KI$$ off to Oshawa

Detroit, Oshawa...the connections are there to make. Cars, cars, cars.... and rock 'n roll...well, maybe. There are no bands from Motor City, CDN that come close to what Motor City USA has been sending down the line for decades. The list is mind blowing and it includes KISS.
One can't say KISS without also seeing bundles of dollars... they are the biggest the best the brightest at rolling in the dough as well as rolling in the rock. So one can really blame our CIty councillors for jumping to the same conclusions. KISS = KI$$.
Sure lets bring the band to the GM Centre. As the compilation created by Rob Aloe of Starter over a decade ago demonstrates KISS have fans in ShwaRock City. For Aloe the comp was a labour of love. I doubt he made any money of it. There were only 500 produced. It was as indie as one can get and it was also scene-centric.... Sister Kaos, the Philbins, Xntrix, Kryptonics, Riddle Me This, the Howells, Cryogenics, Grind, Lame, Barely Breathing, Shadwell's Jacket plus Lee McCormack's Superstar Revue All Star Band.
The disc was created for the love of KISS, for the fun of it, for the music.
That gets lost on the councillors who only see the potential of up to a million dollars flowing into the coffers should KISS play the arena downtown. Money is such a concern for City Hall when it comes to the arts. There are never any funds for those who want to organise events that would benefit the community at the local level, no money for the Jazz and Blues Fest for example. Yet they plow millions of your taxes into bricks and mortar... and then let the resulting buildings sit empty. Oshawa is so off the radar for booking agents and concert promotors that its gotten to the point that our councillors are shilling for Gene Simmons...have they no shame at all.
The plain stupidity of the plan is that the councillors think that KISS of 2009 is the same KISS they grew up with. The 50+ boomers who run the City have a taste in music that is only found at their annual prostrate exam.(The mayor says Oshawa is uneducated so I'll translate that one for you... "I didn't detect cancer Mr City Councillor but I did find your music taste")
This is a tough town to sell live music in. I know the Regent and the GM Centre are trying, the box clubs like Le Skratch and Johnny Bs are trying, the Atria and Chicago's.... I find the whole thing trying. City Hall should be helping out these businesses beyond tax relief...they should be partnering up with them to bring in more live music, more shows, concerts. The City can use its heft to build a music scene. I agree with the principle but not the booking policy.
The events in this City are funded by taxes. The acts picked must be based on their talent and not because some bureaucrat's daughter wants to get an autograph or some office manager wants to get a pic taken with his childhood idol. They should not be run as if they are private birthday parties.
Artists should not be booked just because its a "great deal". Money is not the only concern. Going forward into the Creative economy is. Invest in the now, the money will follow. KISS is over, those days are gone. KISS once were something. Now they have as many critics as fans. A 40 year career selling the same song will do that to you.  If you want to hang onto your youth get a Harley and some Botox shots. The whole stretched face look can be blamed on the highway winds. Chixdiggit!
Riding the KISS train makes this CIty look foolish. This council has turned us into a watercooler joke. Thousands of jobs lost and you give us Crusty The Clown.
So what are the plans for this KISS concert?
If the City's promotional attempts are successful what will we get?
What price the tickets?
Are they priced for those who live in the New Oshawa only?
Will the poorer folks in town be able to afford a ticket?
If the CIty is spending taxpayer time and money on this campaign will they underwrite the price of the ticket?
Why should some taxpayers pay more then?
Do we get a FREE show at the GM Centre?

Comments

[Josh]

That is unbelievable! Oshawa clearly has a huge number of fans here since we came in number 1, and we get snubbed, the GM Center has played many large venues such as Tragically Hip, INXS and many more. It's a bigger venue then the two shows they played at Casino Rama. If someone else from outside Oshawa wants to see them make them travel here!!! we didn't all vote for Kiss to come to Toronto so we can travel all the way to the ACC, We voted Kiss to Come to OSHAWA! I thought KISS would appreciate their fans a little more then this..... Guess I was wrong!

[dave]

It may not be the fault of the band? Could be a screw up elsewhere? Maybe it's NOT supposed to say Toronto, but Oshawa insted?

There is no doubt that it will happen if Oshawa raises a big enough stink. It's also bad publicity for the band if they don't.

[Anastasia Cormier]

How can Kiss deny the #1 city?? Found out today (through my very angry husband) that Kiss is not coming to Oshawa. My husband and I have been Kiss fans forever. Kiss says they listen to their fans , so what is this all about??

[Sheila]

Wouldn't it be cool if they asked some of the original bands from the shwaRock City CD. Or at least play them at the show before the show begins and during the breaks. My favorite would be song #10 I Stole Your Love - by Grind
wicked......:-)

[Terry Blankley]

This was hilarious!And true
T.

[Jay]

As someone that was involved in the ‘Shwa Rock City’ tribute CD, it should be noted that the project was entirely financed by the bands that contributed recordings. The CD’s that were pressed were divided amongst the participating bands to sell privately. I still have a stack off them. They sold that well :)

[al cole]

NYC..Detroit who really cares. Either way they SUCK.

[will]

NYC I though they were from SASK.... you say Winnipeg I say Detroit... Yeah true that mayor Al but they do have that whole association with Detroit... so its fair to draw the comparision I think...

[al cole]

Hate to burst yer ballon...KISS is originally from NYC. As for their EXPIRATION date...it is WAY past due (yawn). As for city council...that's what you end up with when only 26% of the city's eligable voters bother to cast a ballot. Is it any wonder the blind are leading the stupid in this city. Good night and good luck.