KIX at The Lincoln Theatre — Raleigh, NC
Straight up rock ’n’ roll is a dying art form that has been slowly crowded out by the surrounding noise of pop and countless other genres and studio concoctions. Few bands have stuck to their guns quite like KIX [★★★★★] who continue to carry on this tradition. The Maryland rockers stopped at the packed out Lincoln Theatre to show Raleigh, NC that rock ’n’ roll is clearly alive.
The current line up of Steve Whiteman (vocals), Brian Forsythe and Ronnie Younkins (guitars), Jimmy Chalfant (drums), and Mark Schenker (bass) wasted no time getting into deep cuts like “She Dropped Me the Bomb” and “Heartache” to kick off the party.
Anthems like “The Itch,” “Girl Money,” and “Midnight Dynamite,” gave the crowd an opportunity to sing along and were immediately well-received by fans. The band has a boundless energy this evening as Forsythe and Younkins are continually maneuvering the stage from front to back. Whiteman’s high kicks and mic stand twirls wowed the crowd and kept them wondering what he’s was going to do next.
Songs from their most recent release Rock You Face Off, which is thick with influence from AC/DC and good old bluesy rock and roll, show that the time between releases has only strengthened their resolve. “You’re Gone,” “Wheels In Motion,” and “Love Me With Your Top Down,” are thick with driving pulses and infectious sing-along choruses that perpetuate the party atmosphere.
Throughout the evening, Whiteman kept the evening fun and loose with his banter-laden interactions. He continually thanked the audience and egged them on to scream out, “You’re welcome.” His quips and observations from over the years keep the crowd in stitches. He’s a natural born entertainer that kept his audience engaged.
KIX created a catalog of familiar songs that have you thinking, oh yeah, I remember that one too. “Cold Shower” showed the band’s harmony strength and brought out the infamous KIX umbrella. And who can forget their massively successful power ballad “Don’t Close Your Eyes” which put the crowd in the palm of their hands. The highly anticipated “Blow My Fuse” which included an impressive drum solo from Chalfant closed out the set and had the crowd begging for more. For the encore, they crushed an unforgettable version of “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”
This review and full gallery was originally posted at Rezonatr.