From: Ajthurman@aol.com

Here is my review of the Gund Arena show in Cleveland on 12/6/98:

I attended the show at Gund Arena in Cleveland last night. Let me start off by saying that no matter what my criticism of this show might be, it still blows away every other act/tour out there today. Also, do not miss this show. It is still awesome, and don't miss an opportunity to see this type of show from them. We just don't know if and when they will ever tour like this again.

This time, KISS played to what seemed to be a sell-out or near sell-out of about 18,000 fans (as opposed to two sold out shows -- in less than one afternoon, mind you -- on the reunion tour in Œ96). As for some general observations, the show wasn't on as grand of a scale as the reunion tour. The sound, while the best I have ever heard for an arena tour, wasn't nearly as loud, and the lighting and pyro seemed to be scaled down. For example, on the reunion tour the pyro shot up above the stage like July 4th fireworks. Last night, everything was contained below the stage. During God of Thunder and 100,000 Years the flames were also only shot up from the stage and not the lighting rigs as on the last tour. There were no cherry-pickers during Black Diamond no Kiss Army banners as I have heard from other shows.

A couple of added effects which were very nice were dual KISS signs on either side of the stage (the screen in the back of the stage was good for the 3-D), the drum riser raising up and then forward to the front of the stage during Peter's solo, Paul flying over the crowd during Love Gun, a pin-wheel pyro effect from Ace's Guitar and on the sides of the stage at the end of the show (like 1979 all over again), and yes, the 3-D. I was skeptical about the 3-D, but was definitely pleasantly surprised. They repeated a lot of the same effects over and over and told you when to take the glasses on and off, but the stuff really worked. Also, they had a 3-D camera shooting the show, so for some of the songs it seemed as if whoever the camera was focused on was out playing in the middle of the arena. Otherwise, the show was pretty much a note for note rendition of the last tour.

I think I speak for many long-time fans when I say the set list needs a little work. Moving Deuce to the first part of the set was a good move, but they need to change up some of the songs. Songs like Let Me Go Rock and Roll and King of the Nighttime World can be changed up. With the new songs played (which sounded good), the set would be drastically different. I don't think we will hear songs like Goin' Blind, Flaming Youth, or Rocket Ride because these are songs they just have really never played live, but songs like I Want You, I Stole Your Love, Strutter, Hotter than Hell, Parasite, and Nothin' to Lose would be welcome additions. They will have to do something, because the fans will not want to see the same set played over and over. Every song played last night was played at every reunion tour show. And that is the reason that a lot of people are saying this tour is basically a carbon copy of the last one except for the 3-D. I saw the reunion tour three times live and several other times on video and agree that without the 3-D this is a slightly scaled down version of the Œ96 tour (which last night proved was really the greatest show on Earth).

The set list is the same as previous shows, except for moving Deuce, and played 19 songs in all. They did not play I Was Made for Loving You or Makin' Love.

Though this show will not send as many chills down your spine as the reunion show, it still kicks major ass. GO SEE IT!!!!

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