From: Edward Holland
Dear Kiss Asylum devotees, I usually don't send reviews of anything, but I feel since I was fortunate to see the much promoted (at least on the Internet) Alive IV concert that I would send in my review. I drove 2 and 1 1/2 hours in the rain up Interstate 5, which looked very similar to the highways scenes in Detroit Rock City. Anyway, everyone was in good spirits for the show, and I do mean people were drinking a lot of the liquid. Hours before we were allowed in the BC Place Arena, which is a large indoor hockey arena, we could hear KISS rehearsing I Love It Loud, Into the Void, Lick It Up, and Forever. I did not hear any other rehearsing, because I got tired of waiting in the cold. Vancouver is a lovely, friendly city and it is worth walking around in. So I did. We came back when they were supposed to let people in. The whole event started with delays and we did not get in till around 9 O'clock.

Big Wreck, Lit, and Nickelback were okay, but they all pale in comparison to KISS. KISS hit the stage at 11:15, well actually a video screen appeared and show a retrospective of the band. It showed historical footage, all the album covers, interspersed with commentary by Gene and Paul. It mentioned Eric Carr very briefly, the footage also commented on Vinnie Vincent, and Bruce Kulick, but did not show or mention Eric Singer-go figure? It showed a snippet of Detroit Rock City and then the film was over and KISS hit the stage with Psycho Circus. Here is the set list again for those who are seeing it here for the first time. Psycho Circus, Shout It Out Loud, Deuce, Heaven's On Fire, Shock Me, Firehouse, Do You Love Me?, Let Me Go R&R, 2000 Man, Cold Gin, God of Thunder-without a Drum Solo, Lick It Up, I Love It Loud, 100,000 Years, Love Gun-with the Paul flying trick, Black Diamond, Encore: Detroit Rock City, Into the Void, Beth, and Rock and Roll All Nite.

As mentioned earlier the audience was really into it. But they got started so late, and by the time they were rocking the audience was losing energy. KISS is so demanding of their audience to be excited, so in theory they should have been more excited to record Alive IV. They were not as stoked as I was to see the show. Not until they resurrected the 80's with Heaven's On Fire did the audience wake up. That song was faithfully done, but alas Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick added spice to those simple songs and they and even Eric Singer's energy on those eighties and nineties songs are missed very much by this reviewer. Shock Me was done well, but kind of had that rushed feeling to it. Firehouse has been done much better by the band with this and all other lineups. I really enjoyed Do You Love Me? and it was a fresh breath of excitement. Let Me Go Rock and Roll was awesome and the Originals do it great everytime. At approximately 11:58PM PST Paul said, "Hey it's almost midnight, I am not smart or anything, there's a clock on the back wall!" Then Ace did 2000 Man. I love this song. I used to play an acoustic version with a friend years ago. This Rolling Stones cover song is a brilliant Ace signature song. He did it very well. Then came his solo. His solo just sounds so trite. He did make a nice addition by dedicating the second part, after his guitar flew away to Stanley Kubrick. Then he played some classical portions from 2001:Space Odyssey in homage to the deceased film director. During the solo Ace said, "This is for Stanley Kubrick, 2001...It's coming. He paused during his solo for a second, and noticed the energy was really waning, and said to the audience, "Hey, don't fall asleep on me man." He then kind of chuckled and I and others laughed to themselves. Some people were beginning to leave at the end of this song. More passed as the song was over. Hell, maybe they left to deal with the insidious vending areas outside of the concert floor. (More about that later.) Cold Gin and God of Thunder were done fairly well. Gene didn't fly to the top of the stage immediately, but finally got it right. There was no drum solo in God of Thunder. That SUCKED! Now I know Peter has had problems with his health and such. But I am a drummer, and sometimes you have to say F#&K It and go with it. Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Elvin Jones(for jazzers), and even Eric Carr and Eric Singer had their bad days. But us drummers paid 100 bucks and want to hear our skinman play those drums. His drumming quality has gone downhill and I feel for him. I would not play if I could not, but if I had the fans traveling from all over the world I would do my damndest to please them. I saw fans from Germany, Texas, New York, Japan, Canada, Washington, California, and all places inbetween. Some were dressed in makeup, even saw a portly gentleman dressed just like Ace from the Elder days. I think us fans expected a bit more from our heroes. Back to the songs-

