KISS - An Exercise in Excesses
Wednesday August 28th, I got the chance to work the KISS show at ARCO
Arena here in Sacramento. While I'm not necessarily a big fan of KISS or
of cartoon or glitter rock for that matter, KISS does represent a "best
of genre" and is one of THE shows to see out there right now. A lot of
the fans dressed like the band for this reunion tour, in full makeup
which they haven't done in years.
 While most shows segregate the crews to a specific task, this was not
the case with KISS until the "out". I was largely working with the
electrical generator and distribution for this show, where we brought in
an extra 400 amps of 3 phase power just for the lighting system, using
about half the capability of the semi trailer deisel generator we tied
into from Show Power.
 While a count of lighting fixtures would be nearly futile, it was
somewhere in the catagory of 400 PAR cans (the type of lights you see at
every concert). A sign that had the word KISS on it that used over 200
(of the MR-16 75 watt type of self contained  lamp and reflector) had to
use a 24 channel dimmer on it just by itself. There was also a 5*8 video
wall setup and a couple of regular video screens that are now about
universal at any concert, and a crew of cameramen, directors, switchers,
etc, set up directly backstage. OH, almost forgot about a large Varilite
system. Seems that it was at least 48 fixtures on that.
The sound system consisted of a SHOWCO system with arrays hung from
either side of the stage, about double the size of the last concert I
worked there. They use AMEK Langley Recall console for Front of House, a
Harrison SM5 with extender for monitor mix, Crown on the amps, and Prism
house speakers.
Onstage, the bass player used Ampeg SVT amps, about a dozen of them, and
 about the same in Marshall PCM900 amps and cabinets for the Lead
Guitar. How did it sound?? LOUD!! Generally very good, but the guitar
and bass wasn't quite loud enough throughout the show, strangely enough.
They were real speakers and amps, not facades there for show, they could
have been turned up louder or more of them added to the sound system
clusters. I didn't wear hearing protection, although I should have, yet
the sound was mostly tolerable.The sound system sounded great with the
exception of some intermodulation distortion between the subs and the
high end stuff that I believe was in the sound system, not my hearing.
 The drums of the opening band was about the only redeeming thing about
the opening act, the singer couldn't manage to get on key once until
about midset. Some of that could be the monitor mix didn't get going
right until then, but then, opening acts are usually there to make sure
everything else is working right for the stars anyway. When KISS got
onstage, most of the mixing errors cleared up, and the percussiveness
and punch that system had was obvious.
They also had a pile of pyro (no, not folks with gum disease) on this
show including small rockets, flashpots, showers and lots of smoke and
purcussive explosions impeccably timed to the music, along with a huge
HVAC system to vent all of this out the back door of the arena.
All in all, quite a spectacle to behold as a concert goer!
Bonnie *:>
PRACTICE SAFE SOUND - For more information on protecting your hearing
call:HIP-Hearing Is Priceless, by the House Ear Institute(213)483-4431
Write for Free Ear Filters to 2100 W. Third St, Los Angeles, CA  90057
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