As a memento for those who caught their 35th anniversary tour, this digipak makes for a nice keepsake; but it’s otherwise of interest only to completists.
The 22-track set begins with Deuce, which leaves you wondering what the deuce it was recorded on. Tin foil? From a blimp? The sound quality improves thereafter – a tad – but Strutter is bass-heavy and Paul Stanley’s sometimes creaky vocals don’t help. Hotter Than Hell funks along, there’s an ironic plea from on stage to “turn up the sound”, and Parasite beefs up the riffage. But Tommy Thayer’s solo on the BÖC-like She ain’t no Yngwie. Numerous pyro blasts could also cause you to spill your drink, before the first 77 minutes end with Black Diamond.
A slew of non-Alive numbers follow, such as Rock’n’Roll All Night (marred by much cheering), the bombastic Shout It Out Loud and a fine Lick It Up mixing in The Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again. Gene Simmons throws in a throwaway bass solo (don’t bass solo unless you’re Stanley Clarke), and Detroit Rock City brings the spectacle (visual, rather than aural) to a close.