Lick It Up was done nicely, and Ace tried very hard to match Kulick's chops on the bridge sequences. Good try Ace, keep it up! Love It Loud was a strong crowd pleaser and people were starting to wake up again. It could have been the after effect from that strong funny smelling Canadian cigarettes or something, but the crowd was into it again. I feel that the spirit of the Fox was in the house during that song. Good drum mixing by the road crew. Also the sound was quiet at the first of the set and got a bit louder by Do You Love Me? One thing I have always loved about KISS, they are one of the best bands to see loud and live. I only heard a short bit of feedback during their performance once. Hats off as always to the Impeccable RoadCrew. If you guys are reading this. Thanks for all your hardwork. It is a terribly hard job. 100,000 Years was pretty good. During Love Gun Paul flew into the audience and the crowd was up for this and enjoyed singing with him during his highlight performance. The crowd sang along with Paul on Black Diamond during the intro. It was done once again, probably for the recording's sake. What was interesting was I did not see as many people singing along as I usually do at KISS concerts. Canadian fans love KISS too, but American fans seemed to get into the concert more. The fans on the floor were loving it a bit more though. In all one boy jumped on stage and ran towards Gene, and another star-crossed male ran towards Paul during Love Gun. A couple of bras were thrown onstage, and a pair of panties but that was about it. Every once in awhile you would hear a firecracker explode as it sailed from the balcony. But that was about the extent of fan craziness. I did not see any barechested women, I guess Canadian women don't strip that much at concerts. I did not come to the concert to see that though, I came to enjoy my New Year's with KISS. And I did, they did Detroit Rock City and Into the Void, a great Ace song that does not really come off live, please keep practicing Ace that is a great repetitive driving song, one of those on the road classics. Later Peter came back out to do Beth. He performed it the best I ever heard it out of the five times I have seen KISS with Peter, including the 1979 Dynasty tour. Way to go Peter, that version will and should be on Alive IV. I Was There for that performance and I will remember his heartfelt rendition of KISS' only super-hit. Rock and Roll All Night capped the evening with the most confetti I have ever seen in all my life. I scooped up a bit because it was everywhere. The show ended at about 1:15 AM PST. The crowd was quite thinned out by that time. Many had never seen KISS before, and others like myself had seen them 11, 15, 20, maybe 200 times or more. Now the merchandising end and I will be brief.

It sucked. Only 2-3 areas for the goods and the line was not that long at all but it took FOREVER. I got pissed a bit, and they ran out of what I wanted. They had these neat concert event posters, but they sold out super quick. They were bascically selling a few event t shirts, Psycho Circus tour books and key chains. I did pick up an Alive IV hat and I was happy to get something unique. KISS must have better planning for such a show as that. More booths and quicker sales. Of course, some people could not decide and that takes forever, so does debit, and credit card sales. Sometimes cash is the only way to take care of these hassles for fans who don't want to wait so long to spend their hard earned cash. I am not talking 20 minutes, I am talking an hour and a half, crammed, smashed to buy a frickin hat. Oh well that is how the KISS concert was. I hope most of it makes it to the Alive IV disc, and videotape. Did they videotape the show for posterity or Alive IV? Who knows? I did not see all the touted cameras they promoted they had. Maybe this will happen in Alaska.

I sadly think the magic is fading. I joined the KISS Army in 77 during the Summer Love Gun hooplah. I feel they etched themselves in the history books and should save their face and go out gracefully, if Peter and Ace want out. I want to continue to hear their music live, no matter what. But if it gets boring and you don't enjoy the work consider your options, guys. You have done a lot for the music world and you should all be proud, every member of KISS is an integral part. I tip my KISS Alive IV hat off to you.

To other KISS Fans I can be reached at "eholla@emh1.lincoln.navy.mil"

Very Respectfully,
Petty Officer Holland

ps: someone said something funny to me at the show. I am in the United States Navy and someone saw my id card and said, "Oh, you are in the KISS Army and the KISS Navy too huh? You gotta love KISS Fans. Over and out-

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