Kiss has been killing it with live releases and the ‘Off the Soundboard’ Series. It was a brilliant idea for them to take control of their live shows and rather than not make any money with all the bootlegs out there, but to release their own bootleg versions of these shows. This is the 5th one I believe and might be one of the cooler ones they’ve done. It was recorded in Poughkeepsie, NY on November 28, 1984 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Arena. Wait, this is their 5th one, which means there are still 2 I haven’t reviewed yet. I need to get on that. Well, back to this. What makes this one so special? It is because the guitarists on the album is Mark St. John. The band at the time also had original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley as well as Peter Criss’ replacement Eric Carr on drums. Now, by this time, Eric is considered a regular and not the new guy anymore. And one of the nicest guys ever.

Mark was hired after they let Vinnie Vincent go because they didn’t feel he deserved the contract that Vinnie thought he deserved and thank goodness they didn’t. Mark recorded the guitars on the ‘Animalize’ album and immediately let the world know this was not the same old Kiss. And with these Kiss songs played live, Mark adds his own flair and isn’t out there to copy anybodies parts. Nope, not at all. This show is Mark doing it his way.

Sadly, Mark had developed reactive arthritis which caused his hands and arms to swell making playing very difficult. He went out on tour with the band and the band also brought along Bruce Kulick to be the back-up guitarist if Mark couldn’t play. It turned out that Mark was only able to play on 3 of the Kiss shows and this was one of them. That’s right, they actually have the recording of one of the shows with Mark and that is what makes this set so cool. I already have a bootleg from this tour, but my show has Bruce on it. I also saw this tour and that show had Bruce in it. That is why I think this set is so freaking cool. Great job Kiss!!

LP ONE:

Sit back and hold on tight because Kiss comes roaring out of the gate with “Detroit Rock City” and it is sped up which doesn’t bother me at all. Kiss were known to play faster during the 80’s and I think it gives an urgency to everything which is fine by me. You immediately hear Mark’s impact as the solo here, while it does sound like the original, there are a lot of Mark’s bits thrown in that makes it his own. This will happen throughout the show. Paul let’s out a scream and F bomb and he starts in on how hot it is in Poughkeepsie which he brings up throughout the show. Then he goes in to his “Cold Gin” banter and then they play the hell out of that song. Gene takes this one and sounds great.

Then we get a couple 80’s tracks with “Creatures of the Night” and “Fits Like A Glove”. First off some more F bombs from Paul and I forgot how much he used to cuss and so what. I know people have complained about it, but grow a pair and get over it. On “Creatures” the bass is turned up a little louder on this one. No complaint, only pointing it out. I can say Mark is doing it his way as the guitar doesn’t sound like the studio version at all. After they fly through it, we get more Paul colorful banter and it is crude and I love it. And that banter is appropriate for a song like “Fits Like a Glove”. The heavy guitar riff and the “Ughhh” are as dirty as they come. The sexual innuendos fly as Gene spits out those lyrics a breakneck speed. Gene and sex just fit like a glove!! And listen to that solo, Mark really tears it up and then when Mark and Gene trade licks at the end, it is awesome.

And when you flip over to Side Two, you get the first Mark St. John song with the song “Heaven’s on Fire” from ‘Animalize. Paul does the opening “oooh oooh’s” great as his voice is in fine shape at this point. As this is a new song, the crowd doesn’t know it quite as well, but he gets them screaming. The sound on this one isn’t as full all the time, but still fun to hear this one. Then we get to the guitar solo, but hold on…it ain’t Mark. No, this is the classic Paul Stanley solo. It’s decent enough, but Paul ain’t a shredder so don’t expect that. Next up is another ‘Animalize’ song with “Under the Gun” and grab on as Mark just shreds the crap out of this one. His fingers flying at warped speed up and down the neck of the guitar. This is a heavy rocker and a great example of what Mark St. John can do with a guitar, I mean just listen to that solo and judge for yourself. Great track.

Then Eric starts banging out the drums on the intro to the song “War Machine” which gives Mr. Simmons a time to shine. Now, it isn’t the same without make-up, but Gene still owns this song as it is dark and menacing like he is. The song then goes in to the drum solo and I love Eric’s drum solos. He’s a small pack of TNT ready to explode and his drums do that as he shows his expertise on the skins.

LP TWO:

Time for LP #2 and it kicks off with more Eric Carr as he now gets to sing the song “Young And Wasted”. It is so cool to have him singing and make it more of a band effort. The only problem with the song as it is cut short as they were probably switching tapes at the soundboard as they weren’t expecting to release these back in the day. It was strictly for archival purposes. Then Gene gets his bass solo, but don’t expect any blood or fire as he wasn’t doing this then. But you will get to see he is an underrated bass player. Then you get a few “Oh Yeah’s and Alright’s and you know it is time for Gene’s classic Kiss song “I Love It Loud” which I love as when this song came out back on Creatures, I knew the Kiss I loved was back.

