Concert Review: Iron Maiden and Ghost In Concert

Iron Maiden and Ghost In Concert

Xfinity Center Mansfield, Massachusetts

July 19, 2017

http://ironmaiden.com

http://ghost-official.com

I can tick one off the bucket list now. I finally got my opportunity to see the iconic metal legends Iron Maiden in concert. I have been waiting for many years for this night and it was worth the wait. On a steamy July night, an over capacity crowd at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts reveled in their time witnessing the heavy metal giants perform. 

I have never seen that many people in sync like that, the admiration and respect was evident all night long. You would expect a raucous crowd, and I know we are all stereotyped like other groups of people, but this was an orderly crowd and when we all left there were no issues. So much for the stereotypes, you can throw them right out the window. We love our metal and our bands, and as Bruce Dickinson said, prior to a short dissertation of the world before a song, we are all “Blood Brothers.” One people enjoying each other’s company and the music.

The opening band Ghost is one I was anticipating as well. I had already purchased all their music and found their presentation onstage very theatrical. Of course, Maiden takes that element to entirely different level when they get on the stage. The music of Ghost is heavy and precise. The band’s lead singer “Papa Emeritus III” has put together a well-oiled machine, and he looks menacing as hell (no pun intended there). The “Nameless Ghouls,” the rest of the band, all have their devil masks on while the lead singer is a moving skeleton working the stage all night. The act is a tribute to the dark side and Satan. It is entertainment, an act yes, and I do not believe for a second they are worshipers of Lucifer. When you talk about being happy and prosperous as the lead singer did last night, well, worshipers of the dark master just don’t discuss such things, so there you go. The music is as awesome as I expected in a live setting. I would expect this band to continue to grow a large following and eventually be headliners.

Ghost was a superb warm up band for Maiden and I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed their music and presentation.

Iron Maiden’s stage sets the tone for their shows. With mascot Eddie and the backdrops for whatever album they are touring under, it always makes it a total multimedia event. This was the next to the last show for the incredible masterpiece The Book of Souls. 

All the members look to be in terrific shape physically and Bruce is still running around the stage all night long. He was totally soaked in sweat after only a few songs (as was I all night long). The energy he commands onstage is something to behold. The band has been together so long it is like watching a family joining together to celebrate what they love. You can feel the honesty in their performance. With three excellent guitarists and the phenomenal founder and bass player Steve Harris uniting them to make their way through fan favorites and the most recent recording, it really was something people in attendance will never forget.

The large video screens were amazing. The shots of the band on stage were HD quality, you could see the sweat on their arms and watch their fingers blazing away on the guitars. It made a difference for all of us in the upper sections. It was hard not to keep looking at the screen!

The one thing I did notice that was a blemish on an otherwise excellent show, was how Bruce’s mic kept cutting out last night. It happened frequently, so hopefully that is something that would be corrected by the venue or their own team on the mixing board. I am not sure where the problem was originating from.

The venue is in an off the beaten path area and by the time we made it through the incoming traffic, the only parking left was the very last lot with a 2 hour wait to get out. I learned my lesson when attending such a major event there. You should either get there when they open the lots or pay the price to park outside the venue! Fair warning to those who have not been there yet.

The inconveniences were not welcomed but dealt with in good spirits by all in attendance. And why not? We got to see phenomenal heavy metal in one evening so it was worth it. I had always watched the DVD sets over the years of Maiden and now understand the energy level and commitment of the band and their fans.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

July 20, 2017

Founder of:

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Ghost Set List:

Masked Ball

(Gregorio Allegri song)

Square Hammer

From the Pinnacle to the Pit

Ritual

Cirice

Year Zero

Absolution

Mummy Dust

Monstrance Clock

Iron Maiden Set List:

    Doctor Doctor

    (UFO song)

    If Eternity Should Fail

    Speed of Light

    Wrathchild

    Children of the Damned

    Death or Glory

    The Red and the Black

    The Trooper

    Powerslave

    The Great Unknown

    The Book of Souls

    Fear of the Dark

    Iron Maiden

    Encore:

    The Number of the Beast

    Blood Brothers

    Wasted Years

Concert Review: Iron Maiden and Ghost In Concert

Iron Maiden and Ghost In Concert

Xfinity Center Mansfield, Massachusetts

July 19, 2017

http://ironmaiden.com

http://ghost-official.com

I can tick one off the bucket list now. I finally got my opportunity to see the iconic metal legends Iron Maiden in concert. I have been waiting for many years for this night and it was worth the wait. On a steamy July night, an over capacity crowd at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts reveled in their time witnessing the heavy metal giants perform. 

