From: Jakeee6143@aol.com

Nov. 18th, 1998
State College, PA

Set List: Psycho Circus, Shout it out Loud, Deuce, Do Ya Love Me, Firehouse, Shock Me, Makin' Love, Let me go, Rock and Roll, Into The Void, Cold Gin, God of Thunder, Callin' Dr. Love, Within, King of the Nighttime World, 100,000 Years, I was made for Lovin you, Love Gun, Rock and Roll all Nite; Beth, Detroit Rock City, Black Diamond

First of all i have to say, that David's review of the show is completly wrong and untrue. If he was a real KISS fan then he wouldn't be saying all of the stuff about not liking them any more. He wouldn't know a good show if it bit him on the ass.

Well, anyway let's get back to the show. I have to say that i saw them the last time they played here on the Lost Cities Tour, and this time far out does that show. I paid $42.50 to see them, and I must say that it was worth every penny and then some.

The show opened up with the obligatory "You Wanted the Best" speech. When the curtain dropped, and the fireworks accented the opening notes of the title track to the new album, the onslaught began. Paul, Peter, Gene, and Ace were all in top form tonite. Psycho Circus sounded great, and they definetly have improved the new song. It sounds just like it does on the new album. After Shout it out Loud, someone in the crowd was pointing a laser pen into Paul's eyes, and he gave him the 3rd degree, "Everywhere we go there is always some asshole with a laser pen. Hey, if you keep shining that in my eyes i am gonna stick it so far up your ass that you will be choking on it. Save this for your 12 yr old friends not here!!!" This of course was followed by plenty of laughter.

Deuce was awesome as it always is, and Do Ya Love Me sounded great. I welcomed Gene's fire breathing stunt in Firehouse. Last time I saw them I didn't get such a good look. It didn't go up as high as I thought, but hey it still rocked. After the sirens and smoke, Ace stepped up to the mic, and annonced the next number, "Shock Me!" This one was a little grainy at first, and didn't sound like it did on the reunion tour, but they quickly picked it up, and continued rocking. Even though I knew his solo wasn't in it I kept waiting for him to break into his screaching pause that began the smoke and rockets. And then came Makin' Love. I almost passed out on this one(I had to grab the chair infront of me to keep from falling over). I rather enjoyed this one. Ace sort of got stuck on the beggining of the solo, but only for a second. He made up for it on Let me go, Rock and Roll. His guitar work was great, but Peter's drumming was supurb on this one. You should have heard his fills.

Then came Into the Void. This is one of my favorite songs on the album, but the timing was off in the begginning. Either Peter was playing too slow or Ace was playing too fast, but once again they fixed the problem after only 2 verses. His solo was magnificent. Last time his guitar didn't smoke so this time I was glad to see it. Of course his guitar then failed to fly up into the rafters. It had to be pulled down by a roadie. The 3d effects on this one were just plain awesome. I was infatuated with watching Ace's guitar fly through the stars.

Cold Gin was great too, and was preceeded by Paul's Drinking and Driving bit. I am glad he does this. After the last chords were hit, the lights went out, and I heard that infamous bass. Yep, it was here, Gene's solo. He looked better than ever, and he had this tongue swirling thing he did with the blood still in his mouth. He stood there for a minute, and then gave that look only the demon could give. The stobes started, his arms went up, and then so did he. I guess that one of his roadies screwed up Gene's flying contraption, and he went up to high. He then began his "Oh yeah!" cheer, and then started the opening bass notes to God of Thunder. The rest of the band joined in along with some firery hot flames. I didn't see him do it last time, but this time he kept leaning over and drueling blood onto the first few rows of the crowd. Gene came down, more flames came up, and the band ended the theatrical number.

The band played Calling Dr. Love which sounded perfect, and then led into the third and final song from the new record, Within'. This was probably the low point of the show. The beginning sounded rough, and i couldn't tell what the song was until Gene started to sing. This one definetly doesn't fit live, but I'm not gonna say anything. KISS has been around for 25 years and they know what they r doing. The biggest surprise on this one was Peter's solo. I had been expecting it for sometime, but I never thought in a million years they would do it during Within'. Peter's drum kit rose up and over the audience. His solo was dead on. I was very impressed with his percussion.

After Peter's solo(which was ended with Paul announcing, "Awesome! He was up there longer than John Glenn!!!"), the band sueged into King of the Nighttime World, and then 100,000 Years. Both were spectacular, and I got to see Paul perform his mic around the neck trick. I was made for Lovin you definetly sounds better live than on Dynasty. It finally sounds like a real KISS song. The pyro in this one was also great.

The band then took a short break when a meter was displayed on the big screen. Paul had the crowd scream as loud as they could to get the meter up to the top. He wasn't going to fly until we got it up there, and of course we did. Paul climbed his way onto his little contraption, and flew his way over to the sound board. It seemed as if he was really excited to be out there. He was dancing his ass off!!! He even surprised me.

Next one came as a surprise. Paul gave a speech for the rock and roll national anthem. I thought that he was talking about Detroit Rock City, but then the group blasted their way into Rock and Roll all nite. The confetti was falling down throughout the entire song. At one point there was so much it almost looked like there was a blizard. The band finished with the usual pethora of explosions. After they finished I kept seeing the giant KISS signs everywhere i looked. They were burnt into my retinas!

Peter then stolled out, and gave a stiring performence of Beth. Anyone who thinks that they shouldn't play this anymore is crazy. He sounded better than he ever has on this one. The band then stolled back out onto the stage, and played their way through Detroit Rock City. They couldn't have sounded any better.

Finally, came the show ender Black Diamond. Paul's solo before hand sounded great, and Peter's vocals sounded even better. His drum riser looked great, and the pyro at the end was the best of the nite.

So, what can i say??? They were superb. Who cares if they made a few mistakes, everyone does. Ace sounded killer amid a few mistakes, Gene was pumped and energetic, Paul's voice was perfect and he jumped around like a nut, and Peter was the most inpressive of the nite. His solo was genius, his fills were on, and his voice hasn't sounded this good since 1975!!! Anyone who has a chance to go i would definetly recommend it. You will never regret it.

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