Ace Frehley

May 2, 2025 – Starland Ballroom, Sayreville NJ

Review & Photography by Estelle Massry

“The Spaceman” has arrived at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville NJ. The venue was filled with die-hard fans, many in vintage KISS t-shirts and memorabilia’s hoping to get signed at the end of the show. Ace Frehley emerged on stage around 9:30 pm, guitar slung low with his trademark smirk as fans erupted in cheer proving his legendary status is still well earned.

Ace Frehley is a true rock legend whose influence on guitar-driven music is undeniable. As the original lead guitarist and founding member of KISS, Ace helped define the band’s signature sound with his explosive solos and larger-than-life stage presence. He is a Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer who influenced a generation of guitar players and still continues to do so.

The setlist was a perfect mix of KISS classics like “Shock Me”, “Shout It Out Loud”, “Rocket Ride”, “Love Gun” and solo gems like “Rock Soldiers” and “New York Groove,” which had the whole crowd singing along. His iconic smoking guitar solo was a highlight as well as the finale “Rock and Roll All Nite” transporting fans back to the heyday of KISS. Ace’s vocals may not be as polished as they once were but he came out giving his all and seemed to be having fun. His band consists of Ryan Cook on bass, Jeremy Asbrock on guitar, and Scott Coogan on drums. They truly are a great fit as they provided the extra energy when it was lacking from Ace.

While his vocals and personal life have had ups and downs, his passion for music never faded. Whether on stage or in the studio, Ace continues to prove he’s a vital force in rock. He’s not just a former KISS guitarist—he’s a rock icon in his own right. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a celebration of Ace Frehley’s enduring place in rock history. At 73, the Spaceman still flies high. Rock on, Ace.

For more info please visit http://www.acefrehley.com

Adrian Vandenberg

Concert Reviews

March 4, 2025 – The Vogel, Red Bank NJ

Review by Chris Yates // Photography by Estelle Massry

Red Bank New Jersey’s iconic venue, The Vogel, a smaller venue nestled within the Count Basie Center for the Arts, was the perfect backdrop for Dutch guitar legend Adrian Vandenberg on his “My Whitesnake Years” tour with special guest Bad Marriage.

Bad Marriage, not “just another band out of Boston”, opened the evening and was a great set up to Vandenberg, setting the tone for a nostalgic, throw-back to 80’s Rock & Roll! The bands perfect mix of sound and style catapulted me back to high school. They delivered an energetic live performance, mixing smooth tones with strong vocals in their own unique style. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bad Marriage is made up of Jonny Paquin on vocals, Mike Fitz on lead guitar, Tommy Skeoch on lead/rhythm guitar, Ian Haggerty on rhythm guitar, Todd Boisvert on bass, and Michael Delaney on drums. The addition of Tommy Skeoch, formerly of Tesla, rounds out the sound to the band, gives a nod to the hair bands of yesteryear, and adds a cool feel to the triple guitar attack.

After a brief interlude, the crowd was ready for the headliner and erupted in applause as Adrian Vandenberg took the stage. As Vandenberg, best known as the lead guitar slinger of Whitesnake, strolled to his mark on the far side of the stage his eponymous band followed, and the audience was set for a great evening of some new music mixed in with his iconic 80’s style hair band riffs and hits of Whitesnake.

Vandenberg, now in his 60s, showed no sign of slowing down. The legendary guitarist’s playing was sharp, soulful, and perfectly executed. His tone was warm and heavy, resonating throughout The Vogel’s intimate space, creating an atmosphere where every note felt personal. His rendition of “Burning Heart” had the crowd hooked, while “Here I Go Again” saw Vandenberg putting his signature spin on a Whitesnake classic, adding new layers of emotional depth to a song that’s become iconic.

The chemistry between Vandenberg and his backing band was undeniable. Bassist Sem Christoffel laid down a deep groove, as did keyboardist Len Van De Laak, while drummer Joey Marin De Boer provided the powerful backbone of the rhythm section. Frontman Mats Levén’s voice soared effortlessly through Vandenberg’s intricate compositions, giving the crowd a new appreciation for these timeless tracks.

Vandenberg’s guitar solos were the highlight of the evening, each one dripping with emotion and technical prowess. He effortlessly shifted between melodic runs and fiery shredding, displaying the breadth of his musical mastery. “Still of the Night,” with its signature haunting guitar lines, was a moment that had the entire venue fully engaged.

