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Toronto, Ont- What a pleasure it was to see legendary Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley play the Government in Toronto on his “Rocket Ride 2008” tour. It was Ace’s first appearance in Canada’s big city since the last time Kiss played Toronto on the Farewell tour in June of 2000. Ace has been clean and sober for well over a year and a half, and it showed in his performance. He was having a great time with the crowd talking about how happy he was to be back in Toronto and how he wishes for spring to come so he can ride his bike (Harley.) Ace has a terrific slew of talented musicians backing him. On bass, Anthony Esposito (Lynch Mob), Scott Coogan (Brides of Destruction) is on drums, and Derrick Hawkins rounds it out on rhythm guitar. Ace opened the set with “Rip it Out” off his 1978 solo album. An excellent song to open up the set with and get the crowd into it. The crowd was a mix of young and old, which was fantastic to see!
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The staples were done as the smokin’ guitar during “Shock Me” and the light up guitar during “NY Groove” were part of the set. The hour and 40 minute set also included some vocals by Scott Coogan on “Love Gun” and Anthony Esposito on “Strange Ways.” It was also cool to see the band all dressed in “space’ jumpsuits with their respective name on the breast and a lightening bolt down the leg. All in all, a great rock show that gave the Toronto fans their much awaited Ace/Kiss fix that was going on 8 years too long!!
I was able to see the show on Halloween in NYC last year and the band has definitely come together as a unit. Ace did a great job picking his backing band and I definitely recommend checking these guys out when they are coming around your neck of the woods!
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Set List:
Rip it Out
Hard Times
Parasite
Snowblind (“I Want You” - with Anthony Esposito on vocals)
Rock Soldiers
Breakout (Scott Coogan on vocals)
Shot Full of Rock
Into the Void
Strange Ways (Anthony Esposito on vocals)
Medley: Torpedo Girl
Speedin’ back to my Baby
5 Card Stud
Trouble Walkin’ (Scott Coogan on vocals)
Stranger in a Strange Land
NY Groove
Shock Me (Guitar Solo)
Rocket Ride
Encores:
Deuce
Love Her All I Can (Scott Coogan on vocals)
Love Gun (Scott Coogan on vocals)
Cold Gin
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