From: Andrew Boyle
After seeing this band many times over the last 21 (!) years, I can only conclude that this was the best show I have seen the guys perform. A great end to a great history of KISS for me. But first. . .

Got inside in time for Skid Row. Not a bad show. Snake’s crutches leaning on the amps was a little distracting (as was the lead singer repeating that they were Skid Row over and over) but his playing was great. Haven’t read anywhere in the number of reviews I read before, but there were large video screens on both sides of the stage through the night so that you could get a close-up look at all the bands (in addition to the LCD KISS screen). Seemed liked I was watching TV sometimes and I had to remember to watch the stage but it helped the audience get a better look at the first two acts.

So, Skid made me fell like I was back in the late 80s. Could have been worse.

Ted. . .well Ted is always Ted. He really charged up the crowd despite his occasional political ranting. America, America, America. “If you can’t speak the language, get the F*** out of the country“, etc. And I am pretty sure Mrs. Reno isn’t really a whore (she barely moves these days, anyhoo).

Basic Ted set as in the past:
(Can’t remember the opening song this second)
Free for All
Wang Dang Sweet Poon Tang
Dog Eat Dog
Kiss My Ass
Cat Scratch Fever
Stranglehold
Great White Buffalo

Tommy kicked ass on the drums and Juan was killer on bass. Great energy to lead into the big show.

KISS came out PLAYING DRC all the way down out of the trusses with Gene, ACE and Paul on the front riser and Peter lowered in his drum kit. Excellent! Much better than watching the slow drop and waiting for them to get into position.

After seeing the Opening night showing on VH1, I had this bad feeling that Peter wasn’t really playing the drums. It just didn’t look right. After last night my fears have been erased! He playing wonderfully. The camera for the big screen was on him about a third of the time and he was playing to it as much as to the crowd. He seemed to be in great form and great spirits. The drum solo in 100,000 Years was pretty much the same as on Alive! but a little shorter. It seems like they have the drums mic-ed well enough so he doesn’t have to hit them as hard.

A couple examples of Peter’s good mood:

After the guys took their bows, Peter grabbed Ace and they danced around the stage.

During Black Diamond, Peter sang “Ace has got you under his thumb!” at the end laughing at Ace most of the time.

Entire set was the same as most others this year:

Detroit Rock City (starting on the way down)
Deuce
Shout it Out Loud
I Love it Loud
Shock Me
Firehouse
Do You Love Me
Calling Dr. Love
Psycho Circus
Heaven's On Fire
Let Me Go, Rock & Roll
2,000 Man
Lick It Up
God Of Thunder
Cold Gin
100,00 Years
Love Gun
I Still Love You (1st half)
Black Diamond
Beth
Rock and Roll All Nite

Wasn’t expecting the retrospective video during Do You Love Me. Awesome. Most songs were accompanied by video. Some of it was more advertising for their PC Game (Thanks for no Mac version, guys!) and the online animated series (which I can’t watch either even though I know Ace is an avid Mac user which is why it bugs me).

Occasional crowd shots were often revealing, if you know what I mean.

Both flying stunts worked well. Gene had to reach for the mic to get all the way on the truss. Loved seeing Paul play out in the crowd.

Ace shot 2 targets at the end of the solo. It appeared to me that there was a laser pointer like device in the neck of the guitar so he could aim properly. Cool.

My head is still spinning after 4 hours sleep. I might even get to work some if my co-workers would quit pushing me for all the info.

If you have the slimmest hope of getting to one of these last shows, GO! No excuse.

Thanks, KISS, for all the entertainment over the years.

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