The acoustics were great, allowing each guitar riff, drum hit, and vocal note to shine through with clarity. The venue’s cozy and intimate yet vibrant atmosphere allowed fans to connect with the performers on a personal level, providing fans the rare opportunity to be up close making the night feel special from start to finish.

For fans who enjoy 80’s rock, this was an unforgettable evening. While Vandenberg has certainly left his mark on the genre, he also brought his A-game to The Vogel. It was a night that reminded us why we keep coming back to live music—the thrill of hearing some our favorite songs from that time, the magic of witnessing guitar greatness, and the shared connection that only live performance can bring.

For more info please visit http://www.vandenbergband.com http://www.badmarriagemusic.com

Alice In Chains

Concert Reviews

October 7, 2022 – PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel NJ

Review by Chris Yates // Photography by Estelle Massry

It was a beautiful fall evening in New Jersey as Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Bush & Plush closed out the summer schedule with the second to last performance at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

The talented all female band, Plush, opened the night with some great rock & roll. I’ve read that their mission is to bring rock back to the forefront of the music scene. The heavy guitar playing lady rockers are certainly driving that train in the right direction. They played for about half an hour and were a perfect opener to get the crowd amped up as rock fans filled the venue.

The 90’s alternative grunge rock band favorite Bush followed, and by the time Gavin Rossdale and team played their second song the Arts Center was packed and the amphitheater stayed that way for the entire night. Bush sounded great, played for about 45 minutes and mixed in a bunch of old and new. A few highlights for me were when Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains joined Bush for “Comedown” and another was when Gavin left the stage and paraded through the entire venue, from the orchestra all the way up to the deepest of lawn seats, singing the entire time and occasionally stopping for a hug, a hi-five and even a photo or two.

New Jersey born and Pennsylvania raised Benjamin Burnley IV of Breaking Benjamin followed. I have never seen them before but was familiar with their music and enjoyed their performance. Lead singer and guitar player Benjamin Burnley sounded great and belted some amazing rock and roll, mixed with the modern heavy metal screams to complete their unique sound. Many know that Burnley has a recurring illness (Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome), which is an acute brain disorder resulting from a lack of thiamine. This essential vitamin changes sugar into energy. When you have too little thiamine, your brain doesn’t have enough energy to work properly. The most common cause of thiamine deficiency is chronic alcohol use which in his case, almost ended his career. Burnley plays in the dark or without spot light or bright flashing lights in front of him due to the sensitivity of how his illness affects him. None-the-less, he doesn’t perform like he has a lack of anything and certainly not energy. Burnley played for an hour, spoke to the audience often and seemed grateful to be in front of his adoring fans, all of whom he defines as his home crowd. The band is comprised of Benjamin Burnley (lead vocals & rhythm guitar), Jasen Rauch (lead guitar & electronic strings), Keith Wallen (rhythm guitar & backing vocals), Aaron Bruch (bass & backing vocals), and Shaun Foist (drums & electronic percussion). They completely rocked the house and were a perfect tee-up for Alice In Chains.

Alice In Chains (AIC) then finally came to stage to finish out the night and were AWESOME! I’ve been a big Alice In Chains fan but unfortunately have never had the opportunity to see the original front man and co-founder of the band Layne Staley perform before his passing. To this day he lives on as any alternative rock station will play AIC with Layne’s vocals. However, I must say the band has come together wonderfully and filled a tough seat in Layne Staley with new front man William DuVall. Since 2006, DuVall has fronted Alice In Chains, sharing vocals and guitar with co-founding member Jerry Cantrell on three albums following the death of Layne Staley in 2002. Original AIC band member and co-founder Jerry Cantrell said about DuVall when hiring him that he already knew DuVall and told him to just be himself rather than emulating Staley. Jerry highlighted that Alice In Chains was always better with two vocals supporting each other, so they worked well with DuVall and it was apparent. Not only do they sound similar but DuVall also brings a new look and feel while still maintaining the bands hard alternative rock image. I loved the show and the performance as they played throughout the night. Gavin Rossdale of Bush returned the favor and joined AIC on stage for “Man in the Box” as the show wound down to its conclusion.