From: Lauren
Wow, Houston is a really hot and humid place! Just ask Skid Row, Ted Nugent, KISS, or the 16,000 people at the Woodlands Pavilion last night! The night started with Skid Row. Great sound -- and one thing they can do really well is work a crowd! Ted Nugent followed, of course, and he definitely knows how to rock. Stranglehold is the best, Ted!

But then it was time for KISS to take the stage. Once that silver KISS banner came down, the 16,000 in attendance came to life. After all four members were lowered down on a platform, they opened with Detroit Rock City. As usual, Gene was trying to slip the tongue to Ace. Paul was the usual showman, playing to the crowd by stripping off his shirt -- did I mention that it was hot??? By the beginning of the second song, Duece, Gene's makeup was practically sweating off of him. Shout It Out Loud was next, then followed with I Love It Loud. I have to admit that even though they were sweating profusely, they looked great. Especially Ace -- I think that he is looking great and his guitar playing is unreal. His solos were amazing and were totally blowing the crowd away!

At this point Ace introduces Peter on drums and then leads into Shock Me. Then Paul proclaimed that it was so hot out that they needed to call the Firehouse. With the flames shooting up around them, they must have been roasting!! I was 15 rows back and I was melting! Peter came through with a brief drum solo -- and of course, Gene thrilled the crowd as a fire-breathing demon.

Do You Love Me was next and I have to say that it was hard to watch the band while vintage KISS videos were being shown on the screens around us. The video covered KISS from the early 70's, to early concerts, to album covers, to KISS fans of all ages! Calling Dr. Love had Gene up front pounding out his bass. Then Psycho Circus, which again made it hard to watch the band as clips were shown from, I believe, the new KISS Psycho Circus video game. Gene realized the crowd was smoldering from the heat and helped out by throwing water onto the crowd from his water bottles!

Heaven's On Fire had the flames shooting up around the members a second time -- Ace looked like he was losing a little steam at this point, but I can't say as I blamed him! As Let Me Go Rock and Roll started up, Ace came back to life. He finally stepped off the platform he'd been standing on for the past few songs and took center stage to blow us away with an awesome guitar solo. Go Ace!! Paul stepped up to Peter and played for him, then Ace traded places with Paul and played to Peter. Then Ace, Paul, and Gene rejoined the front for their classic 3-man manuever of jamming together side-by-side.

Now it was Ace's turn for 2000 Man. Gene was still over at the sidelines pouring water on the crowd from his water bottles. The video here showed 3D KISS playing their instruments and then entering into a 3D world. Ace performs his amazing guitar-smoking solo, complete with the fireworks. Lick It Up was next, followed by God of Thunder. The blood spewing was especially gruesome this time, which makes it more incredible to watch! I think everyone was holding their breath as Gene was being raised to the upper platform -- but everthing went as planned and Gene gave one hell of a performance.

Paul then introduced Cold Gin and as he was giving the 'don't drink and drive speech', Ace was staggering behind him and backed into a set of amps in front of Peter's drum set. He knocked over two of them and then both he and Peter started cracking up. The funniest moment in Cold Gin was when Ace and Gene start circling each other (Ace knew what was coming) and then Gene moved in to start tonguing Ace again. Ace played back this time by sticking out his tongue as well, which only encouraged Gene even more. Gene looked as if he was actually going to stick his tongue down Ace's throat and I think Ace thought the same thing because he actaully ran away across the stage with Gene in hot pursuit!

With 100,000 years, Gene, who was at the left-hand of the stage, turned and played towards Peter -- Paul, at the right-hand side of the stage turned and played towards Peter and Ace -- who somehow got up on a set of amps, was standing next to Peter and all three were playing simulateously to Peter. Pretty excellent! Then during Peter's drum solo, Gene and Ace started swing dancing in front of Peter's drums.

Love Gun brought Paul out to the audience, again with no technical difficulties. Black Diamond had the usual fireworks and rising drum set. On to the encore....

Encore -- Peter came out and performed Beth and the cool thing here was a disco ball that made an incredible effect as it spun over the crowd. After Beth, all four members come out and took a bow. And of course, the grand finale, Rock and Roll All Night. The confetti was a bit overdone -- at one point the confetti was shooting out so much that you couldn't see the band or the screens!! Plus, with the humidity, it was sticking all over the place (on the band members as well as the crowd)!

But what can I say. They are amazing just as they always are and I am sure not one person left that show disappointed. KISS believes in delivering a show that makes it worth every penny you spend on a ticket and there's no doubt in my mind that they are not sincere about that. Houston loved them just as everyone else will when they make an appearance in your town!! We'll miss you guys!!

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