This heavy 80’s set continues with another Creatures song “I Still Love You” which is another favorite song of mine and Paul really nails this one. The nights only ballad and I dig the dark tone and vibe the song gives off. Paul again sounds fantastic as he can really hit those notes as he shows off his range. I could listen to this one all day long. Paul keeps it going with more cheeky banter about the heat and his “Love Gun”. Not the best “Love Gun” story which I think is the biggest flaw of the night. Wow, this one is done at supersonic speed which his fine as we can get to one of my favorite live tracks faster.

On Side four we have the final song of the night before the encore with “Black Diamond“. But you have to get through Paul’s crowd banter on the heat again and teaching them the song before we get to the enjoyment of the song. This is another chance for Eric Carr to shine as he takes on Peter’s vocal duties. I love the opening guitar, the soft Paul vocals to start and then the band explodes in full force and Eric rocks it out. He will always be a favorite member of the band for me. And that is the main show.

The encore is quick because it is so hot, Paul’s had enough and just wants to get to the encore. First up is the insanely stupid, what the hell were they thinking track “Oh Susanna”. I mean seriously, whose stupid idea was it to play that. A complete waste of time. And then Paul talks about “thanking god guys have tongues” before getting to the first real encore song “Lick It Up”. I will admit the beginning guitars don’t sound like “Lick it Up” to me as they are a little flat, but once they get going it sounds better. And then they end the show with the one song I don’t ever want to hear again in my life, “Rock And Roll All Nite”. Okay, that isn’t true, I can’t wait to hear it one last time at the final Kiss show…I might cry at it that point! This song ends with a fade out as I think they ran out of tape while recording so instead of stopping abruptly, they faded out, oh well. No complaints here.

And there you have it. Another Off the Soundboard recording and one of the better ones historically speaking. I think the band listened to the fans and finally gave us a show that we wanted. One from the 80’s and one with Mark St. John. For that alone, My Overall Score is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars. There are some flaws here with the tape issues, but none of that matters as we get a piece of Kisstory having Mark St. John on this one. Damn fine job with this one Kiss. Thank you!!

The Kiss Review Series:

1. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
2. Kiss – Kiss (1974)
3. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell (1974)
4. Kiss – Dressed to Kill (1975)
5. Kiss – Alive! (1975)
6. Kiss – Destroyer (1976)
7. Kiss – “Flaming Youth” 45 Promo Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
8. Kiss – “Beth” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
9. Kiss – Special Kiss Album For Their Summer Tour (1976)
10. Kiss – The Originals (1976)
11. Kiss – Rock & Roll Over (1976)
12. Kiss – “Calling Dr. Love” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
13. Kiss – Love Gun (1977)
14. Kiss – “Christine Sixteen” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
15. Kiss – Alive II (1977)
16. Kiss – Double Platinum (1978)
17. Kiss – Paul Stanley (1978)
18. Kiss – Gene Simmons (1978)
19. Kiss – Peter Criss (1978)
20. Kiss – Ace Frehley (1978)
21. Kiss – Best of Solo Albums (1978)
22. Kiss – Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Movie (1978)
23. Kiss – Dynasty (1979)
24. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (1979) – 12″ & 7″ Singles (Bonus Edition)
25. Kiss – Unmasked (1980)
26. Peter Criss – Out of Control (1980)
27. Kiss – Music From The Elder (1981)
28. Kiss – Killers (1982)
29. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1982)
30. Kiss – Lick It Up (1983)
31. Kiss – Animalize (1984)
32. Wendy O. Williams – WOW (1984) (Bonus Edition)
33. Kiss – Animalize Live Uncensored (1985)
34. Kiss – Asylum (1985)
35. Kiss – “Tears Are Falling” 7″ Single (Bonus Edition) (1985)
36. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1985 Re-Issue)
37. Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986)
38. Black N’ Blue – Nasty Nasty (1986)
39. Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet (1987)
40. Kiss – Exposed VHS (1987)
41. Kiss – Crazy Nights (1987)
42. Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
43. Kiss – “Reason To Live” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
44. Kiss – Chikara (1988)
45. Kiss – Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988)
46. Kiss – Hot In The Shade (1989)
47. Kiss – “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” (1991) – 12″ Picture Disc
48. Kiss – Revenge (1992)
49. Kiss – Alive III (1993)
50. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Live)” (1993) – CD Maxi Single (Bonus Edition)
51. Kiss – Konfidential VHS (1993)
52. Kiss – Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)
53. Kiss – MTV Unplugged (1996)
54. Kiss – You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
55. Kiss – Greatest Kiss (1997)
56. Kiss – Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)
57. Kiss – Psycho Circus (1998)
58. Kiss – The Second Coming Documentary (1998)
59. Eric Carr – Rockology (1999)
60. Mark St. John – Mark St. John Project (1999)
61. Eric Singer Project – ESP (1999)
62. Bruce Kulick – Audiodog (2001)
63. Kiss – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
64. Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)
65. Kiss – Rock the Nation 2004 World Tour: Instant Live (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC 7/28/04) (2004)
66. Kiss – Rock the Nation Live! DVD (2005)
67. Kiss – Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
68. Paul Stanley – Live to Win (2006)
69. Kiss – Kissology: Volumes 1 to 3 (2006-2007)
70. Kiss – Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
71. Kiss – Sonic Boom (2009)
72. Kiss – Monster (2012)
73. Kiss – The Casablanca Singles 1973-1982 (2012)
74. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014)
75. Kiss – Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)
76. Kiss – Kissworld: The Best of Kiss (2017)
77. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
78. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach July 24, 2004 (2022)
79. Kiss – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First (2021)
80. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2021)
81. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary 2-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2021)
82. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2022)
83. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary 3-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2022)
84. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Arena, November 28, 1984 (2023)

