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A
very merry ‘Kissmas’
by Michelle Paternostro
Grand Island Dispatch, December 14, 2007
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 15, 2007
This year’s “Kissmas Bash” was again a success –
truly a show to remember. Not only was it sold out, but there were
also a variety of concertgoers in the audience. Thousands of people
filled HSBC Arena, ranging in ages and hometowns. Screens on the
sides of the stage showed various camera views during the performances.
The bands performed excellent live, often improvising in between
songs, keeping the audience involved.
The crowd was filled with screaming fans, cheering
for their favorite groups and answering the band’s shout-outs to
Buffalo and “Kissmas Bash.” Boys Like Girls opened the show with
its most popular songs. Backstreet Boys AJ, Brian and Nick made
an appearance introducing Good Charlotte and, throughout the concert,
made special announcements and introduced the artists. Sean Kingston’s
performance was energetic and Simple Plan was greeted with screams
of approval. The last act was Hinder, whose performance was speckled
with shout-outs as well.
While the favorite of the night was Simple Plan,
coming back to “Kissmas Bash” to promote its new album, the other
performances were not far behind. Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte,
Hinder and Sean Kingston also pleased the crowd Tuesday night.
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Simple Plan guitarist David Desrosiers
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Simple Plan was the most popular “Kissmas Bash” act. Pictured is guitarist
Sebastien Lefebvre.
“I think my favorite was Simple Plan,” said concertgoer Jill DiFrancesco.
“I liked them all though – except I don’t really know many of Hinder’s
songs.”
Kelly Cich added, “I have been in love with Simple Plan since they first
came out and have loved them since then. Hearing the band live? That
was awesome.”
Brian Littrell and Nick Carter of the Backstreet
Boys
entertained
the HSBC Arena crowd with their high jinks.
Ciara Morreale and Matt McGovern admit they came late to the concert,
missing some of the bands, “but we were on the floor and it was a lot
of fun.”
Nikki Corrao said, “I really wanted to see Boys Like Girls, but we were
late and missed some of that performance. Then Simple Plan was my favorite.”
Boys Like Girls guitarist Paul Digiovanni rocked the band’s biggest
hits, including “The Great Escape.”
Another concertgoer, a graduate from Niagara Falls
High School, claims her favorite was Sean Kingston by far. “He’s
the best rapper in the world, you bet I was waving my cell phone.
And showing the ‘Soul’ja Boy’ dance on the screens was so fun.
I looked around and nearly the entire arena was up doing it along
with the video.”
Sam Tilkins, wearing a Boys Like Girls sweatshirt
she had bought at the concert, said, “I love Boys Like Girls, I
just had to get this sweatshirt.”
A displeasing fact to all, however, may have been
the playing of the band’s music videos right after their performances
as the next act was setting up.
“I think it was cute how Kiss had the screens show
text messages and shout-outs in between performances. But playing
the music videos? That was a bad idea,” says Jessica Doyle, who
was excited Tuesday when they showed a message she sent for her
friend’s birthday.
Many of the concertgoers were excited and curious
about next year’s “Kissmas Bash.” Will it top this year and years
past?
Michelle Paternostro, an intern with Niagara Frontier
Publications, is a senior at Grand Island High School.
Photos by John
Stuart |
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Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier
brought the sell-out crowd to its feet by leaving the ground himself. |
Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden and Paul Thomas
rocked out.
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