The Conclusion of…. 7 Hours In San Francisco…..

It was about 3:00pm now. The line had grown to at least 100-150 people. They were all lined up behind Scott and his friend, me, and the Paul Stanley Paradise gals. The rain was at a definite torrential downpour status at this point. I held my umbrella as best as I could to try to accommodate those around me.

About now, a large econo-van pulling a trailer pulls up. A bunch of musician-types step out and begin unloading. PSParadise girl #2 says to me “That is Slunt! They are the opening band!” I had heard of them from my cousin Rob who is an equally big KISS fan as I am. He said that they would NOT disappoint. The collective group of us all “whoooo-hoooooo” and “rock on’d” them as they brought their equipment into the venue. The excitement had just hit a new peak….and was fixing to hit another about 45 minutes later.

A large black not-quite-limousine and not-quite-sedan pulls up. VIRGIN1 was the license plate. It had to be from Virgin Records which led us to believe that, YES, the man of the day was in there. A smattering of us, me included, sort of made our way to the car. Which in just of quick of time, we were “politely persuaded” to move back. 2 bodyguards/doormen approached the back door with an umbrella. The door opened and Paul got out, did a quick wave to us and was whisked away to the load in door of the Fillmore. The time was getting close!

A small group of radio contest winners were escorted inside for the aforementioned meet and greet. They must have been treated to sound check because we heard the opening chords of “Got To Choose” (one of my all time favorite songs by KISS). We also heard “Deuce” and “Live to Win”. The group returns to the line. They are all excited and say that this is going to be a great show. (no shit Sherlock? Thanks for the preview)

7:00. Seven hours of waiting has now come down to this. The 4-5 door staff waves us in. The rush of people was amazing. It was comparable to a big arena show. I get to the doors after a dead sprint while trying to keep my footing on the rain-soaked street. The first 2 yahoo’s are at the first two entry ways. I spot the third spot, free and open. The PSParadise gals are stopping behind the 2 yahoo’s. I grab one and say “Come here, it is going to be faster” How do I know this? Because one of them was going to try to bring in a bottle and I KNEW it would hinder them getting in very fast! As I start to present my ticket; I think to myself that not a chance do I want to lug around that umbrella. So I see a homeless guy (different that the 2 we had encountered earlier) and say “yo man…you need this more than I do” and toss it his way and I am in!

This place has such an air of history about it. But, no time to dwell on the past…..I am on a mission! I make my way up the stairs and through some of the turns. I make my way to the “auditorium” (it reminded me of someone very cool and hip had decorated in deep reds and blacks, a high school auditorium for a prom. That SOUNDS so not as cool as it was. If I come up with a better analogy, I will let you know). My Puma-like skills of speed and direction get me to the best freakin’ spot in the room. DEAD Center in front of Paul Stanley’s microphone!! I can’t believe it. I revert to the excitement I got when I was a kid getting my KISS Alive II album.

The crowd is relatively subdued. No major pushing or clawing for spots at the front. It was me in dead center. To my left, a big guy and his girlfriend. To my right, 2 guys who had already been in when I got there. Neither sets of people looked as if they were giving up any room from their vantage point; nor neither was I.

The front-of-stage crew was an eclectic group. You had the biker, turned family man who was doing this as some extra pocket change. You had this short man of what I believe was Mexican descent; but I wasn’t sure. I was more surprised that a guy that looked like he was 16 and wasn’t very menacing at all, was doing as a front of stage worker. Then there was the “Lifer”. He had been doing shows for about 20 some years, and he had the looks to show it. Lots of miles of road looked like it had come across his face. I am not being judgmental, mind you, good reader, just a vehicle of information upon which I am your driver. He had done a Tool show the night before, then was scheduled to do GWAR the next night after this show. “I hate doing their shows. They always have their stage animal spew gunk on me” If you don’t know what GWAR is, look it up or follow this link

It’s 8:05; Time to rock *tip of the hat to Drew* …

Bottom line, SLUNT rocks! GET A LOAD OF THIS is a great CD, but ONE NIGHT STAND is a really kickin’ CD. You should check it out. The drummer was a MADMAN. At the end of their far too short set, I looked at him and yelled “you kick ass duuuuuude” and he came over and tossed me a drumstick…..how cool am I!!!?

The stage hands strip the stage and begin to set up for Paul’s set. We wait with antici……..pation.
The house lights go down and the crowd erupts! Like just some ordinary schmoe off the street, he walks onto the stage. No huge fanfare, no intro music or effects, no pyro; nothing. Just him and the band. Explaining as such he come up to the front and I immediately get a high five (as well as others of us in front) “This is going to be a lot of fun! No big deal just you me and the music” The Crowd cheers in approval and delight!

My vantage point:



The band is tight. They are the house band for the show ROCKSTAR: Supernova. They held very true to the music. Paul was in great form. Vocals were right on the money. You would never have guessed he had been doing this the better part of 30 years.

2 – 3 songs into the show, Paul stops to talk to the crowd. From behind me, just short of shoulder height, I hear at the top of her lungs, in a voice shrill to none I had heard in my life I hear “Pauuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllll STaaaaaaaaaaaannnleyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy” this is repeated about 5-10 times during his in-between song patter. To give you a better point of view, find a chalkboard, put a microphone next to it and set it at 10 then rake your nails over it. It is then, you will get about 1/100th of the shrillness of this youngling. How do you just DO that? Ignoring what the MAN on STAGE with the microphone is saying!!? I just don’t get it.

He worked the stage with the magic only he knows how. KISS has always been about the SHOW; and Paul Stanley was always the catalyst. Pyro or not, he just knows how to make a rock show an experience.

I wish I could recall the song, but at one point he is working the crowd and I reach my hand up to high five him again. He looks and gives a smile and a head nod and slaps me some skin…..and in my hand appears a coveted guitar pic! I am stoked. This was just too cool.

The show runs for a solid 2 hours I am guessing. And the set list is awesome:

Live To Win
Hide Your Heart
A Million To One
Got To Choose
Move On
Bulletproof
Tonight, You Belong To Me
Lick It Up
Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me
Magic Touch
I Still Love You
Strutter
Every Time I See You Around
Do You Love Me
I Want You
Love Gun
Lift
Detroit Rock City
Goodbye

After the encore or Goodbye, house lights come up and I resist the urge to throttle the screaming munchkin. I make my way to the lobby (my first chance to go to the bathroom since long before 7 pm) The merchandise booth is slammin’, but I see the members of Slunt there, beers and Jack Daniels in hand signing stuff and taking pictures. I get myself a T shirt and both Slunt CDs. The drummer and lead singer are right there and tell me how kick ass of me it is to get the CDs. I have them all sign and ask the lead singer, Jhen, for a picture. I fumble like a little school boy on his first date to try to get my cell phone to work. I am nervous and it takes 3 tries to finally end up with this:

I make my way to the parking garage again and get in the SUV. I sigh and smile. I crank up the Paul Stanley CD and turn on the GPS on the cell phone and back to Sacramento I go..........