It’s not all that often you get to see one of your favorite performers in concert. It’s rarer still to see two of your all-time favorites on back-to-back nights, but that’s what my Monday and Tuesday nights were like this week.

I’ve been a KISS fan for over 20 years. I wouldn’t put my KISS fandom on the same level as my friend Larry Underhill and his family. Not many years have gone by in the last 20 when I haven’t been asked to paint the face of at least one member of the Underhill family as KISS for either Halloween or a KISS concert and I got a text on Tuesday asking me to do it again. But I’m a pretty solid member of the KISS Army. 

I came to KISS fandom a little later in life than most, not first seeing them in concert until 30 years into the band’s existence. I’m a huge fan of Garth Brooks, particularly his live shows. After hearing Garth say he stole much of his show from KISS, I decided to go see them when they came to Starwood Amphitheater (remember that place?) in 2003. Garth wasn’t lying and I had a new favorite band. I’ve always been a fan of spectacle so the face paint, costumes, fireballs, rocket-firing guitars, a blood-spitting demon and a flying front man were right down my alley.

I’m also a sucker for good merchandise and nobody markets themselves quite as well as KISS. My KISS Kollection quickly grew, with no other item topping the first Christmas present my then-girlfriend and now-wife Ashley got me the first year we were together - a Paul Stanley autographed guitar. Paul is the lead singer, the one with the star around his eye, and my personal favorite. I go to KISS shows as much to hear Paul talk to the crowd and repeatedly ask for the PEOPLE to get a little louder as I do to hear the music. Co-workers, friends and my extremely patient wife are all-too aware that one of my favorite things is to do a bad Paul Stanley impression asking the PEOPLE if they’re ready to rock before continuing to ask several mundane questions. In my head, Paul is so inquisitive, he must be traveling the country as a secret census taker. For my 47th birthday, Ashley got me a Cameo video from comedian Pat Francis who has a Paul Stanley puppet and does an impression similar to mine. Puppet Paul suggested I redesign the Southern Standard using lightning bolts for the letter S as KISS does.

Monday night I watched my favorite band for the seventh and final time as, after 50 years, KISS’ remarkable touring career is coming to an end this December. I saw them twice in their “End of the Road Tour” as it was a long road, taking five years and two trips to Nashville to complete the tour.

A night later, I had a much shorter trip to see one of my all-time favorite country artists, Aaron Tippin, play the Park Theater with his family. He played several of his biggest hits, including “Kiss This.” Aaron, his wife, Thea, and son, Tom performed as a fundraiser for Boyd Christian School and delighted a crowd of over 300.

So, this Monday and Tuesday, I wanted the best, I got the best. Not a bad way to start the week, PEOPLE!

Standard Managing Editor Seth Wright can be reached at (931) 473-2191