From: B Danner
I will admit that I made the 4 hr. drive to Charlotte with mixed emotions. I was hoping for the best, but thought that there was no way that Kiss could top the Reunion Tour. Not only did they top it, They blew it away!!

I allowed extra time to get there in case I ran into problems along the way and was way early. I had 3 hrs to kill before the doors opened. But to my surprise there was already a good crowd forming. I enjoyed seeing the "die hards" show up and made a lap or two aroung the coliseum...I think I heard Skid Row doing sound check.

They set up a merchandise stand outside (which I hadn't seen at reunion shows) and I was the first to buy a KISS rocks Charlotte/and I was there T-shirt. Also picked up a lithograph and tour book (great pics, but needs more copy). Then finally...The doors open!!

Skid Row started slow, but finished nicely with the tunes we all remember. The new guy is no Sebastian, but he's OK. By this time the place is filling up. I don't remember seeing this many people early for a Kiss show before. I wasn't expecting much from Ted Nugent, but he really got the crowd into it. Uncle Ted, you've made a new fan. It was good old butt-kicking rock 'n' roll and I'm telling you, his drummer whales on that kit like there is no tomorrow! I finally saw a Kiss show where I was entertained by the opening act(s). Then the main event...I have never seen the coliseum this packed. During the set up we looked down and realized that about 15 rows down from us was Arn Anderson. If you live in NC, you don't have to ask who that is. The wait for the curtain to drop seemed to take forever, but I guess that was just anicipation.

Then "Alright Charlotte, You wanted the best..." and the best show I have ever seen started. The intro was the same as the last few shows. They were playing as they descended. Much smoother than the intro on VH1. These were the best seats I have ever had for a Kiss show (about 18 rows off the floor/stage left THANK YOU VH1!!) and I'm glad I saved the best for last. The guys were awesome!!! The set list was the same as the last several shows, DRC followed by Deuce, Shout it Out Loud, etc. I would have liked to have heard my personal faves (Strutter, Baby Driver, Rock Bottom to name a few) but what would you drop to make room? They didn't play a song all night that didn't rock!

I had never heard the 80's stuff live and I really liked them. I Love it Loud sounded much better live than I thought it would (it was actually one of my favorites from the show). Ace and Peter really put their stamp on these songs and turned them into "classic Kiss". Heaven's on Fire sounded good, but what made that song was the pyro!!! You could feel some major heat off of those things and we were 18 rows up! Another song I had never heard live was another one of my personal faves, 2000 Man. I was glad to hear that they added it to the set list! How could you not play it in Y2K(iss).

The guys were in great spirits. They were throwing picks out by the ton. This was by far the most animated I have seen Gene. He was really playing the entire crowd. Paul gave his normal raps but they seemed fresh and not too rehearsed. Ace looked like he was having fun and Peter went about his business very workmanlike as usual and also looked like he was enjoying every minute of it. I don't care what anyone says, the "Catman" has still got it!!! His vocals on Black Diamond always blow me away(if I was forced to pick a favorite band member it would have to be Peter). On the reunion tour they seemed so obsessed with having everything sound identical to the studio recordings, but on this night they just let go and had fun. It was good to hear some improvisation in the drum parts, vocals, etc. To me this made for a much more spontaneous show.

Ace's solo was typical Ace, a few flaws just to put his siganture on it. The snippets from New York Groove, Hard Times, etc. were also back. I enjoyed hearing those, but it made the solo a little long. The only time the show really dragged. Peter's short drum solo was great. All the flying stunts came off without a hitch. Those are some brave guys!!! The pyro seemed less than on the reunion tour, but they seemed better quality. The colums of flames beat "bottle rockets" any day.

The show was a complete assault on the senses. I don't think my ears, throat, or legs (stood the ENTIRE show) could have taken much more. I hated to see it end, but I left knowing that I had seen the best show I will ever see. I really felt like these four guys didn't want us to leave without getting our money's worth. Any skepticism I had going in was completely erased.

There were only two negatives to the entire night...

1) The a-holes who were spitting and throwing beer & lit cigarettes off the top level. Learn to handle your alcohol or stay at home. I hope you woke up with the worst hangover you've ever had.

2) The guys who design the merchandising. In case you haven't heard, they've invented two new t-shirt colors, white & gray. I live at the beach. It's 100 degrees w/ 100% humidity, I don't want to be walking around in a black shirt! I'm not asking for much, just one or two styles...keep the rest of them black.

Thanks KISS!!!!, for 2 hours and 15 minutes that I'll never forget. I'll never see another show that even comes close...we're gonna' miss ya'!!!!

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