Auburn, WA - Media Reviews

Kiss, Def Leppard bring the hits to White River Amphitheater By Glen Casebeer

Kiss call themselves the loudest band in the world. They call themselves the greatest band in the world. Well, they are pretty loud, and they are pretty great.

The faithful legions who have been drafted into the Kiss Army invaded Auburn on June 29, donning battle gear(facepaint and platform shoes) and no amount of rain could dampen their spirits. The pre-show squalls eventually gave way, and the White River Amphitheater crowd was bathed in a sea of golden sunshine. Def Leppard, of course, has their own legions of adoring fans, and they were there in substantial numbers, as well, to represent their band on one of the biggest tours of the year.

The opening act, Kobra and the Lotus, really isn't worth mentioning. The only thing notable was probably one of worst covers of "Barracuda" ever. Note to other mediocre metal bands touring through the Northwest: Please don't cover Heart songs to try and get in good with the crowd. Thanks.

The set lists for both bands were full of the songs that fans came to hear like, "Photograph," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Detroit Rock City." Def Leppard started the real show off with a bang playing a killer song from early in their career, "Let It Go," from the 1981 album "High & Dry."

That album was well represented, much to the delight of the fans of the British glam rockers, as they played an acoustic version of “Bringin' on the Heartache” and the instrumental guitar showcase "Switch 625." On that number, Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen showed that they still have the chops.

The rest of Def Leppard’s set list included the smash hit songs from their two best-selling albums: 1983's "Pyromania" and 1987's "Hysteria." Ever wonder what it would be like to hear literally thousands of people singing "Pour Some Sugar On Me?" Well we found out. After working the crowd into frenzy, the band came out for a two-song encore consisting of "Rock Of Ages" and "Photograph." The band was tight and Joe Elliot hit most of the "High" notes.

Of course, now it was time for the spectacle. And make no mistake a Kiss show is a spectacle. The electricity that flows through the air as the curtain drops is contagious.

They blasted through the set with everything you'd expect from a Kiss show. Fire-breathing bassist, Gene Simmons, entertained and engaged the crowd with his stage demeanor. Frontman Paul Stanley runs a tight show and he knows how to talk to a crowd. He told the crowd that Kiss has been coming to the northwest since before many of the attendees were even born. (Give him extra credit for not calling Auburn Seattle.) Later in the show, Paul Stanley flew through the crowd, up to his platform in the middle of the arena and dropped "Love Gun" on the now frantic audience.

Northwest native Tommy Thayer has been in the "Spaceman" role now for more than a decade, and he plays the part well. Of course, Kiss purists kick and scream and complain that it'll never be the same without Ace Frehely and Peter Criss. But props to Thayer; he is a guitar wizard and he can hold his own with anyone.

If watching a band that has been shocking, mesmerizing and loving arguably the most loyal legion of fans of any band on the planet is your idea of a fantastic way to spend Sunday night in Auburn, then you came to the right place. Kiss did not disappoint.

By Tacoma Weekly 2014.

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KISS, Def Leppard light up White River Amphitheatre By Shawn Skager

AS double-bills go, it doesn't get more heavyweight than last Sunday's KISS and Def Leppard show at the White River Amphitheatre.

Although Auburn was just the fourth stop on the multi-platinum selling tandem's 42-date Heroes Summer 2014 tour, both bands appeared to be in mid-tour form, firing on all cylinders.

After a thankfully-brief opening set by Canadian heavy metal band Kobra and the Lotus - noteworth only for a half-hearted sounding cover of Northwest legends Heart's "Barracuda" - Def Leppard took to the stage with the setting sun. The band began with a brief cover of The Who's "Baba O'Reilly" before screaming into "Let It Go," off the band's 1981 sophomore disc, "High 'n' Dry."

Although most of the band's set featured hits such as "Foolin'", "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Rocket" and "Photograph" from 1983's "Pyromania" and 1987's "Hysteria" - which have both sold more than 10 million copies - the band placated old-school fans with three tunes off "High 'n' Dry."

In addition to the opening number, Def Leppard trundled out an acoustic version of the ballad "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" and the guitar showcase "Switch 625", late guitarist Steve Clark's - he died of an overdose in 1991 - signature tune.

Def Leppard finished up the set with an encore of "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph", the audience providing a vocal assist.

Following Def Leppard's set, KISS took to the stage, highlighting 40 years of tunes and stagecraft with enough pyro and explosions to make your average Fourth of July display seem tame.

The band ripped through classics such as "Deuce", "Shout It Out Loud", "Love Gun" and "Black Diamond", with their usual flair, punctuated by bassist Gene Simmons' fire-breathing and blood spitting and frontman Paul Stanley's flight above the audience.

The band wrapped up the show with a one-two punch of "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Nite", relieving the KISS Army of duty until next time.

By Auburn Reporter 2014.

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