From: Bud E. Luvbomb
When I saw KISS last spring in Columbus and Cleveland, I had a feeling it wasn't to be last show, I just knew they had to paly Dayton Rock City, a city they have always played, and sure enough they came to Wright State Universitys Nutter Center last night! On the way to concert I realized that I had seen the band everytime they played the Nutter Center (or the Nut Hut as we call it in Ohio) this was only their fourth (and final) show at the Nut Hut, but it was cool to think I went to all of them. Before the Nut Hut was built in 1990, Dayton's only concert hall was Hara Arena, a small minor league hockey type venue that seats 4,000, and occasionally there would be shows at the University of Dayton Arena. KISS has of course played both venues. While most bands skipped Dayton and just played Columbus and Cincy, KISS always played Dayton in the 1970's and 80's. Once the Nut Hut was built though, Dayton started getting everyone. As the Nut Hut was nicer than the rundown Riverfront Coliseum in Cincy and much bigger and nicer than COlumbus's Ohio Center. A band cold play the Daytons Nut Hut, and draw people from Cincy and Columbus, as well as Dayton ( a one hour triangle of citys if you will) and have a gauranteed sell-out! Lately the playing feild has been leveled though, with two brand new arenas in Columbus and the renovation of Riverfront. But at any rate, the Nut Hut has been a great asset to Dayton. The local AOR (WTUE 104.7) station that sponsored the show was blasting KISS and Nuge on the airwaves and had a "beer garden" set up out front, with girls from Diamonds Gentlemans Club dressed in full KISS regalia, they were awesome.

Once inside, after running into some freinds, Skid Row began their set. I just don't get it. If you have a new lead singer, you should have put out an album then toured! You didn't see Van Halen touring with Hagar doing nothing but Dave stuff in 1986. You didn't see Anthrax (the real kings of METAL) tour with John Bush doing nothing but Joey Belladonna songs in 1993. Both bands went into the studio, did great albums, that were both successes (5150 and Sound of White Noise, respectively) and then toured. I think Skid Row are wasting a chance to sell a new record. After the tour, nobody will even care, but at least if they were pushing a new record now, I'm sure some of the thousands they play for each night would go out and buy it. But as it stands, it is like they are doing a retro set, and it is very cheesy. I rememebr seeing SKid Row in 1992 with Pantera and Soundgarden, and it was great, but it just isn't the same anymore. Uncle Ted, who had kinda pissed me off before, I found entertaining last night, I just took everything he said with a grain of salt. And, as an English teacher, he is kinda right about the speak english or get out thing. Now onto KISS! Guess what? The band were filming the audience for the Pay Per View. Paul said "we've already filmed the concert, but now we need to film you guys. We didn't film Cleveland, we didn't film Akron, we're filming Dayton!" The cameras were out in the crowd all night. Even though the show wasn't sold-out (I'd guess it was 1,000 to 2,000 shy) the crowd was fueled! We are going to be on the Pay Per Veiw! The set was the same, the band sounds better and better each time. I think the boys were looser, more joking around. Gene introduced us to Peter Crisscoula and Paul Ace Frehley and did the Budweiser "wassup" thing. Paul's hair looked more real, less like a wig, and he of course he was full of energy, the ULTIMATE showman he is. I hope Paul will still tour as a solo artist. Peter has a new camera on him, it was really neat. Peter did not do a drum solo, this tour must be getting the best of his arms. Ace was Ace, trying to crack jokes, which were too dry, but his playing was on. There were lots of families there. A little girl with a firehat was behind me with her mom and dad. The crowd was raucous, everyone was celebrating KISS. And lastly, the girls last night in Dayton were incredible. I was glad that I went with my dad rather than my girlfriend. I hope I see my smiling face in the PPV. See you all in Columbus for the "Final" Ohio gig! I think I will cry.

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