From: Peter Sanfacon

KISS at The FleetCenter - Boston, MA. Thursday, November 12, 1998.

The set list was basically the same as the LA show on Halloween.

Psycho Circus
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Do You Love Me
Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll
Shock Me
Within
Firehouse
Calling Dr. Love
Makin' Love
Cold Gin
King Of The Nighttime World
Into The Void
100,000 Years
God Of Thunder
I Was Made For Lovin' You
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
Beth
Black Diamond
Rock And Roll All Nite

The opening band was Econoline Crush, from Canada. We got to the FleetCenter in time to see them but we opted for a couple of hotdogs for dinner and went to our seats after the band finished. We had balcony 4th row, halfway down the right side. Not guitar pick seats but a good view and still loud. I didn't want to go for the $55 seats and end up too far back on the floor with PJ, my five-and-a-half-year-old son. Anything farther back than row 20 and you can't see a friggin' thing.

This was PJ's 3rd KISS show (he came with us to two shows on the Reunion Tour in '96). He was pretty excited when the lights went out. He had his official KISS earplugs in (from the Reunion Tour) and sang along on the choruses to the opening song, "Psycho Circus." We also had our 3D glasses on to witness many of the images from the "Psycho Circus" video. Initially the 3D effects were cool but later it just became an extra thing to look at. All of the images were on tape but the large video screens also featured Live KISS in 2D. I'm willing to bet they'll be beefing up that effect as the tour progresses. Fans on the floor roared at the 3D throughout the show, so their angle must have given the best 3D effects. We had a spotlight casting glare at our side screen. It was still a fun little feature of the show.

KISS was loud and proud and sounding great from first note to last. In fact, three of the area newspapers each had a positive review of the show on the 12th. A first in Boston, where writers and critics are always finding fault with performers, celebrities, and sports figures.

The end of "Deuce" featured Gene, Paul and Ace out front, displaying the early 70s choreography. "Do You Love Me" once again featured the extended ending that fans first heard on the last tour. Very cool. The guys exhibited there classic side-to-side sway during the waning moments of "Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll."

"Shock Me" has been moved up to the 6th spot on this tour. PJ was disappointed when Ace's solo appeared to end abruptly. I had to explain to him that he won't do the rockets on "Shock Me" because his long solo will be later during another song.

I think the only lag in the show (albeit only a slight one) was "Within." The tempo of this tune, one of the best songs on the CD, slowed the momentum of the show. I think it would be better as a show opener-- gradual start, followed by "Deuce" or "Strutter" (the latter was not performed during this show). It would also work as part of an extended encore right after Beth, replacing the short break they have now. It's a great song. It was just stuck in the wrong place.

Maybe I feel this way about the tempo because PJ actually started to fade during this song. This was more a reflection on his state of consciousness at 9:30 at night, being five years old, than on KISS' performance. This was his third KISS show and the first time he wasn't just jumping and screaming from start to finish. Poor guy. Kindergarten's a killer.

He managed to stay awake through "Firehouse" (we talked all about Gene's firebreathing later on the way home). PJ would sleep through the rest of the show, despite several attempts to wake him up. Joy and I began to feel guilty about "dragging" him with us but he would've been terribly sad staying home with a babysitter after seeing KISS twice in '96. Even if he didn't see the whole show this time, he was still there and he had some stories to tell.

Proof that we fans, who play KISS all the time, really know KISS' CDs better than they do: After "Calling Dr. Love" Paul said that they wanted to play a song that they hadn't played in a while. "I think it's off LOVE GUN," he said. Turning to Gene, "It's off LOVE GUN, right?" Gene nodded. Paul then added, "When I asked Ace if this was from LOVE GUN, he just said 'I dunno'." The song was "Makin' Love." Close. But no LOVE GUN. He should've asked us!

Ace sings "Cold Gin" all by himself now. Very cool. In Boston on the 12th nobody sang "My heater's broke and I'm so tired, I need your fuel to build my fire." The crowd sang this part-- loudly. Ace chimed in at "The girl next door her lights are out yeah."

Ace's extended solo was at the end of "Into The Void," a song that sounds great live! I tried and tried to wake PJ up for Ace's solo-especially the rockets-but he was gone. Absolutely out cold. 120 dBs crashing all around him and he's nappin'.

A minor snag in the show, being the first of the full tour, was during Gene's ascent to the rafters after his bass solo at the beginning of "God Of Thunder." The tether didn't raise him high enough and Gene had to lunge for the platform. This feat, of course, only caused the near-sellout crowd to roar in appreciation for his efforts.

Peter's solo wrapped up the same tune. The drum riser's new trick: it rises and separates from its base and moves forward towards the front rows. The drum platform itself is only a few feet tall and looks like a flying carpet hovering above the stage. Pretty cool.

I hadn't seen any shows on the Lost Cities tour so Paul's ride to the back of the hall during "Love Gun" -- although I'd heard all about it back then -- was a new treat. Those folks on the floor in the back, by the soundboard, went from lousy seats to front row in a hurry!

"Rock And Roll All Nite" ended the night with fireworks, explosions, and confetti. The crowd hung around, cheering hoping to see more. After a good three minutes of stomping, the large screens showed an add for the KISS car. For many of us it was our first glance at the redesigned black Prowler. I think they should give away more than one of those high-priced babies. And I know if I had that kind of cash to spend on a car, I wouldn't buy a Chrysler. It'd be a C5 Corvette.

Another great show. The amplifiers were humming and so were the ears. I wouldn't have it any other way. PJ was still sound asleep. I had to scoop him up and carry him all the way down from the balcony. The FleetCenter is the building that replaces the old Boston Garden. It's a very modern building but getting the hell out of there is still just as much a pain in the ass it the Garden was. Shortly after we hit the cool November night air on Causeway Street PJ began to come to. He didn't stop talking about KISS all the way home.

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