I have never seen that many people in sync like that, the admiration and respect was evident all night long. You would expect a raucous crowd, and I know we are all stereotyped like other groups of people, but this was an orderly crowd and when we all left there were no issues. So much for the stereotypes, you can throw them right out the window. We love our metal and our bands, and as Bruce Dickinson said, prior to a short dissertation of the world before a song, we are all “Blood Brothers.” One people enjoying each other’s company and the music.

The opening band Ghost is one I was anticipating as well. I had already purchased all their music and found their presentation onstage very theatrical. Of course, Maiden takes that element to entirely different level when they get on the stage. The music of Ghost is heavy and precise. The band’s lead singer “Papa Emeritus III” has put together a well-oiled machine, and he looks menacing as hell (no pun intended there). The “Nameless Ghouls,” the rest of the band, all have their devil masks on while the lead singer is a moving skeleton working the stage all night. The act is a tribute to the dark side and Satan. It is entertainment, an act yes, and I do not believe for a second they are worshipers of Lucifer. When you talk about being happy and prosperous as the lead singer did last night, well, worshipers of the dark master just don’t discuss such things, so there you go. The music is as awesome as I expected in a live setting. I would expect this band to continue to grow a large following and eventually be headliners.

Ghost was a superb warm up band for Maiden and I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed their music and presentation.

Iron Maiden’s stage sets the tone for their shows. With mascot Eddie and the backdrops for whatever album they are touring under, it always makes it a total multimedia event. This was the next to the last show for the incredible masterpiece The Book of Souls. 

All the members look to be in terrific shape physically and Bruce is still running around the stage all night long. He was totally soaked in sweat after only a few songs (as was I all night long). The energy he commands onstage is something to behold. The band has been together so long it is like watching a family joining together to celebrate what they love. You can feel the honesty in their performance. With three excellent guitarists and the phenomenal founder and bass player Steve Harris uniting them to make their way through fan favorites and the most recent recording, it really was something people in attendance will never forget.

The large video screens were amazing. The shots of the band on stage were HD quality, you could see the sweat on their arms and watch their fingers blazing away on the guitars. It made a difference for all of us in the upper sections. It was hard not to keep looking at the screen!

The one thing I did notice that was a blemish on an otherwise excellent show, was how Bruce’s mic kept cutting out last night. It happened frequently, so hopefully that is something that would be corrected by the venue or their own team on the mixing board. I am not sure where the problem was originating from.

The venue is in an off the beaten path area and by the time we made it through the incoming traffic, the only parking left was the very last lot with a 2 hour wait to get out. I learned my lesson when attending such a major event there. You should either get there when they open the lots or pay the price to park outside the venue! Fair warning to those who have not been there yet.

The inconveniences were not welcomed but dealt with in good spirits by all in attendance. And why not? We got to see phenomenal heavy metal in one evening so it was worth it. I had always watched the DVD sets over the years of Maiden and now understand the energy level and commitment of the band and their fans.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

July 20, 2017

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

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Ghost Set List:

Masked Ball

(Gregorio Allegri song)

Square Hammer

From the Pinnacle to the Pit

Ritual

Cirice

Year Zero

Absolution

Mummy Dust

Monstrance Clock

Iron Maiden Set List:

    Doctor Doctor

    (UFO song)

    If Eternity Should Fail

    Speed of Light

    Wrathchild

    Children of the Damned

    Death or Glory

    The Red and the Black

    The Trooper

    Powerslave

    The Great Unknown

    The Book of Souls

    Fear of the Dark

    Iron Maiden

    Encore:

    The Number of the Beast

    Blood Brothers

    Wasted Years

Concert Review: The Ten Tenors in Concert at The Colonial Theater

The Ten Tenors in Concert at The Colonial Theater

March 10, 2017

Pittsfield, Mass.

http://thetentenors.com

The Ten Tenors warmed up a chilled capacity crowd at The Colonial Theater in Pittsfield Massachusetts on a typical blustery winter night in the Berkshires. The crossover classical group is celebrating their 20^th year with the Power of Ten Tour. The tremendously successful act has accounted for six Platinum and Gold records and performed alongside countless music legends including Andrea Bocelli, André Rieu, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Keith Urban, Rod Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Sarah Brightman, Willie Nelson, Katherine Jenkins and Christina Aguilera. It comes as no surprise to me that they have the utmost respect of music industry people all over the world. 

