Ace Frehley opened the evening at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre, a setting that felt entirely appropriate for one of hard rock's most enduring and unlikely survivors. The former KISS guitarist has spent decades confounding expectations, and recent live footage circulating online had not exactly inspired confidence. The prospect of a train wreck seemed entirely plausible.
Thankfully, the reality proved considerably more enjoyable.
A large part of the credit belongs to the musicians surrounding him. Drummer Scot Coogan emerged as the band's secret weapon, providing strong vocals, solid musicianship and a steadying influence throughout the set. Guitarist Richie Scarlet, a longtime Frehley associate, handled his duties with admirable professionalism and helped keep the performance moving whenever momentum threatened to sag.
Frehley himself remained the weakest link. His vocals were rough, his guitar playing occasionally uneven and there were moments where the years seemed impossible to ignore. Yet there is something strangely endearing about Ace Frehley. Technical perfection was never his greatest asset, even during KISS's peak years. What made him memorable was personality, and that remains intact.
The set naturally leaned heavily on the material most people wanted to hear. KISS classics sat comfortably alongside selections from Frehley's solo catalogue, and while the performances were far from flawless, the songs themselves retained their charm. The audience certainly seemed willing to forgive any imperfections. When Frehley unveiled the famous smoking guitar trick, a stunt that has somehow survived every changing fashion in rock music, the crowd reacted exactly as it always has.
Perhaps that is the key to understanding the appeal of an Ace Frehley concert in 2018. It is not about precision or virtuosity. It is about nostalgia, personality and a catalogue of songs that remain deeply ingrained in the DNA of hard rock.
At one point, Frehley asked the audience, "I still got it, wouldn't you say?"
The answer depends entirely on what "it" is supposed to mean. If it refers to flawless execution, the debate remains open. If it means entertaining a crowd and sending them into the headlining set with smiles on their faces, then the answer is much easier.
Either way, it was a surprisingly enjoyable start to the evening.
