The Handfelt Happy Hour: KISS It

Last weekend saw the return of some unseasonably warm (see: unseasonably awesome) weather, along with the arrival of the powerful and attractive Adam Glenn Akerson and his girlfriend Julie. Hailing from the great state of Texas and clocking in at a svelte 125 soaking wet, Mr. Akerson was in town to see the Hottest Band in the World at the United Center, and then watch our beloved Kurt Warner lead his Arizona Cardinals against the hometown Bears.

Let me tell you folks. Like a cold glass of chocolate milk, neither show disappointed.

On Friday, after doing a little nickel and dime tourist action downtown we met up with a gaggle of folks led by Nikolai Swanson and Kenny 'Cotton Ball' Haynes at Stanley's in Lincoln Park, where we drank cold beers and dreamed of a better tomorrow. My beard was briefly touched on (and touched) before we parted ways, with Mr. Swanson heading off the Black Crowes concert and Ken heading off towards some uncouth alleyway.

We met up with Katy at HHH stalwart Smoke Daddy's, where the BBQ tickled our ribs and passed the tough standards of the in-tow Texans. From there it was off to the United Center to see KISS for the first time since the Taft Era. Buckcherry opened up with an energetic and tattooed set that was rife with crunchy riffs and primal screams. The beers were $8.50, but when you're seeing the Hottest Band in the World, you need something to quench your thirst.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. A McCartney/Lennon for the mullet crowd.

To the tune of Led Zeppelin's 'Rock and Roll', the lights when out and the black KISS curtain dropped and the boys in black leather came storming out of the gates with 'Deuce'. From there, it was 'on'. The set was choc full of KISS Klassics: 'Strutter', 'Hotter Than Hell' (click the link and stay til the end), 'Detroit Rock City', 'Rock and Roll All Nite', 'Lick It Up' and 'Love Gun', just to name a few. Katy cited Paul flying over the crowd during 'Love Gun' as her favorite part; mine was probably playing air guitar to '100,000 Years' on Katy's pregnancy bump.

To say that this was the best of the nine KISS shows I've seen might be overstating things (you'll never forget your first KISS show, that's for sure), but Eric Singer's drumming certainly added an element that was sorely missing from the others, and our seats certainly classified as 'rock star'. After the show, I estimated that I spent a solid 38 minutes of the show air drumming and another 19 playing air guitar. Air bass brought up the rear with around 8 minutes.

The girls, KISS virgins, had a heckuva time as well, and Katy thinks that even at 57, Paul Stanley is hot. After the show, we came home exhausted. Like a rock n' roll turkey dinner, KISS had made us both tired and happy.

On Saturday we headed to Wrigleyville to watch the Hawkeyes play, and after a bit of an adventure trying to find somewhere to sit, we ended up at Rockit Wrigleyville. No volume on the TV, but we stayed for the above average breakfast and Bloody Mary bar before heading back to our place for the second half, which was disappointing to say the least. The James Vanderbeek led Hawks couldn't pull off the comeback to keep the perfect season intact. To the Alamo Bowl! I kid, I kid. I hope.

After that it was dinner at another regular haunt, La Scarola, before heading back home for some beers and Guitar Hero 5. In our own minds, Adam and I were legendary. Ace Frehley vs. Tommy Thayer. Jimmy Page vs. Joe Perry. Buckethead vs. the guitar player for Manowar.

Speaking of legendary matchups, Sunday brought the seemingly epic battle of the Cardinals vs. Bears. A Bears fan by day, I bleed Arizona Crimson when Captain Kurt takes the field. To this fair city I live in, I apologize. Katy cooked a mean batch of loaded chili (Fritos, sour cream, jalapenos, cheese, onion...boom shakalaka!) and the Cardinals prevailed in dominant fashion, with current NFC Player of the Week Kurt Warner throwing 5 TD passes and looking as half his age, much like those crazy kids from KISS had two nights earlier.

After the game, we lounged around, tossed around the old pigskin and enjoyed some celebratory beers out on the porch until dinner came along, which was another Katy Klassic: taco pizza. This was a first for Julie, as taco pizza is decidedly Iowa and also decidedly delicious. Check out Katy's recipe here if you missed it the first time around.

After a few more rounds of Geeetah Hero, it was off to bed, as the Texans had to be on a jetplane at the crack of dawn.

Another fun weekend, and probably one of the last weekends where we'll have visitors until the baby comes. After that, there will be no more rock and rolling all nite and partying every day. Nope, from there it segues to rocking back and forth all nite and changing diapers all day. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

*For more KISS pics/videos and shots of the weekend, check out our Picasa account here.