07/20/1996 - Cleveland Gund Arena
This was the first concert
I went to with my wife.
Also the first time in this arena.
This was the 2nd of two
nights in Cleveland. The tickets for the first night sold so fast
that they added another night while I was standing in line for
tickets!
Well, what do you expect? This was the Kiss reunion tour. The
original 4 back together and with the make-up. There was no way I
was missing this. Kiss was the first band I really listened to
when I was younger, and I had never seen them live.
First about the venue. I
was not impressed.
This building replaced my much beloved Richfield Coliseum. Gund
is located on the Cleveland lakefront, right next door to Jacob's
Field, and down the road from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Which means it is in a heavy traffic area. Only places to park
are in the parking garages and a few lots. Fairly expensive.
Richfield was right off the highway in the middle of nothing,
with a huge parking area all the way around it.
To top it off, traffic was really bad. There was an afternoon
ball game. Cleveland was celebrating it's bicentenial, and I
think there was something going on at the Rock-Hall as well. It
was so bad, during the concert, they were flashing messages that
north of the arena was foot traffic only, they had to close down
the roads to the "Flats" because there were so many
people.
My first impression once we got in, was that the place was kind
of small. Took us no time at all to walk all the way around it.
It was nice inside, after all, it was all pretty new.
Once we found our seats, I really wasn't impressed. We were way
up in section 228 or 229.
Up in that area, the seats seem to be pretty much straight up and
down. I mean the top of the seat in front of me, didn't even come
up to my knees!
The opening band
DGeneration just flat out sucked. We stayed for like 2 songs,
then we went walking around. I've never done that. I can usually
find something about an opening act to like, at least even a
little.
These guys were too loud, too distorted, couldn't sing, with
really boring music. They had like 1 song on the radio, and even
that wasn't really good.
Finally we get to the good
stuff.
Kiss hits the stage, and pure fun breaks loose :-)
The show was awesome. Sounded just like they did when I used to
listen to all their tapes. They played all their classics. Was
surprised to hear one from Ace's solo album though. Other than
that, everything else was from the pre-solo days.
The sound in the venue was excellent. As well as loud. Both were
a big plus in my enjoyment factor.
The veiw was pretty good. What was lacking because of distance
from the stage, was made up for by the wall of monitors on the
back of the stage, and the display on the jumbo-tron.
Got to see Gene spitting blood, and flying up to the rafters of
the stage for God of Thunder.
The guitar solo by Ace was both visually stimulating and awesome
to hear.
The whole thing reminded me of a concert shown on HBO back in the
early 80's.
For a bunch of old guys, they still can run around, have fun, get
a crowd really fired up, and just flat out rock the joint.
I thought I would never get to experience this.
I am so happy they got back together for this tour.
SETLIST
Deuce
King Of The Night Time World
Do You Love Me
Calling Dr. Love
Cold Gin
I Stole Your Love
Shout It Out Loud
Watchin' You
Firehouse
Shock Me > Ace's Solo
Strutter
Rock Bottom
Bass Solo > God Of Thunder > Drum Solo
New York Groove
Love Gun
100000 Years
Black Diamond
Encore :
Detroit Rock City
Beth
Rock And Roll All Nite