Their set was comprised of two acts of diversity and musical excellence. The very first thing that struck me just before they opened the night was the stage lighting. The lights came shining down on the performers like rays from the heavens. The interesting thing was that it felt like musical heaven while taking in this special evening.

I was impressed with this group of men prior to attending the concert. I watched their cover of the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” on YouTube (which has over 1.2 million views and counting) and was blown away by their exceptional talent. My first thought after that was how incredible it must be to see them perform on stage! I was even more impressed once the show kicked off with another Queen staple, “We Are The Champions.”

What I was not prepared for was their implausible diversification and electric stage presence. These Australian performers know how to present any kind of music.  Their abilities to do so points to the different ranges that each vocalist commands and how they are positioned on the stage. They do have a good sense of humor as well and the choreography was spot on and always right in sync.

I think the highlights of the night for my ears were the “Jersey Boys Medley” and the encore of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Bowie’s “Heroes,” which closed out the show and gave me chills several times. I am a huge Bowie fan and always have been so this was the icing on the cake for my night.

I must tip my hat not only to the all-around performance of the ten men but the three others that provided the instrumentation, Ben Kiehne (piano), David Orr (guitar) and Trent Bryson-Dean (drums) were essential to their presentation as well. Without them it would just be voices, which would also sound wonderful. The musicians made a difference and so did the piped in orchestrations they had. Each number came together flawlessly once again proving that the most amazing instrument is the human voice. None of the extras included were necessary, they were just bonuses added to ten incredible vocalists with varying arrays of resonance.

The Ten Tenors are a guaranteed fun night for any music lover. The fact that they cover a wide expanse of genres give them a worldly appeal - from the crowd that appreciates opera to the all-encompassing lovers of pop and rock music. It all comes together for an amazing night of entertainment.

Selfie posted on Facebook of the audience at The Colonial, were you there?

Set List:
 

ACT 1:

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

MARECHIARE

TORNA A SURIENTO

LA DANZA 

NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU

HALLELUJAH 

LAND DOWN UNDER

WALTZING MATILDA

STILL CALL

JERSEY BOYS MEDLEY

ACT 2:

CANCION DEL MARIACHI

ARANJUEZ CON TUAMORE

AMIGOS PARA SIEMPRE

DIVA MEDLEY

THINKING OUT LOUD

UNCHAINED MELODY

THE BOXER

ANYTHING FOR LOVE

Encore:

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

BOHO NESSUN DORMA

HEROES

Review Provided By: Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

March 12, 2017

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Concert Review: Let It Be A Beatles Tribute

Let It Be at The Proctor in Schenectady New York

February 18, 2017

http://www.letitbelive.com/

The Beatles music is timeless and over the years they have been celebrated again and again and so has each individual member of the band for their excellent solo work. There is still a huge market for their music and anything to do with the ultra-famous Fab Four. Only two other artist rank at the top of list for worldwide album sales, Elvis and Michael Jackson. 

Paul McCartney (Neil Candelora-bass/piano/vocals), John Lennon (Michael Gagliano-guitar/vocals/piano), Ringo Starr (Chris McBurney-drums/vocals) and George Harrison (JT Curtis-lead guitar/piano/vocals) are names that will live forever. Special mention goes the fifth Beatle on keyboards Daniel A. Weiss who provided some amazing orchestral parts in songs along with some tasteful keys.

There have been many knock offs of The Beatles over the years however how many could you count as being legitimate imitations of them?  I experienced a band last night that were a close facsimile to them. 

Let It Be is an entire production company devoted to bringing The Beatles music and stage show to an audience that never had an opportunity to witness the original band in a live setting.

I was only 12 years old when The Beatles broke up and launched their solo careers however I did grow up listening to their music. I remember clearly as a little boy watching them on the Ed Sullivan show when they arrived in the US (or the colonies as they said last night). I can hear the girls screaming now muffling out the mop tops music and not understanding what all the fuss was about, I just wanted to hear them playing.

As the years went by I never lost my love for their music, it is something all the fans hold close to their hearts regardless of age. I saw all ages at the concert and the Proctor was packed full. It was nice to see that and what we were about to witness was fascinating.

