From: phils@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (philip.l.schuhmann)
Subject: Re: ACE FREHLEY???
Summary: review of club show
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 16:35:03 GMT

In article <1992Aug27.154257.27606@linus.mitre.org> jswartz@mbunix.mitre.org (Swartz) writes:
>In article <17inskINN4eo@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> dcarter@supra.East.Sun.COM writes:
>> Anyone heard the lastest on Ace? 
>> David
> Well, I don't know the latest, so if anyone else does, please post.
> JOHN

Ace is currently on a small tour of clubs (though maybe the tour is done by
now).  I believe he has been dropped by Atlantic Records (who put out his
3 Frehley's Comet albums) and is looking for a new label.  John Regan (bass)
has left the Comet, and is replaced by James Lomenzo (ex-White Lion).
Ritchie Scarlet is still on guitar, but I don't know who is on drums.

I saw them play recently here in New Jersey, and I posted a review of the
show, (a copy of which I have included below) to the KISSARMY mailing list
about 2 and a half weeks ago.  If you are interested, the KISSARMY mailing
list is run by Hunter Goatley (goathunter@wkuvx1.bitnet), who occasionally
posts messages to alt.rock-n-roll.metal about how to subscribe to the
KISSARMY mailing list.

Anyway, below is my review of Ace's show, as posted to the KISSARMY list.

Phil
phils@phrog.att.com --or-- pls1@honet6.att.com

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Friday August 7, 1992:
Ace Frehley at Tradewinds in Sea Bright, New Jersey
(with opening Bands: Chase Her, Turi)

Ace Frehley set list:

01. Rocket Ride
02. Lost In Limbo
03. Parasite
04. Breakout (lead vocal: Ritchie Scarlet)
05. Shot Full O' Rock
06. New York Groove
07. Strange Ways (lead vocal: James Lomenzo)
08. Cold Gin
09. Shock Me
10. 2 Young 2 Die (lead vocal: Ritchie Scarlet)
11. Rock Soldiers
12. Medley: Torpedo Girl/Speedin' Back To My Baby/She/Wiped Out/Hard Times
13. Strutter (lead vocal: Ritchie Scarlet)
14. Rip It Out
- encore #1:
15. Detroit Rock City
- encore #2:
16. Deuce

This set list is very similar to the one that another poster says they played
in Youngstown Ohio.  I made a point to remember exactly what they played, so
I am 99.99% sure of the above list and its order.  I don't know who the
drummer was, Ace said his name once during the show, but I could not
understand it.  The opening bands are both local Jersey bands I believe.
In my opinion, Chase Her was very good, more of a "pop" metal band, but they
had a great attitude and some very catchy songs.  I didn't like Turi so
much, they were more of a "street" or "grungy" metal band, not that I don't
like that, but I just didn't like their songs.

I didn't have a watch with me, but I'd guess Ace played for less than an hour
and a half.  One funny thing was right after they finished "Lost In Limbo",
Ace said something like "Well, we're gonna play something new for you now..."
and then the band went into a snippet of an old Monkees song, I forget which
one, including Ace singing about 2 lines.  Then of course, Ace said "Not!",
and then the band launched into an awesome rendition of "Parasite".  It was
a bit strange to hear Ace singing some of those old KISS songs that Paul or
Gene sung, but Ace could still make them sound good.  Overall, I enjoyed the
show very much (Ace was always my favorite in KISS), though I wish they would
have played "2000 Man", my favorite KISS song.

Contrary to what "Life Of Riley" posted about Ace's show in Philadelphia,
the club was very crowded here, perhaps because it is closer to New York.
Ace and the security had to constantly ask people to move back and stop
crushing people at the front of the stage.  I don't think I could very
accurately guess at how many people were there, but I would say definitely
over 200.

Also contrary to the report on the Philly show, Ace seemed in good spirits
for this show, and was smiling and cracking jokes in between songs and such.
Must have just been a bad night in Philly.  The crowd was very responsive,
but didn't seem to know "Strange Ways", off _HOTTER_THAN_HELL_.  By the way,
James Lomenzo's (ex White Lion) lead vocal on that song was very good.  In
the medley, they did 1 verse and 1 chorus of each of the 5 songs.  I really
don't like medley's in concerts, I feel they somehow "cheapen" the songs
in them.

In the local paper (the ASBURY PARK PRESS) on Friday, they had a story and
interview with Ace, which said that Ace was off the booze and drugs and
that this tour was the "Just For Fun Tour '92", since Ace doesn't have a
record company breathing down his back to promote a record.  Ace seemed in
fine shape for the show and did not seem at all to be showing any effects
of alcohol or drugs, so my guess is that the reports that he is back to
his bad habits are false.

But one thing that struck me about the show, seeing Ace fronting a band,
was that I think I know one reason why Ace has not really gotten popular as
a solo artist.  And that is that Ace is just not a front man.  He is a
great guitar player (well, in my opinion, considering that I don't know
how to play guitar), but he just doesn't fit as the lead singer of a band
in a live situation.  On record, I always thought Ace's voice was great, and
I always liked his songs more than the others after KISS started letting
him sing.  But, when he plays live, he doesn't have the charisma that I
think a lead singer has to have.  One reason is that he has to concentrate
on his lead guitar playing.  A bunch of times during the show on Friday,
Ace would be singing a line of a song, but would not sing the last 2 or 3
words of the line because he had to look down to make sure he played the
guitar right.  I never thought I'd say this, because when Ace started his
solo career I was happy that he would put out albums where he sang every
song, but I think Ace needs to get himself a real lead singer, and just
sing a few assorted leads vocals and concentrate on his guitar playing.
But actually, I don't think this will happen.

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