From: Chris Stompanato
The KISS Farewell Tour stopped in Madison Wisconsin last night. I was able to score a 6th row center seat from a scalper for face value, which was great. The Kohl Center, on the University of Wisconsin campus, seats about 12,000 for concerts. I would estimate the attendance at around 7,500 for this show. KISS has been doing gang buster business on this tour, but for whatever reason, there were a lot of empty seats this night. Maybe it was because the show was booked so soon after the Milwaukee show?

What was strange was the fact there was not a soul seated in the 300 level of the arena. I say strange because I checked Ticketmaster.com almost daily trying to land the best seat possible. The $34 seats in the 300 level were selling steadily if slowly based on what I was seeing. Maybe the arena allowed those in the 300 level to upgrade to the 200 level because of the slow sales.

Well, enough of that and onto the show. I missed Skid Row (I was actually hanging out in the lobby areas). They sounded as they have the whole tour.

Mr. Nugent was again outstanding. Pretty lame crowd during much of his set. I stood the whole time from the 6th row while pretty much everyone in the first 5 rows sat. I couldn't believe it. He played "Fred Bear" again for his "hunting and fishing buddies" in Wisconsin. Besides telling Janet Reno, etc. to KISS his ass, he added "all the drunk drivers out there." Someone from about the 3rd row tried to hit Ted with an ice cube thinking his head was turned. It missed but Ted turned around and lambasted the idiot. Ted doesn't go for alcohol induced yahoo behavior.

By the way, his flaming arrow did hit the mark, dead center.

The crowd did come to life for our heroes. Musically, this show was dead on. Ace was sharp as a tack on this night. Not a missed cue in sight (ok, so he was a bit late to the stage for 2000 Man). Paul said Ace was circling the planet and he should be here any minute!

Based on what I saw going on up front, security apparently prevented the ladies from showing their wares. Midwestern conservatism I guess.

It seems like almost every pick thrown into the crowd makes it no further than about the 3rd row, so I came away empty handed. Well almost...

I was seated right under Paul's flying contraption. As he headed back to the main stage at the end of "Love Gun", I decided to stand on my chair and have a brush with greatness and touched Paul's "7 inch leather heel" as he flew over me. Nothing malicious. No grabbing trying to pull him into the crowd. Just a touch. My smart ass 8 year old asked me if I'll now never wash my hands! Now that he mentions it...

No mini solo by Peter during "100,000 Years". I don't know if his arms are hurting or what. His playing all night was certainly as solid as it's been this tour.

The fireworks, especially at the beginning and end of the show, seemed to be turned up a notch. It's hard to describe, but it seems they've made some changes adding a lot more color to the pyro.

The confetti storm was something else! It's great being in the middle of that blizzard. Kind of funny to actually see confetti all the way into the lobby and outside the arena. The piles of it up front certainly hampers the pick hunting after the show. Oh well...

Despite the empty seats, KISS gave a tremendous show tonight. I'm glad they focused on who was there rather than who didn't show. True professionals. Looking forward to Rockford in September.

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