The gents that played John and Paul, Gagliano and Candelora, had their vocals down spot on. Gagliano looked more and more like John as the night went on. It was giving me chills, especially when he sang. At first when I looked at the drummer, McBurney, I did not see much of a resemblance with Ringo but when he came out at the second half of the show with a beard he looked like a dead ringer for Mr. Starr. 

The first half of the show were some of the early hits and how they transformed into what we would see at their performance in Shea Stadium and during Sgt. Pepper’s (complete with the colorful garb) and then what they looked like towards the end of their careers just before they broke up.

The second half of the show was very interesting as well. They presented The Beatles and what they would have been like if they reformed after years of their solo work had been produced.

They mixed it up well and the stage presentation was top notch. I would not hesitate to say, being a lifelong Beatles fan, that this representation of the band was excellent with a very entertaining and colorful stage show to match.

The musicianship was great and the vocals as close to the originals as anyone could expect. I highly recommend seeing Let It Be if you have the opportunity.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

February 19, 2017

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Concert Review: Let It Be A Beatles Tribute

Let It Be at The Proctor in Schenectady New York

February 18, 2017

http://www.letitbelive.com/

The Beatles music is timeless and over the years they have been celebrated again and again and so has each individual member of the band for their excellent solo work. There is still a huge market for their music and anything to do with the ultra-famous Fab Four. Only two other artist rank at the top of list for worldwide album sales, Elvis and Michael Jackson. 

Paul McCartney (Neil Candelora-bass/piano/vocals), John Lennon (Michael Gagliano-guitar/vocals/piano), Ringo Starr (Chris McBurney-drums/vocals) and George Harrison (JT Curtis-lead guitar/piano/vocals) are names that will live forever. Special mention goes the fifth Beatle on keyboards Daniel A. Weiss who provided some amazing orchestral parts in songs along with some tasteful keys.

There have been many knock offs of The Beatles over the years however how many could you count as being legitimate imitations of them?  I experienced a band last night that were a close facsimile to them. 

Let It Be is an entire production company devoted to bringing The Beatles music and stage show to an audience that never had an opportunity to witness the original band in a live setting.

I was only 12 years old when The Beatles broke up and launched their solo careers however I did grow up listening to their music. I remember clearly as a little boy watching them on the Ed Sullivan show when they arrived in the US (or the colonies as they said last night). I can hear the girls screaming now muffling out the mop tops music and not understanding what all the fuss was about, I just wanted to hear them playing.

As the years went by I never lost my love for their music, it is something all the fans hold close to their hearts regardless of age. I saw all ages at the concert and the Proctor was packed full. It was nice to see that and what we were about to witness was fascinating.

The gents that played John and Paul, Gagliano and Candelora, had their vocals down spot on. Gagliano looked more and more like John as the night went on. It was giving me chills, especially when he sang. At first when I looked at the drummer, McBurney, I did not see much of a resemblance with Ringo but when he came out at the second half of the show with a beard he looked like a dead ringer for Mr. Starr. 

The first half of the show were some of the early hits and how they transformed into what we would see at their performance in Shea Stadium and during Sgt. Pepper’s (complete with the colorful garb) and then what they looked like towards the end of their careers just before they broke up.

The second half of the show was very interesting as well. They presented The Beatles and what they would have been like if they reformed after years of their solo work had been produced.

They mixed it up well and the stage presentation was top notch. I would not hesitate to say, being a lifelong Beatles fan, that this representation of the band was excellent with a very entertaining and colorful stage show to match.

The musicianship was great and the vocals as close to the originals as anyone could expect. I highly recommend seeing Let It Be if you have the opportunity.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

February 19, 2017

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

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Concert Review: Almost Queen

Almost Queen Rocks The Colonial Theater

November 19, 2016

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

http://www.almostqueen.com/

Tribute bands have become commonplace in the world of music. Some are fantastic representations of the original bands and others get by somehow. Last night at the Colonial Theater was an example of a group of musicians honing their skills and presentation to make you believe it was Queen performing. They are not just a cover band as the DJ from Live 95.9 told the crowd, they bring you the Queen Experience!

Almost Queen certainly sounded more than almost. This was a truly amazing performance by these talented individuals. The lineup is as follows: Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor. It is uncanny how Russo is a dead ringer for Freddie and sounds just like him. What are the chances of that happening? Well believe it, this is the stuff that fairy tales and dreams are made of. Russo was a good study of Mr. Mercury down to his mannerisms and moves on the stage, not to mention his refined accent and humorous comments.

