From: Jarratt Bryan

Just wanted to give you a brief review of the concert held at the Nashville Arena on Jan. 2.

Incredible! I've been to a number of KISS shows, the worldwide convention back in '96, and have read everything I can about that band and I never cease to be amazed. I honestly believe that if there were only 10 people in the audience, KISS'd give them the same great show as if it were a packed house.

Off the new album, they of course opened with "Psycho Circus," but also played "Within," and "Into the Void." There are pyros galore, flash pots, confetti, the works. The dual KISS logos were incredible too.

But as you've already heard, don't expect any circus acts. And one bit of warning: Hope you're not center-stage in the nosebleed section (aside from the obvious reasons). A truss that extends from the stage to the control booth and Gene's area where he "lands" during "God of Thunder" partially block the center screen. Therefore, it's very difficult to get the 3D effect with things in the way from where my wife and I were sitting. It was frustrating, but the stage and performance more than made up for it. Although KISS had nothing to do with this, the biggest disappointment was the fact that these guys in the row directly below us were smoking pot. It didn't help matters that my wife, who'd never seen KISS, is pregnant. And why would someone want to do pot at a KISS show anyway? Pot mellows you out. Why would you want to be mellow at something as naturally exciting as a KISS concert? Then, why do drugs at all? Let KISS be your vice!

I will mention another disappointment that the band has everything to do with: no material from the post-Ace/Peter years. After Ace and Peter left, Gene and Paul often remarked about having to respect the original KISS years as it got them where they were. By the same token, KISS would not be where they are today, had it not been for incredible albums like "Lick it Up," "Animalize," and "Revenge." If both Erics, Vinnie, Mark, and Bruce had to learn songs like "Detroit," "Rock and Roll All Nite," etc., then Ace and Peter's feet should be held to the same fire. For the past 10 years, would a KISS concert have been a KISS concert without "Lick it Up," "Heaven's on Fire," "Domino," or "Creatures of the Night?" No. And it's not as if there's not room in the set for some of those songs. They could certainly drop "King of the Nighttime World" and possibly "Within." Gimme some of the classic 80s tunes as well as some of the hotter songs off of "Psycho Circus" like "Pledge," "Raise Your Glasses," and "You Wanted the Best."

But even with these small disappointments, there's still never been, nor will there ever be, a more loyal, powerful, and exciting band as KISS. No one does it better. KISS RULES!

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