The show opened with The Academy Is, an American Rock band from Illinois. The lead singer reminded me of a young Freddie Mercury on steroids as he enjoyed the limelight of their hour-long set from their 3 albums and 4 EPs. For more on them check out their website at www.theacademyis.com.
        Then came the headliner, KISS, bringing their "Hottest Show On Earth Tour 2010" to the Susquehanna Bank Center. A KISS banner covering the stage dropped to the floor as a huge video screen lit up with clips of the band backstage while the crowd chanted “KISS, KISS, KISS!” As the pyrotechnics of fire and explosions began, a platform holding Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Tommy Thayer,  lifted over Eric Singer's drum kit then down to the stage as "Modern Day Delilah" got us going and the crowd erupted. Afterward Paul Stanley said, "It's not the biggest audience, but you can be the loudest," referring to the very sparsely-filled venue. Next came "Cold Gin," "Let Me Go Rock 'N' Roll" and "Firehouse" with Gene Simmons spitting fire from a flaming sword, his trademark ending to the song. Then came "Say Yeah," "Deuce," "Crazy Crazy Nights," "Calling Dr. Love" and "Shock Me" with Tommy Thayer playing an awesome guitar solo that ended with his guitar being lifted into the rafters. Thayer reentered the stage and with his classic shooting guitar move, pointed up at the light rigging, bringing a burst of pyros that exploded in the lights. Eric Singer then took his solo turn on drums which was disappointingly brief this time around. However, he did stand up behind his kit and lifted a bazooka-like device and he, too, fired into the light rigging, bringing a piece of it down to the stage in another flaming burst of pyros. Next up was "I'm An Animal" and "100,000 Years" and Simmons turn at his classic blood spewing before being lifted up to the top of the light rack over the stage to sing, "I Love It Loud." Closing the first set of the night was "Love Gun," "Black Diamond" and "Detroit Rock City."
        For their encore, Stanley told the crowd, "We're not going to play one song, go hide, come out and play another song, then go hide again. We're going to play the longest encore you've ever had!" That began a six-song encore starting with, surprisingly, drummer Singer doing an acoustic version of "Beth" with Simmons on bass and Stanley and Thayer on acoustic guitars.  Afterwards he said, "We do really love you, Philly." Then came "Lick It Up " and "Shout It Out Loud." Next Stanley said, "If you want me to come out to the back of the venue to play, I'm going to have to hear you scream 'Paul'!" which brought a deafening response. He then flew out over the audience to a rotating platform at the soundboard to sing the song, "I Was Made For Lovin' You." Flying back to the stage he said, "If you're a rock ‘n roller and go to church, then this next song's for you," which was a cover of ARGENTS’ "I Was Made For Lovin' You II." Finally, they tore into "Rock And Roll All Night" as the confetti cannons covered the crowd. It was one hell of a Rock N Roll production. KISS has a few shows coming close to us, so check out www.KissOnline.com if you want to see an iconic band with a fabulous production. To view more pictures of this concert go to www.coconuttimes.com  
– Gary Crouthamel, concert photo journalist