From: Skeeto
I've seen KISS many times. Most of the times they rocked the house; but last night at Oakland, they took it to another level. Seriously. I, like yourself, have had to keep my chin up when critics slammed the shows, records, merchandise, etc. Quite frankly, it was embarrassing at times. However, last night KISS blew me away (and I am very critical!). The coolest thing is the magnitude of the stage. The amps go up for days and they are silver, and everything shines like a new dime. It doesn't look like some old stage being used for its 10th time. The boys had they're makeup on perfect (even Gene!-remember the Grammys with Tu-Pac?) and it seemed to look even crisper than ever! Ace looked extremley slim, although he seemed spacey for 1/2 the show and although he doesn't drop to his knees anymore for the solo on Black Diamond, he still is the coolest KISS member, and I'll forgive him. Refreshingly enough was Peter. He seemed to be having a ball, laughing and actually pounding the drums at times (although Tommy Aldridge from Nugent's band blew Pete away) but hey, he is Peter f@*#ing Criss! Gene was his usual bad self and Paul actually didn't over introduce every song, like the last couple of years. Pyro was everywhere, but the BEST thing about the whole show....seriously THE BEST THING WAS THE FLAMES!!!!!! Thanks God and thank KISS for hearing us fans complain about the lack of fire ove the years. Christ sakes, we still stare at the center of our old KISS Alive 2 records and think that is how everything is supposed to look. Well you know what, it looks like that again!!!!! (without the levitators–-and those should be brought back too!) Kudos to Ace for using the stairs on the stage (they always go unused too). As for the songs, they could lose Psycho Circus, Lick It Up, Beth & Heaven's On Fire and replace them with Strutter, Creatures of the Night, Hooligan or Baby Driver, and Rock Bottom. I have heard they played I Stole Your Love earlier in the tour and that would be a welcomed song as well.

I think all fans will enjoy the show. But to all those jump-on-the-bandwagon fans in the good seats on their celphones, FUCK OFF! Go home, park your BMW's, and go jack-off to your Eagles records––you suck! (Do me a favor, stay home for the Diamond Dave/Van Halen extravaganza!!!)

For us in the Bay Area, it was KISS' second to last show....they are coming back to the Shoreline in late July! See you then!!!

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