I saw Queen in 1976-77 and ironically Russo told the audience the same thing. So, for this music fan the bar was set as high as it could possibly be. They not only met that expectation, they exceeded it. The musicianship was excellent and the lead vocals and harmonies were spot on. I could not have asked for more as far as representing the legend of this great band properly. They did it all with a class and flare that Freddie would have loved. In my opinion Freddie Mercury (lead singer 1970-1991) was the greatest rock singer to ever grace a stage. It is unfortunate we lost him at such a young age.

The crowd was at capacity and it was one of the most energetic and joyful groups of people I have had the pleasure to be amongst. I am sure the band was thrilled with the response they got all night long. And what was most satisfying was that everyone knew the words to the songs we were asked to participate in. It was magical and it made my heart smile.

The concert once again validated the legacy and the importance of Queen since their inception in 1970, which by the way was an incredibly exciting decade for music. Some of the highlights of the evening where “Tie Your Mother Down,” the second song into the set. That is real rocker and set the tone and energy level for the night. As they made their way through their set, they covered many of the hits and familiar tunes. If you were a Queen fan you were there last night. I think most of audience that either remembers the band and the younger generation that discovered them were present. It was an exhilarating experience to be a part of.

The encore? You guessed it, the incredible progressive work of art titled “Bohemian Rhapsody” their signature song. It was the pinnacle of the evening no doubt.

For those interested in the Queen catalog, the releases that are high on my list are Queen 1 & 2, Sheer Heart Attack, Night At The Opera and Day At The Races(which were two classic Marx Brothers comedies). I also highly recommend purchasing the complete box sets of Queen and most of all, attending a live performance of Almost Queen.

I attend as many concerts as humanly possible at the beautiful venue and always feel grateful and honored to do so. A big shout out thanks to Rebecca Rebecca Brighenti of Public Relations and the in-house sound wizard at the board Darren O’Brien who always does a superb job.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

November 20, 2016

Set List:
We Will Rock You
Tie Your Mother Down
Play The Game
Bicycle Race
I Want To Break Free
Radio Ga Ga
I Want It All
Killer Queen
I'm In Love With My Car
You're My Best Friend
Dragon Attack
Another Bites The Dust
Fat Bottomed Girls
Don't Stop Me Now
Somebody To Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Under Pressure
Encore:
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Will Rock
We Are The Champions

Concert Review: Almost Queen

Almost Queen Rocks The Colonial Theater

November 19, 2016

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

http://www.almostqueen.com/

Tribute bands have become commonplace in the world of music. Some are fantastic representations of the original bands and others get by somehow. Last night at the Colonial Theater was an example of a group of musicians honing their skills and presentation to make you believe it was Queen performing. They are not just a cover band as the DJ from Live 95.9 told the crowd, they bring you the Queen Experience!

Almost Queen certainly sounded more than almost. This was a truly amazing performance by these talented individuals. The lineup is as follows: Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor. It is uncanny how Russo is a dead ringer for Freddie and sounds just like him. What are the chances of that happening? Well believe it, this is the stuff that fairy tales and dreams are made of. Russo was a good study of Mr. Mercury down to his mannerisms and moves on the stage, not to mention his refined accent and humorous comments.

I saw Queen in 1976-77 and ironically Russo told the audience the same thing. So, for this music fan the bar was set as high as it could possibly be. They not only met that expectation, they exceeded it. The musicianship was excellent and the lead vocals and harmonies were spot on. I could not have asked for more as far as representing the legend of this great band properly. They did it all with a class and flare that Freddie would have loved. In my opinion Freddie Mercury (lead singer 1970-1991) was the greatest rock singer to ever grace a stage. It is unfortunate we lost him at such a young age.

The crowd was at capacity and it was one of the most energetic and joyful groups of people I have had the pleasure to be amongst. I am sure the band was thrilled with the response they got all night long. And what was most satisfying was that everyone knew the words to the songs we were asked to participate in. It was magical and it made my heart smile.

The concert once again validated the legacy and the importance of Queen since their inception in 1970, which by the way was an incredibly exciting decade for music. Some of the highlights of the evening where “Tie Your Mother Down,” the second song into the set. That is real rocker and set the tone and energy level for the night. As they made their way through their set, they covered many of the hits and familiar tunes. If you were a Queen fan you were there last night. I think most of audience that either remembers the band and the younger generation that discovered them were present. It was an exhilarating experience to be a part of.

The encore? You guessed it, the incredible progressive work of art titled “Bohemian Rhapsody” their signature song. It was the pinnacle of the evening no doubt.

