On a cold Friday night in Teaneck, New Jersey, Kuarantine brought the heat—and the deep cuts—as they rolled into Debonair Music Hall for their first-ever East Coast swing on the Unholy Night Tour. What began as a pandemic passion project for Chris Jericho (Fozzy, AEW/WWE fame) and P.J. Farley (Trixter) has evolved into a full-fledged tribute to KISS’ often-overlooked non-makeup era of the ’80s and early ’90s. Their mission? Shine a spotlight on the killer tracks KISS rarely touched after the makeup came back on in the late ‘90s —and deliver them with humor, heart, and a whole lot of swagger.
A Crowd Straight Out of 1987
The vibe inside Debonair was pure nostalgia. Fans packed the room sporting Crazy Nights tees, Vinnie Vincent Invasion shirts, vintage tour merch, and of course a wave of Ace Frehley fandom sprinkled throughout. The atmosphere was energetic from the jump—so spirited, in fact, that early in the set someone launched a vast pile of bras and panties onto the stage. Jericho, never one to miss a comedic beat, cracked that it felt like a true mid-’80s moment… even if the garments clearly weren’t coming off the bodies of screaming groupies this time around.
Tongue-in-Cheek Rock ’n’ Roll Theater
Jericho leaned fully into the parody-laced charm of the project, proclaiming Kuarantine “the world’s number one non-makeup-era KISS cover band”—before deadpanning that they’re also the only one. Throughout the night he repeatedly joked about the lyrical depth (or lack thereof) of KISS’ ’80s output, laughing that most of the songs were basically about sex and not exactly intricate compositions. He even called out what he described as the “tackiest” of the bunch—“Young And Wasted”—getting a huge pop from the fans who knew exactly what he meant. He also ribbed the audience about their singles reaching chart-topping status over the past few years, delivering it with the kind of self-aware humor that set the tone for the entire night.
Musically, the band delivered a setlist hardcore KISS fans dream about, digging deep into albums like Creatures of the Night, Lick It Up, Asylum, Crazy Nights, and Revenge. They even stepped briefly into classic makeup territory with “Love Gun” and “Detroit Rock City”, which Jericho promised to play “quick and fast—the way KISS did them in the ’80s.” And they delivered exactly that.
Spot-On Vocals, Big Energy
Guitarist Joe McGinness deserves special recognition for nailing Paul Stanley’s iconic high-register vocals and stage banter, perfectly complementing Jericho’s enthusiastic frontman performance. Their chemistry was strong, fun, and authentically rooted in fandom rather than imitation.
Drummer Kent Slucher—best known as Luke Bryan’s longtime touring drummer—delivered a surprisingly heavy, ’80s-style drum solo that fit the era they were celebrating. Big fills, big attitude, big energy. It was a perfect throwback moment for the setting.
Encore .… Without Leaving the Stage
Since Debonair doesn’t exactly offer a grand backstage escape route, the faux-encore was a highlight unto itself. The band killed the lights, threw towels and underwear over their heads, “walked off” in place, waited for the crowd to roar, then stormed back in as the lights blasted up. It was silly, absurd, and absolutely perfect for the show’s vibe.
And in true KISS fashion, Jericho capped the night by smashing a fake guitar into pieces and tossing the neck into the audience—one last wink to the larger-than-life theatrics of the era they were celebrating.
Final Verdict
Kuarantine delivered a high-energy, nostalgia-fueled celebration of a KISS era that doesn't get nearly enough love. For fans who grew up on Lick It Up, Crazy Nights, or Revenge, hearing these deep cuts—many unheard live for 25 to 30 years—was nothing short of a treat.
A fun show, an enthusiastic crowd, and a setlist packed with gems made this the perfect way to kick off the weekend. If you're a fan of KISS’ non-makeup years, Kuarantine is a must-see while the Unholy Night Tour makes its way through your area.
Concert review by Metal Walt
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