Yearly Archives: 2009

KISS Blows Up BOK

Ernie Osborn

altOn a bitterly cold night, KISS heated up the BOK Center in a big way.  They proved why they have been billed as "The Hottest Band in the World". 

Now into their late 40’s, 50′ and 60’s they put on a show that establishes a benchmark for younger groups that may never be seen again.  It was plain to see that they take the revenue they make from merchandising, album sales and touring and pour it back into their live shows. 

The night started off in a legendary KISS way, local band Hector Backwoods opened the show.  This band that was voted on by listeners and local music fans through the KMOD website.  A lifetime shot for the three piece rock group.  KMOD DJ’s KC and Promo Dave who host a local indie rock show on Friday nights called DOMK (KMOD backwards) made a list of 10 top local bands and allowed the listener to vote on their favorite.  The winner received the 30 minute opening spot for the KISS concert.

Hector Backwoods made the most of their opportunity, with a rocking set and good stage presence they warmed up the near capacity crowd.  Staying humble and thankful for the opportunity they talked about how huge this was for them and how grateful they were for the shot.  I would recommend getting your hands on their disc if you get a chance.  Self proclaimed as country boys with a redneck rock sound.  Had some hints of The Cult in their sound.  It was entertaining and you couldn’t help but have pride that these guys were some of our own doing what they obviously loved to do on a national scale.  Congrats Hector!!  You deserve it.

If you have never been to a KISS show (as I had not) let me lay some of the ground work for you.  Just getting to the venue you can sense the electricity in the air.  There is an anticipation for this show that I really hadn’t felt before.  One of those feelings that you get when you figure you will never get to see something like that (considering that these guys have been doing this since the mid 70’s) and then suddenly you have a chance and build it up in your head like a small child does Christmas.  There are people running around in KISS makeup, you see fans renditions of Gene, Paul, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer (the latter two who have stepped in to take the place of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss).  The BOK even had a face painting area to get made up like your favorite character.  There are fans that have been around a very long time and there is a new breed that are in place, painted and dressed and ready to go.  Lots of kids under 10 years that are in full garb.  Amazing to see and even more of a thrill to see the band interact with them.

During the intermission between acts guitar techs came out to check wireless signal on the guitars and basses and threw picks into the crowd.  One landed close and I scooped it up.  I then turned around and gave it to a little boy who was seated behind me.  I later learned that the youngster had dressed up as Gene Simmons for Halloween and his dad was showing me pictures of his costume and telling me that they had found a way to get them into Gene himself and got a response.  What a great gift for the little fan.

The stage was shrouded in a black curtain with the now famous KISS logo in silver.  Lights give way to drum beats and guitar licks, then the legendary intro starts, "Ladies and gentleman, you wanted the best, you got the best!  The hottest band in the world, KISS"!  The curtain drops and pyro goes into overdrive.  Lots of flames, bombs and fireworks.  From the opener "Deuce" to show closer, and forth encore "Detroit Rock City" they set the place ablaze with thunderous rocking music and at times some campy behavior.  The set list also included 2 songs from their first release in 11 years, "Sonic Boom".  Paul Stanley, never one to shy away from marketing and promotion told the audience to go to "Wal-Mart.com or if you are not too lazy take yourself down to Wal-Mart and buy the album"!  Songs from album were "Modern Day Delilah" and "Say Yeah".

Guitarist, Tommy Thayer, shined during his 4 minute long solo that at one point had sparks shooting from his guitar that also set off pyro bombs on the light rigging.  One of which brought a piece of the structure down. 

Some would say that the band isn’t the same without Frehley and Criss and I would have agreed before this concert.  It is easy to see that what is in place is the product, KISS has become more than a band at this point.  The group has been a revolving door of faces at times, only remaining steady have been Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

From my seat on stage right it seemed as though the band was really playing to my side of the arena for some reason.  It later became known that the hit show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was in town doing some filming and were featuring KISS along with the Wagstaff family from Gainesville, Florida.  (Tentative air date is March 2010)  The family teaches music lessons to those who can’t afford to take them.  It was clear to see that the band was all in favor of this endeavor and loved hamming it up for the family. 

These guys have a firm grasp on who they are and what they have accomplished in the rock world.  They pretty much invented the rock arena show and spectacle.  Gene with his fire and blood spitting, as well as his prowess on stage, from pointing to and playing to the crowd to his flight from the main stage to the light rigging and  and a smaller stage on top to play "I Love It Loud" to Paul streaking across the arena to a smaller stage at the back of the room to perform "Love Gun" it was truly an amazing show and circus. 

Not sure how much longer these guys will be doing this, but don’t miss it if you get a chance.

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Photos: Kevin Pyle

Senate Amendment Forces President On Public Option

Office of Sen. Tom Coburn

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Sen. Tom Coburn and three other senators filed an amendment that would enroll the President, White House staff, members of Congress and all political administrative staff in the government-run public option.

The amendment also would fix language to force leadership and committee staff to also be part of the health program.

“The President, members of Congress and others in our government can demonstrate leadership and confidence in the public option by enrolling themselves in the program. While I oppose the public option, Republicans and Democrats can agree that we should live under the laws we pass," Coburn said.

"I can also think of no better way to ensure that the public option is responsive to our citizens than by having the politicians in charge of the system enrolled in the same program.  If a low-income, single mom has to wait in line for a life saving treatment, so should our national leaders and their families.  Enrolling national leaders in the public option may be the best way to prevent the government from rationing care,” he added. 
Coburn and Sen. Chuck Grassley R-Iowa, joined forces in the floor debate after having won approval of amendments in their respective committees to apply the new health reforms to members of Congress and staff.  Coburn’s amendment in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed with some Democratic support, and Grassley’s amendment in the Finance Committee [each] received unanimous approval.

