Spencer breaks top 100 in KISS tour bid

It's still not clear how many local votes it will take to bring arena rock band KISS to Spencer.

But it is clear residents are making progress in the Internet bid to "demand" a band visit to the northwest Iowa city of 11,000.

Spencer has a chance to "book" a major concert tour stop because the legendary band has put fans in charge of selecting the tour stops through Internet voting at www.Eventful.com. A link to the Eventful voting process is prominent on the www.kissonline.com Web site, too.

Spencer has moved past cities including New Orleans and Las Vegas within the past week to secure a spot at No. 96 by midday on Thursday. Courtland, Va., was the last city listed, at No. 9,566.

About 70,000 performers use the Eventful 'demand' service, according to Holly Anderson at Eventful. She said the site is a way for performers to ask fans: "Where do you want me?" Fans click on the demand button for their favorite artist, enter a zip code, and the information is passed along: Every performer has password-protected access to Eventful's performer dashboard to find out where they're most in demand.

KISS took the Internet-based service one step further.

"It's the first time that an artist has actually routed an entire tour based on where they're most in demand," Anderson said, later adding, "Artists use the service all the time, but this was a way for them to really engage with their fans and let their fans help influence where they route their tour."

KISS announced details of the fan-directed tour on April 6, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The concept caught the attention of Clay County Regional Events Manager Scott Hallgren, who launched the local marketing effort to bring the band to his venue.

To give smaller cities an opportunity, final site selection will weigh population size versus total votes. A city also needs to meet the requirements outlined in a booking disclaimer, including payment of the band's performance fee and the ability to provide a suitable venue.

Publicists for the band insist that, no matter where the fans say -- from stadiums to cornfields -- if there are enough votes, KISS will be there.

"I think it is exciting,' Hallgren said. "It's been exciting to see the interest from the community."

Most musicians make anywhere from 40 to 60 stops during a typical tour, Hallgren said.

The deadline to vote is June 30. The band is expected to release the results in early July and will begin its North American tour in September.

"For those who haven't voted, even if you are not a KISS fan, it's a great community initiative, so go out, support the community and vote -- vote 51301," Hallgren said.

Spencer's success in the voting has caught the attention of others in the industry, according to the Events Center manager.

"The added benefit has actually kicked in and is already working for us," Hallgren said. "I have heard comments from other people out there, in our industry, that were surprised. They knew Spencer, Iowa, because of our building, but (were surprised) to see where Spencer, Iowa, is in the voting."

Hits, including "Rock and Roll All Nite," "I Was Made for Lovin' You," "Detroit Rock City," and "Shout It Out Loud," have led to more than 30 gold and platinum records and in excess of 90 million KISS albums sold worldwide.

"No band has ever given their fans the power to decide what cities they play, and no fans deserve it more than ours," said band member Paul Stanley. "We're leaving the next U.S. and Canadian tour up to the Army. When they stand up, they will be counted."

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BUCKCHERRY, TOO

* KISS has added Buckcherry as the opening act for all dates on the upcoming tour. Voting fans can "demand" exactly where KISS performs in North American markets when the tour begins in September.