Buffalo Rock City ALIVE! A Live Tribute To KISS featuring live Music Is Art performances from KISS THIS! and a special vocal performance of Hard Luck Woman by Robby Takac, founder of Music Is Art and Buffalo's own Goo Goo Dolls.
"Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!" features six performances from KISS THIS!’s live archive, going back to 2017, with 4 songs recorded during the 2021 (the 19th annual) Music Is Art Festival, run by Goo Goo Dolls co-founder Robby Takac. Robby and KISS THIS!’s connection dates to 2015, when the band was asked to open for the Goo Goo Dolls’ main stage performance at the 13th annual Music Is Art Festival.
KISS THIS!’s John Jeffrey (portraying original KISS guitarist, the “Spaceman” Ace Frehley), Taylor Stursa (bassist, as the tongue-wagging “Demon” Gene Simmons), Kevin Blakita (guitarist, as the “Starchild” Paul Stanley), and Julius Giambelluca (drummer, as “the Fox” Eric Carr) all perform on the live recording. John and Taylor participated in an additional special "Buffalo Rock City" set with drummer Shawn Przybylak and guitarist Gene Schmidt, both featured predominantly on the original release. Guest vocalists from the “Buffalo Rock City" album reprised their parts on “ALIVE!,” including Western New York talents Jody Velletta (Dodriver), Nat Peace (Judas Priest tribute band, Call for the Priest and the Rush tribute, Analog Kids), plus Casey Moyer (716 Dance Band), and Robby Takac, himself.
Lockport native, John Peace, (a great local producer and father of "Buffalo Rock City" alumnus vocalist Nat Peace) mixed the new production to “perfection,” notes John Jeffrey. “Mr. Peace has assembled and remixed professional live releases from a range of acts including the Beach Boys and Pink Floyd, and he’s supportive of all things hard rock and heavy metal." Having such an extensive background in working on live recordings made Peace an obvious choice to have mix the album.
Eventually the Johns—Peace and Jeffrey—co-produced "Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!" with the best sounding recordings from the KISS THIS! audio archive, along with the songs preserved from the Music Is Art performance.
The album’s artwork was done by renowned KISS fan artist Nobuya Tamaki, who has many of his pieces of art used by KISS. The design pays homage to the Gene Simmons white room/blood session done in 1977 with Lynn Goldsmith to promote "KISS ALIVE II."
Each “Buffalo Rock City ALIVE” CD comes with a randomly inserted trading card, featuring photos of the members of KISS THIS! and the Buffalo Rock City 2021 Music Is Art performers.
(I was pleasantly surprised by the super rare Julius Giambelluca card in my promo copy)
All proceeds will be donated to Music Is Art.
"Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!" tracklisting:
1. “Psycho Circus” performed by KISS THIS!
Recorded in Tonawanda, NY at Niawanda Park 8/4/18.
2. “I've Had Enough (Into the Fire)” performed by Buffalo Rock City. Recorded in Buffalo, NY at Music Is Art 9/11/21.
3. “Freak” performed by Buffalo Rock City.
Recorded in Buffalo, NY at Music Is Art 9/11/21.
4. “War Machine” performed by KISS THIS!
Recorded in West Seneca, NY at the Rockin' Buffalo Saloon 1/21/17.
5. “Back on the Streets” performed by Buffalo Rock City.
Recorded in Buffalo, NY at Music Is Art 9/11/21.
6. “Hard Luck Woman” performed by Buffalo Rock City featuring the Music Is Art founder and Goo Goo Dolls alumni Robby Takac. Recorded in Buffalo, NY at Music Is Art 9/11/21.
7. “Shock Me” performed by KISS THIS!
Recorded in Hamburg, NY at Memorial Park 7/5/19.
8. “Lick It Up” performed by KISS THIS! with Debbie Knight from the Knight Crew. Recorded in North Tonawanda, NY at Gateway Harbor 6/23/21.
9. “Beth” performed by KISS THIS! Recorded in North Tonawanda, NY at Gateway Harbor 7/26/17.
10. “New York Groove” performed by KISS THIS!
Recorded in North Tonawanda, NY at Gateway Harbor 7/25/18.
Special thanks to Kevin Blakita and KISS THIS!