Grassley learned that staff members of Senate leadership offices and committees are exempted from the requirement that members of Congress and congressional staff get their employer-based health insurance through the same system that would apply to the rest of the country under the Senate majority leader’s health care legislation.  Staff for the majority leader and Democratic committee chairmen wrote the bill behind closed doors.  The carve-out came to light after Grassley asked the non-partisan Congressional Research Service to analyze the bill, and experts confirmed the carve-out.

 The amendment combines the Coburn and Grassley amendments, putting all members of the House and Senate and their staff in the public option in states that have one and in the exchange in states that opt out of the public option.  The amendment fixes the majority leader’s omission of leadership and committee staffs.  It also enrolls the President, the Vice President, White House staff, and all Administration political staff in the public option or exchange (depending on their state).

Coburn and the other original signers of the amendment are asking all senators to sign their proposal and are requesting floor debate.

Tulsa’s Godless Groups Organize with Billboard, Book Tour

Staff Reports

A new outdoor billboard prominently proclaiming that people can be good without God is now appearing in Tulsa.

The sign, "Are you good without God? Millions are," is located on I-44 West at Elwood and is visible to westbound traffic. It is sponsored by Tulsa CoR, the Tulsa Coalition of Reason, and is part of a nationwide campaign.

Consisting of nontheistic (humanist, atheist and agnostic) groups in the greater Tulsa area, Tulsa CoR seeks to raise public awareness that people can be good without believing in a god, according to a press release.  Funding has been provided by United CoR, the United Coalition of Reason.

Tied to the billboard campaign is a publicity tour on a new book, "Good without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe," authored by Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University.

 Epstein will be speaking in Tulsa this week.

"The point of our national billboard campaign is to reach out to the millions of humanists, atheists and agnostics living in the United States," explained Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason. "Nontheists sometimes don’t realize there’s a community out there for them because they’re inundated with religious messages at every turn. So we hope this will serve as a beacon and let them know they aren’t alone."

Added Bill Dusenberry, coordinator of Tulsa CoR, "People often think you can’t be moral if you don’t believe in a supreme being. The truth is, we organized secularists are involved in moral issues and social activism more than most people. Now it’s time that information got out."

Epstein will speak Thursday, from 7-9 p.m. on the subject "How to Be Good Without God" at
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 South Peoria Ave.

On Friday, Epstein will sign copies of his book from noon to 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Bookstore
8620 E. 71st
These events are free and open to the public.

The United Coalition of Reason launched a dozen advertising campaigns previously this year. Each involved billboards or public transit ads. They appeared in Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Morgantown, West Virginia; Newark, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Portland, Oregon.

Tulsa’s Godless Groups Organize with Billboard, Book Tour

Staff Reports

altA new outdoor billboard prominently proclaiming that people can be good without God is now appearing in Tulsa.

The sign, “Are you good without God? Millions are,” is located on I-44 West at Elwood and is visible to westbound traffic. It is sponsored by Tulsa CoR, the Tulsa Coalition of Reason, and is part of a nationwide campaign.

Consisting of nontheistic (humanist, atheist and agnostic) groups in the greater Tulsa area, Tulsa CoR seeks to raise public awareness that people can be good without believing in a god, according to a press release.  Funding has been provided by United CoR, the United Coalition of Reason.

Tied to the billboard campaign is a publicity tour on a new book, “Good without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe,” authored by Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University.

 Epstein will be speaking in Tulsa this week.

“The point of our national billboard campaign is to reach out to the millions of humanists, atheists and agnostics living in the United States,” explained Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason. “Nontheists sometimes don’t realize there’s a community out there for them because they’re inundated with religious messages at every turn. So we hope this will serve as a beacon and let them know they aren’t alone.”

Added Bill Dusenberry, coordinator of Tulsa CoR, “People often think you can’t be moral if you don’t believe in a supreme being. The truth is, we organized secularists are involved in moral issues and social activism more than most people. Now it’s time that information got out.”

Epstein will speak Thursday, from 7-9 p.m. on the subject “How to Be Good Without God” at
All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 South Peoria Ave.

On Friday, Epstein will sign copies of his book from noon to 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Bookstore
8620 E. 71st
These events are free and open to the public.

The United Coalition of Reason launched a dozen advertising campaigns previously this year. Each involved billboards or public transit ads. They appeared in Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Morgantown, West Virginia; Newark, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Portland, Oregon.

Guitar Center Collects 50,000-Plus Cans For Food Drive

Staff Reports

Guitar Center announced it collected more than 52,000 cans of food donated by musicians as part of a four-week nationwide food drive. The Tulsa store collected 583 cans as part of the drive.

All the cans – 52,981 – were donated to local food banks across the country where Guitar Center has stores.

"When Guitar Center initially launched the nationwide food drive, we only had plans of collecting for two weeks," said Gene Joly, Executive Vice President of Guitar Center Stores. "However, we quickly realized that due to overwhelming support from local communities, as well as each Guitar Center location, we needed to extend our efforts through the entire month of November. Guitar Center would like to thank everyone who made this project such a success–our generous customers and sales associates really rose to the occasion this holiday season."

Guitar Center supported the local communities’ efforts with a multi-tiered marketing campaign–including presence in the Guitar Center buyer’s guide with a circulation of over one million. Guitar Center also conducted targeted in-store promotion with signage and in-store audio, a full online promotional push, as well as a public relations initiative, launched to drive additional awareness and participation.