I loved (and still love) a lot of music from the late 70s through to the late 80s, but I was never fortunate enough at the time to see many in concert. Back in the 80s, everyone new of Kiss (Crazy, Crazy Nights) and Möttley Crüe (Girls, Girls, Girls). Two VERY different bands, but what they had in common was an abundance of showmanship.

A family member is a keen collector of Kiss, ever since his first encounter with them via the Bill and Ted movies. More recently, the 'I was made for lovin you' track as featured in The Fall Guy movie reminded me of just how good a band they were. So .... when the chance came along to see a concert featuring the highly rated 'Hotter than Hell' Kiss cover band, at The Limelight club in Belfast, I just had to go. The 'Motley Crude' Mötley Crüe cover band was also on the same bill. Could things get any better?

I only had my iPhone with me on the night in question (as I didn't think I could actually get into the gigs with my 'normal' gear). So this was a first for me by showing photos from my phone. Sometimes technical accuracy has to take a back seat, so long as I was able to capture the spirit of the experience. Neither of the bands disappointed - sheer showmanship from beginning to end. What a absolutely magical night when none of the world's problems seem to exist. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Motley Crude used every inch of the stage and then some more, blasting their music at full pelt. A band in a hurry for a great time ... and the crowd lapped it all up.

Then on came Hotter than Hell ... a full-on entrance complete with a dazzling sound and lighting setup. You just knew that this was going to be one hell of a crazy show. And off then they went on a sonic journey through the greatest hits on Kiss.

Costumes, makeup, platform shoes - all check - and topped off with excellent musicianship. A lot of over the top swagger, and they just sounded great from where I was beside their front of house engineer. Perfect.

The iPhone was being clicked quite a bit, but for once, I just had to put the thing away and just really enjoy the performance. Take a look for yourself ....

The photos turned out better than I expected given the limitations of my iPhone in comparison to my Sony setup.

Of course .... I had to select a few shots to show in black and white. The grittiness and strong lighting just heightened the drama.

After the show, both bands were very generous to spend so much time with the audience for selfies. All round nice guys. I can't wait until Hotter Than Hell (website) and Motley Crude come back ... and I'll bring better gear to capture the action.