The Bootleg Series:

1. Kiss – ‘Accept No Imitations’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ASYLUM TOUR)
2. Kiss – Look Wot You Dun to Me (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (CRAZY NIGHTS TOUR)
3. Kiss – The Summer of Satan: The Devils Ride Out! (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DESTROYER TOUR)
4. Kiss – Return to Capital Center (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DYNASTY TOUR)
5. Kiss – With Fire & Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (HOTTER THAN HELL TOUR)
6. Kiss – Northhampton PA March 19th, 1975 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DRESSED TO KILL TOUR)
7. Kiss – The Hottest Show On Earth (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR 2010)
8. Kiss – All the Way to the Ball Room (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (Australian Tour 1995)
9. Kiss – Kiss of Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (The Rising Sun Tour 2006)
10. Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE KISS TOUR)
11. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell: Radio Broadcast 1976 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ROCK & ROLL OVER TOUR)
12. Kiss – The Tickler (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (LICK IT UP TOUR 1983)
13. Kiss – Barbarize (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – North American Tour)
14. Kiss – They Only Come Out At Night (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – EUROPEAN TOUR)
15. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
16. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast
17. Kiss – End of the Road: In Allentown 2020 (PPL Center, Allentown, PA, 4th February 2020) (End of the Road Tour) – Blu-Ray
18. Kiss – ‘Monster Tour: Simpsonville 2013’ (Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, Simpsonville, C – 13th August 2013) – Blu-Ray
19. Wicked Lester – The Original Wicked Lester Sessions (Bootleg)
20. Kiss – The Ritz on Fire (August 12, 1988, The Ritz, New York City. A radio broadcast – Crazy Nights Tour)
21. Kiss – Kiss My Axe 1978: Live from the Los Angeles Forum in California, August 25, 1977 (Love Gun Tour)
22. Kiss – Gods of Thunder: The Legendary Concert Broadcast – Sao Paulo, August 27, 1994′
23. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast (Alternate Cover)
24. Kiss -Alive! in Amityville: June 1973 – (2021)

Kiss – The Box Set:

1. The Box Set (Part 1 of 6)
2. The Box Set – Disc One 1966-1975 (Part 2 of 6)
3. The Box Set – Disc Two 1975-1977 (Part 3 of 6)
4. The Box Set – Disc Three 1976-1982 (Part 4 of 6)
5. The Box Set – Disc Four 1983-1989 (Part 5 of 6)
6. The Box Set – Disc Five 1992-1999 (Part 6 of 6)

Gene Simmons – The Vault:

1. Part 1 – The Grand Opening
2. Part 2 – Disk 1
3. Part 3 – Disk 2
4. Part 4 – Disk 3
5. Part 5 – Disk 4
6. Part 6 – Disk 5
7. Part 7 – Disk 6
8. Part 8 – Disk 7
9. Part 9 – Disk 8
10. Part 10 – Disk 9
11. Part 11 – Disk 10
12. Part 12 – The Bonus Disk
13. Part 13 – The Best Songs of the Vault
14. Part 14 – The Worst Songs of the Vault
15. Part 15 – The Final Verdict