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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their biggest album, Blow My Fuse (which was recently reissued as Fuse 30 Reblown with bonus tracks), Kix made a stop at the Starland Ballroom in NJ on October 7th. Back in action since 2004, the lineup is 4/5ths original: singer Steve Whiteman, Ronnie Younkins and Brian Forsythe on guitars, Jimmy Chalfant on drums, with Funny Money bassist Mark Schenker in place of Donnie Purnell. Having seen Kix many times over the years I have yet to see a bad show, and you’d never know Whiteman is 62. The guy still dances around full of energy, and has a lot of fun with the crowd during “Cold Blood” (asking the girls, and guys, who likes to suck dick). 

Aside from the said album’s hits, “Get It While Its Hot”, “No Ring Around Rosie”, and “She Dropped Me The Bomb” are often in the setlist. Deep cuts like “Piece Of The Pie” and “Boomerang” are ok, better live, and “Dirty Boys” works the best. The boys also bookended the show with two new songs (“Love Me With Your Top Down” and “Wheels In Motion”) from the latest album Rock Your Face Off, Midnight Dynamite title track (still a great headbanger), and Hot Wire singles “Girl Money” and “Same Jane”. “The Itch” the only song from their earlier years and the debut in 1981 was also played. Yes, Kix have been around that long. One of the few glam/hair metal names still bringing it like they did in the ‘80s. 

Kix aren’t for kids, they are for hard rockers.