Kix Satisfies “The Itch” for Live Music
It was another wild sold-out Saturday night show at Amos’ Southend when rockers Kix came to town. In fact, it was something of a “full circle” moment as Kix was the last band to sell out a show at Amos’ in March of 2020 before what would become known as the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down the live entertainment industry. At that point, the future of live music and of small, locally owned and operated venues was uncertain at best. Now, sixteen months later, Kix took the stage once more, performing yet again to an eager, audience filled to capacity.
Kix was on my personal “bucket list” of bands to see live as I had never seen them during the heyday of eighties rock so I was more than ready as were the line of fans wrapped around the corner waiting to get in. Once inside, the merchandise table seemed busy and the line at the bar was growing as more and more people arrived for what would be an epic rock and roll show.
Opening up the evening was North Carolina hard rockers Prowess. The band was a great fit as they have a real old-school seventies and eighties rock feel and the crowd seemed to enjoy the set. If classic, blues-based rock is in your wheelhouse, this is a band you’ll want to check out for sure. My personal favorite is “Welcome Home” from their latest album blacktop Therapy. Here’s their latest video for “Let It Ride.”
After a short break, it was finally time for Kix to hit the stage, and hit it they did! It’s hard to believe that the band has been doing this for over forty years because lead vocalist Steve Whiteman still has all the right moves. Opening with a bang with “Midnite Dynamite,” Whiteman was all over the stage as he spun, shimmied, sashayed, and danced like it was still 1988. The band sounded awesome and guitarist Bob Pare fit right into the mix of it all. Whiteman did take a moment to address the absence of long-time guitarist Ronnie Younkins and said he needed the time to get better and the band was giving him that time. Bassist Mark Schenker and drummer Jimmy Chalfant kept things tight and moving in the right direction while guitarist Brian Forsythe kept things sizzling. Whiteman handled the blues harp and tambourine throughout the night.
Steve was flirtatious with some of the ladies down in front and asked them if they wanted to rub his nuts before the band kicked into “Sex.” The women screamed in glee as Whiteman slid backward and began all the thrusting moves he could muster up. The setlist was full of Kix classics including the poignant love song “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and “No Ring Around Rosie.” One thing that Kix still does which is almost unheard of these days is to include a short guitar and drum solo. Hell yes! Let’s bring back this metal tradition, please. The night was all about having fun and during “Cold Blood,” Whiteman led the audience through a sing-along of the chorus pitting the ladies against the gents in a truly comical manner. Of course, the piece de resistance was saved for last and that was “Blow My Fuse” which had every fist in the air belting out the chorus.
What a show! It’s easy to see why it was sold out. Kix put on a next-level performance that took us back in time when the only thing that mattered was the rock show and that is priceless. Check them out when they hit a town near you and remember “When it cools off-you tease it/When it gets hot-you freeze it/Cold blood is all you bleed!”
