spot behind the drum kit and setting up shop at the piano for “Beth.” The night ended with the patented “Rock and Roll All Night” with confetti cannons shooting confetti out into the crowd and plenty of more pyro as the band said their final farewell to the crowd. 

The fans were left wondering is this truly the end of the road for KISS? There have been other farewell tours in the past and Paul Stanley has hinted in recent interviews that this may not be the end of KISS performing. I guess only time will tell if this truly is the end of the road. One thing is for sure though, this is a tour that every KISS fan or any fan of rock n roll needs to see while they still can. Kiss has always been known for putting on one hell of a show and this tour is no different. The band sounds great and the production on this tour is phenomenal!

KISS Setlist:
Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, Deuce, Say Yeah, I Love It Loud, Heaven’s on Fire, Tears Are Falling, War Machine (Gene breathes fire at the end),
Lick It Up (with “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who snippet), Calling Dr. Love, 100,000 Years (with drum solo), Cold Gin (with Tommy Thayer guitar solo),
Bass Solo (Gene spits blood), God of Thunder, Psycho Circus, Parasite, Love Gun (Paul on stage in the audience), I Was Made for Lovin’ You (Paul on stage in the audience)
Black Diamond

Encore:
Beth (Eric Singer solo on vocals & piano), Crazy Crazy Nights, Rock and Roll All Nite