When the glitz and the flash and the devilish showboating are stripped away, Ace Frehley [1] shines as the true powerhouse behind KISS [2]. In his legendary band, the "spaceman" often got swallowed by Gene Simmons's fire-spewing antics and Paul Stanley's notorious onstage preening. But it was Frehley's axe-wielding that gave musical credibility to the band's campy allure. He is currently proving his fury on his first solo tour in 13 years.

Despite his being only one-fourth of the '70s scare-glam troupe, the packed crowd at First Avenue [3] lauded Frehley with a fervent welcoming that could only come from hardcore KISS fans. We're talking decades-worth of KISS t-shirts, hazardous air-guitar, vocal cord-shredding screaming, and a mass of head bangers that would have clogged the stairwells if not for one over-worked club employee. Everyone was trying to make it feel like 1975 again. And, through squinted eyes, it kind of looked that way.

 

Frehley's band emblazons the epitome of hard rock attitude: not a stitch of non-black clothing; black-rimmed eyes; way too expensive haircuts. Ace is the only one who doesn't fit in. The pale white make up has long been washed down the drain. Tonight he's wearing leather pants and an unfortunate beer gut. The only remnants of his past-glamdom showing as he swishes his still-long hair about. The sound is different, too. Frehley's newest incarnation is way heavier than KISS ever was. When Frehley is in control, it's a loud beast.

 

Frehley dabbled in his solo material. "Rock Soldier" from his Frehley's Comet [7] days, was a particular sweet spot early in the show, with Ace embarking on a 10-minute blitzkrieg of a solo. Mostly he took from his KISS material. "Into the Void" and "Torpedo Girl" were sing-along favorites. "Love Gun" was a riotous encore after nearly two hours of KISS deep cuts. This was Frehley showing his authentic KISStory, even luring the band into the trademark side-to-side bobbing of the original quartet.

It was another solo tune, however, that became the stand-out show stealer. During "New York Groove" Frehley played with a blinking Les Paul fitted with LED lights. Nearing the end, his band left him, and Frehley switched guitars to a custom-made Les Paul that shot out flames and left thick, white clouds of smoke hanging over the audience. It was Frehley's shining moment, as he embarked on a solo only rivaled by the top of metal's elite. It is an onslaught of noise, which doesn't try to have a melody or any kind of chord progression. Its only goal is to be loud as hell. And, well, he overshot the mark into ear-ringing madness.

Aside from musicianship, the performance gave a good glimpse at the rest of Ace Frehley. When Simmons and Stanley aren't stealing the spotlight, Frehley proves himself to be quite a character. His onstage banter includes talking about his favorite science fiction novel from high school, his 1976 onstage (and accidental) electrocution, and how he is "having so much fun on tour it should be illegal." His candor was awkward, but charming, and often interrupted with bouts of his notorious, dorky laughter. He could quite possibly be the biggest nerd in rock, but he rolls with it.