From: Keath DeLancey
Skid Row's singer got a little bit of his voice back from the previous night, but nobody much seemed to care except for a few really drunk folks sitting to either side of me.

Ted Nugent proved once again that he is a rip-roaring guitarist and master showman. I'm the guy who keeps bagging on Ted's banter, so I won't stop now. The rednecks, skinheads, and the Aryan Brotherhood (seemingly in abundance at this show) seemed to love the over-simplistic politics of Uncle Ted. "If you can't speak English, get the fuck out of the country." It's not that easy Ted. How would America have ever had successful immigration if that were the case. What of the children who are born and raised here but are currently monolingual; they have no choice. Anyway...that boy sure can play that guit-fiddle! The guy with the Klan tattoos in my section thought so too.

KISS!!! Could it have possibly been the flawless KISS show? Everyone in perfect form. Even Paul (who usually loses me with his vocal embellishments) kicked ass tonight! The best I've ever heard him sing! He did a fun stage rant at a guy who was pointing a lazer at his face. "I would encourage you people sitting by the guy with the lazer would make sure he stops...or if he wants to come up here, I'll shove that thing so far up his as that..." (I couldn't hear the rest of the comment because the crowd was going nuts at that point!

All background vocals were great; the sound-system was clear; the multi-generational crowd was totally digging it! (It's nice to see the kids in KISS makeup rocking out like crazy!) I'm so glad that if this is their last show that I got to see them in perfect form! These guys aren't "just" showmen...they are a kick-ass rock-n-roll band!!!

I just read the reviews for the previous night at Irvine, and many of them put a big ol' lump in my throat. One person wrote something like: "In Annaheim, the band said goodbye to us. In Irvine, I was able to say goodbye to the band." Well put, my friend! I need to ponder that because I'm not having an easy time letting go. Then again, KISS will always live in some form. They are larger than life...and even larger than their four members. I hope KISS comes back to SoCal one more time. If not, I saw two last amazing KISS shows. Thanks Gene, Paul, Peter, and Ace!!! (Those names aren't necessarily in order! hehehe! They are all ONE!) You've really enhanced my life! Love, Keath

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