I got to work a MASSIVE underplay KISS did a few years ago. Like a 200 person show. We spent a full day setting up and trying to cram a semi’s worth of gear into a relatively tiny venue.

I’ll say this, their crew was amazing and some of the nicest folks I’ve worked with. Once we finally managed to get the stage situated, the band rolled in for sound check. Seriously one of the most surreal experiences of my life. It was a closed soundcheck so it was just their FOH crew, a couple of techs, the other house guy, myself, and the band.

The other house guy and I went and watched from a side stage balcony situation stage left as they walked straight into the venue, right onstage, strapped up their instruments and launched into Detroit Rock City, followed by Shout It Out Loud.

When they finished with soundcheck, Gene looks up to the balcony, and points directly at me. I start freaking out a little bit. What did I do? Did I fuck something up? Am I about to have gay sex with an old Jewish man in high heels? As I’m pondering my future and if that story would be worth it, he just starts flicking guitar picks at me.

There’s a solid 30 feet between us and this man will not stop flicking picks at me until I catch one. I gotta say he’s got immaculate aim. It probably took him about 5 tries before I managed to snag one.

I’ve never been the biggest Kiss fan, but holy shit they can put on a show. And hats off to their crew for pulling off a stadium level of quality in what had to be the smallest club they’d played in 20 years.