For those interested in the Queen catalog, the releases that are high on my list are Queen 1 & 2, Sheer Heart Attack, Night At The Opera and Day At The Races (which were two classic Marx Brothers comedies). I also highly recommend purchasing the complete box sets of Queen and most of all, attending a live performance of Almost Queen.

I attend as many concerts as humanly possible at the beautiful venue and always feel grateful and honored to do so. A big shout out thanks to Rebecca Rebecca Brighenti of Public Relations and the in-house sound wizard at the board Darren O’Brien who always does a superb job.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

November 20, 2016

Set List:
We Will Rock You
Tie Your Mother Down
Play The Game
Bicycle Race
I Want To Break Free
Radio Ga Ga
I Want It All
Killer Queen
I'm In Love With My Car
You're My Best Friend
Dragon Attack
Another Bites The Dust
Fat Bottomed Girls
Don't Stop Me Now
Somebody To Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Under Pressure
Encore:
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Will Rock
We Are The Champions

Concert Review: Ace Frehley and SIMO

Ace Frehley Goes Space Truckin’ At The Colonial Theater

Opening Act SIMO Impresses Capacity Crowd

September 27, 2016

Pittsfield, MA.

                            

 

If you are Kiss fan you were at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield Massachusetts on Tuesday night. To put it more succinctly, everyone there came to see Ace Frehley. He was the main talent in Kiss and everyone knows it, with the exception of some of his former band mates of course. This is my opinion and that of many others but as with anything else I am sure there are many people that would disagree.

Warm up bands can be a hit or miss proposition and in this case it was a shot that hit dead center for these ears and apparently the capacity audience. 

The band that came on to warm things up for Ace was SIMO, named after the lead guitar player and vocalist J.D. Simo.  This is a classic power trio that included the bass player Elad Shapiro and drummer Adam Abrashoff.  

Abrashoff had a minimal drum kit and what he accomplished with it was amazing. That is real talent when you take something small and make it sound so big. Shapiro is no slouch on the bass either, his fingers are a flash and he is the perfect companion to Abrashoff’s talents J.D. is a very innovative guitar player taking the nod from the blues and the psychedelic era of the 60s ala Hendrix. His voice is tremendously powerful as well.  I also heard plenty of Allman Brothers influence in their music. I could see they use vintage equipment as well to get their sound, obviously a very smart move on their behalf.

At the break I went out to meet J.D. and he confirmed the aforementioned
influences. The band hails from Nashville and they put on a great show. I also picked up their new release Let Love Show The Way on 180-gram vinyl, complete with a poster and download not to mention the retro artwork that acts as time machine (reflecting their influences).  It was priced right as well at $20.00.  I don’t think Ace could have asked for a better warm up band.

After the break the man of the hour arrived. This was going to be a great show; I could feel it in the air. Well, Ace did not disappoint.

I felt like that over energetic 17-year-old again going to see Kiss in the 70s at Springfield Civic Center. It was great to have those memories come rushing back. All you can do is smile inside when that happens. Ace has a great band to support his act and they made their way through 18 songs to rock the audience from start to finish.

Some of the highlights of the evening included the Thin Lizzy cover “Emerald,” “Parasite,” “Rock Soldiers” and an amazing version of the Kiss classic “Cold Gin,” which I thought was the best performance all night. The encore was superb as well capping off the night with “Detroit Rock City” and “Deuce.” 

I grew out of Kiss many years ago but occasionally listen to the first album and Ace’s solo work. People change, get older and some tastes do change however…once a rocker always a rocker. Seeing Ace live and hearing those songs again was a great experience and reminded of why I liked the music in the first place.

Ace is an accomplished guitar man and all of those skills were on display. Even the smoking guitar was present, which I was hoping to see again. If you want a rockin’ good time the ace in the hole, no pun intended, is catching this show live. 

There is something to be said about how this man has been underrated over the years and not given his due by critics and music industry folks alike. Ace Frehley gets my stamp of approval with no hesitation.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

September 29, 2016

Set List:

01. Rip It Out
02. Toys
03. Emerald
04. Parasite
05. Love Gun
06. Snow Blind
07. Sister
08. Rocket Ride
09. Bring It On Home
10. Rock Soldiers
11. Bass Solo
12. Strange Ways
13. N.Y Groove
14. 2 Young 2 Die
15. Shock Me
16. Cold Gin
Encore:
17. Detroit Rock City
18. Deuce