From: Michael Nightingale
First of all, I'd like to say that yes, the merchandise sales were poorly handled. Three people handling a mob of memorabilia hunters who were steadily getting more and more pissed off as time and merchandise disappeared in front of them was bad planning. They even had to bring in a couple of cops in my "lineup" to keep people back. There was one guy walking around "supervising" the mayhem who said he wasn't allowed to sell merchandise as people were shoving cash and credit cards in his face. Personally, I've never seen a more totally useless individual in my life, but hey, they're all union, so what do you expect? Hustle? Customer service? Sorry, wrong planet. Anyways, people want to read about the concert, so here we go.

The opening 10 min. documentary on the band was awesome. I was really happy that they didn't try to delete any portions of their career. The make-up and non-make-up years were completely, if briefly, covered, so that by the time it ended and the band hit the stage you felt that the story had come full circle and the concert was the capper to it all. Very well done.

The band opened with Psycho Circus, of course. The crowd was really up for the show and you could tell the band was really up for it too. They really looked like they were having fun together. Heaven's On Fire was played pretty much identically to the way the non-make-up band played it. No great surprises there. Lick It Up really had new life breathed into it, though, mostly because of Ace. He really took that guitar solo and made it his own. He really added some fire to it. They also loosened up the arrangement so Paul was able to banter with the crowd a bit in the middle. They looked like they really had fun playing around with this song and making it what the original line-up could call their own. I Love It Loud didn't vary too much from the version everyone knows, but again, Ace's solo added that little extra kick. I'd forgotten how much this song kicks ass in concert. For me, Ace really made this show. He isn't just the stoned guy who looks like he's out there just trying not to fall over. He's really become an up-front showman and when given the spotlight takes full advantage of it. He looks confident and really healthy, and most reassuring to me as a fan, he really looks like he's having fun. He reminds me of Keith Richards these days: a guy who's been to the edge and has returned and taken it as a learning experience, taking what he's learned from past indulgences and incorporating it into what he is today but in a really positive sense. Any young rockers out there would do well to take a good look at Ace Frehley. The man is a Rock God in the truest sense. Paul's voice was absolutely fantastic. His Phantom experience seems to have really given him confidence in his vocal range and he used it to full effect. As always, the man was the ultimate M.C. and the engine that kept the high-paced show flowing. I kept wondering when they were going to show him on screen when he didn't have a big smile on his face. I hope I'm in that kind of shape when I'm 49, or whatever he is.

Peter was the drummer. That was what he was for most of the show and it's what he's always been, though he lost sight of that fact for a while there. He sang Black Diamond and Beth but didn't have a real "spotlight" segment, by which I mean, no drum solo. I think that Peter's drum solo days are behind him though. Drummers take alot more bodily abuse than guitarists and if they want to keep on touring I think the decision's been made to tone down Peter's thrashing. Anyone who hasn't seen KISS and hasn't seen Peter do a solo, sorry, I think you've missed out. He appeared to be having a good time and had a big smile on his face at the end of I Love It Loud, which was probably relief that he didn't fuck it up at all. That's not a slight at his abilities, though. You just never know when foul ups are going to occur and you can bet he's well aware fans are going to be dissecting his performance on the '80's songs and comparing him to Eric Carr. For some reason that comparison usually seems negative toward Peter and I don't know why. He's a talented, creative drummer. So back off, 'ya nasty bastards. As for Gene, he did what he does best. He played the bass and only opened his mouth to sing, which is what he should gear his mouth toward more often. Sorry, Gene.

I've seen KISS 4 times without make-up and 4 times with make-up (beginning with the Dynasty tour), and I'd have to say this was the best show I've ever seen them give. Well worth the $140.00 CAD I payed for the ticket. I can't wait for Alive IV. Bring it on!

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