Experience the Unseen Side of Kiss with Off the Soundboard: Live in San Antonio – the Latest Addition to Their Official Bootleg Series. This release unveils a previously unrecorded performance from the band’s iconic 1985 Asylum tour, providing fans with a rare glimpse into a concert that has eluded their extensive live album and home video catalog.

In stark contrast to the heavily produced 1975 album Alive!, this live document presents an authentic experience, devoid of any overdubs, pitch corrections, or artificially enhanced crowd sounds. Fortunately, the performance showcases minimal mistakes, as the band delivers a vibrant and powerful rendition of their setlist, predominantly featuring hit songs from their ’80s albums like Creatures of the Night and Animalize. A standout moment is the soulful “I Still Love You,” where lead vocalist Paul Stanley and lead guitarist Bruce Kulick shine with their exceptional performances.

Throughout the concert, the term “tearing” aptly describes the intensity of the band’s performance. Kiss openly acknowledges that part of their strategy for thriving in the ’80s involved injecting high energy into their live shows by accelerating song tempos to their limits. While this technique successfully energizes their newer tracks, it tends to overshadow the original flair and swagger of their classic ’70s hits like “Detroit Rock City” and “Love Gun,” leaving some of their nostalgic charm behind.

One of the most distracting aspects of this soundboard recording is the lack of noticeable audience interaction. This absence is particularly striking given that both Stanley and Gene Simmons engage the crowd with rhythmic call-and-response segments throughout the performance. Stanley’s over-the-top, often outrageous stage banter, where he humorously equates his masculinity with various weapons and provocatively asks, “How many people like to put things in their mouth?” adds a unique, if not absurd, flavor to the show.

Explore More: 2025 Album Reviews

The essence of the 1980s is unmistakable during the four extended instrumental solos — featuring drums, bass, and individual guitar showcases by Stanley and Kulick — which collectively occupy 20 minutes of the 93-minute concert. However, indulgence has always been a defining characteristic of the Kiss experience. Off the Soundboard: Live in San Antonio effectively encapsulates a remarkable performance from what many consider to be the band’s best lineup from the ’80s, presented in a genuinely raw and enjoyable format.