From: Bob Taunton
Kiss was my first concert in 1977 in Montreal, it will always live in my head. Since then I saw them on the Dynasty tour, the Hot in The Shade tour (some might say that was fate, as I never pushed myself to see the "other" Kiss, and then after this tour Eric Carr passes away), the Reunion tour twice (the second show being my oldest son's first concert), and then last nights "Farewell" tour (my second son's first concert). However, I am still trying to figure out why Kiss couldn't deliver something "more" than what they have been putting on during this tour.

Skid Row put on a fine performance. Even though Sebastian Bach wasn't there, the new singer did a fine job, and I didn't think they missed a beat since the last time I saw them almost 10 years ago. So the singer doesn't have Bach's high sreetch, he did quite well none the less.

Ted is Ted! I have been a fan of Ted's for 25 years, and when you see a Ted show you know what to expect. Ted delivers, and the attitude was fine as well! You don't have to like everything he says, but I went to hear his guitar talk, and that it did! From the opening of Stormtrooper to the closing of The Great White Buffalo, I didn't blink. I had seen Ted in Montreal during his crazy Scream Dream and Intensities Tours, and last night was in my opinion a far better performance. Tommy Aldridge was amazing as usual, and Marco Mendoza brilliant on bass.

Kiss started the show off as they have throughout the tour and seemed to have the audience in their hands, but by the 5th or 6th song in they started to lose their grip, and all seemed to go quiet for quite a while. Paul and Gene were constantly trying to urge the crowd on, but it was sporatic at best. Montreal is known for their wild audiences, but last night was rather subdued. Ace played well, but was nowhere near as tight as on the reunion tour. His solo really was boring and sloppy, and he seemed in another world. Some would say that's Ace, but no, the Reunion tour saw a somewhat more sober Ace and it showed in his performance, but here you could tell that the bottle had an effect on his playing again. Peter was into the show, and I have no complaints there.

For my son's sake, they put on a respectable show, and he enjoyed it. For me, I think that if the band really wanted to give the fans what they wanted, they would have played more of a variety of tunes, rather than the same rehash from the last 2 tours. I can list off a number of songs they could have played, but I'm sure you all have the same kind of wish lists.

I thought the staging was fine, but again thought the Reunion staging was more intense, so was the Love Gun staging for that matter.

Don't get me wrong, by the end of the show, they were finally able to get us all up our feet again to sing R&R All Nite, but maybe it was because we all knew it was over at this point, and there wasn't going to be another Kiss concert in Montreal. I did enjoy aspects of the show, but I think it could have been much better.

Thanks Kiss for 27 great years! I am and will always be a fan. I can't wait for some kind of LIVE video of this or the reunion tour, and I can't wait for the box set to be released.

See you all on the "Reunion 2005 Tour"!?!

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