From: Steve Swidler
Kiss just finished two shows at the Jones Beach Ampitheatre in Wantaugh, NY (that's on Long Island) and for those who like there reviews full of details, here is my review. (By the way, there will be no mention of the other two bands that performed.) The show on June 9 was sold out. (To correct some info from an earlier review, Jones Beach Amp. holds 15,200 according to their website. If you are going to state facts at least get them correct.) The show on June 10 was not sold out but a good 11,000-12,000 were in attendance. The setlists were the same as in the first leg of the tour but there was one slight difference in the order. On June 9, after Paul did Love Gun from his solo stage, he went into his I Still Love You solo and then introduced Black Diamond as he flew back to the main stage. However, on June 10, Paul finished his solo and told the crowd that he needed to get back to the stage. At that point the rest of the band began playing 100,000 Years while Paul took flight. They performed Black Diamond next.

There was a bit more pyro on June 10 especially during Heaven's On Fire. There was no pyro during that song on June 9. The playing was extemely tight on June 9. As my friend said that evening, "Ace is on a mission." He certainly was. He nailed every solo. Paul was a moving whirlwind on both nights. This guy is Mr. Energy or as Ace called him, "Mr. Wonderful." Gene was the ominous demon on both nights. As I read in another review, his blood spitting did seem a little rushed but no one seemed to mind. At the end of the June 10th show I noticed that he seemed a liitle less mobile. And whatever negative reports you have read about Peter are no longer accurate. I thought he looked and played great. And Beth still gets one of the biggest applause of the evening.

Only stage difference on the two nights was the placing of the mics. On June 9 the two floor mics that Gene, Paul, and Ace use were about 10-12 feet from the edge of the stage. Unusually far for them. Ace commented to the crowd that he was having trouble flicking his guitar picks into the crowd. Paul showed him how it is done. On June 10 the mics were closer to the edge of the stage as they usually are.

Overall these were two great shows. If the crowd is sitting more than they usually do (and they were at times)just remember that those in attendance are not teenyboppers anymore. Take a look around the crowd and you can see that the average age is somewhere in the mid 30s.

If this review lacked emotion it is only because I am not done with this tour. Kiss will be playing two shows at the Continental Arena in N.J. at the end of June and I will be there. The review of that show will be filled with more of an emotional bent since it will likely be the last time I see Kiss live. Unless of course they finish their careers at MSG. Keep your fingers croosed and enjoy the rest of the tour.

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