From: James R. Fancher

The crowd was a little smaller than last time we went to Lexington, but not the disaster I was expecting given the posting about how only 6,000 seats were sold a few weeks ago. The bottom was completely packed, and the top about half full. The very back in the upper terrace was empty. But, if it bothered Kiss it didn't show.

Last night I was able to pay quite a bit more attention than I could in Columbus. For one, again my seats were much better, and I also wore earplugs this time so I could listen to the music with a lot more clarity. They are sound really tight.

Pete's really improved since last tour. On some songs I'd just kinda zone in on Pete's playing and listen to the fills he was throwing in. He's not as good as either of the Erics by any means but when Pete's playing well his style really complements Kiss' music. And, unlike the Columbus show, Peter sang "Black Diamond" (Paul sang all of Black Diamond in in Columbus). I read something on the net about Pete being sick that night, I guess it makes sense cuz Pete did the "WHO LOVES YOU? KISS!" thing at the end of LMGRAR and screamed out very well "Black Diamond," neither of which he did in Columbus. He was more animated in Lexington, as well, and he was on the camera a lot more. I don't hardly remember him being on camera at all in Columbus. His solo was a lot more impressive last night, when his drum riser comes out over the first few rows it really looks awesome. He got some great response from the crowd and it was a high point of the show.

ACE played great. Again this time I could focus on the playing a bit more. Ya he hit a sour note here and there but he's fuckin' ACE so he can. I was really groovin' during his solo in 100,000 Years! And, ACE's own solo in "Within" I like a lot better than the random notes version that's on the studio album. I made a point to listen to it and it's absolutely nothing like the one on the album, but I like ACE's version much better. Classic Ace-isms, his fret board on fire! They should have used his on the album. Ace was animated and had his spacey-like mannerisms down well. His solo is a bit different than last time, his version of "2001" was cool, and I really dug the spinning cubes and other effects on the 3D screen.

Gene had a lot more movement this night, he was doing his "demon stalking" more than he did in Columbus, where for some reason his stage presence seemed lacking (for HIM, anyway). His voice was in top form, he had a great scream in "Deuce". I think "Within" sounds decent except for the chorus, it really really needs work. I really loved the heavy intro to "Within".

Paul Stanley was awesome on both nights, and I can't really distinguish anything between the Lexington and the Columbus shows for him. He's so good at what he does, night after night he performs great and sounds great. I was looking for a lack of enthusiams when he flew to the back of the arena for "Love Gun" because of the empty rear-terrace, but that wasn't the case. His raps were identical, even the "I'll drive you home" thing in "Cold Gin". I have to say I coulda done without his jacking off the guitar in 3D, though.

I got to see the lighting rigs in Lexington, and they are cool but not as elaborate as last year. They have a really cool "strobe light" effect that was neat. The pyro was amazing, and the confetti at the end of "Rock and Roll All Night" was absolutely unbelievable. The shit was still coming down while Pete was singing "Beth".

I really dug the 3D effects, and they were better in Lexington than in Columbus because I had a real direct look at the main screen instead of the 45 degree angle of the side screen as before. I really like the fact that the glasses don't ruin your perspective of when you're NOT looking at the 3D screen, because I could enjoy looking at the actual band while the 3D was on at the same time.

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