ACE FREHLEY
With Slaughter

Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
January 1, 2025

Photos & Review by Frank Piercy

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – What more could I ask for, two of my favorite bands playing the same night at Mohegan Sun Casino. Originally it was supposed to be Ace Frehley opening for Vince Neil, but Motley Crue must be up to something. The next to best thing happened. Vince’s backing band, when he plays solo, consists of bassist Dana Strum, guitarist Jeff Blando and drummer Jordan Cannata, who are more famously known as one of the more favorite bands of the Hair Metal scene of the late 80s and early 90s, Slaughter. I am guessing, it didn’t take much to talk Mark Slaughter into making it a Slaughter show and not a Vince Neil show. Slaughter is very popular here, playing at least one show a year at Mohegan Sun.

The arena was pretty full for this show and I am wondering how much more so it would have been if it was Vince singing, what was obvious was that there were a lot of hardcore Slaughter fans in force and they definitely enjoyed the show. The night started off with has become the standard opening song for these guys, “Mad About You” followed by one of my favorite songs from them, “Burning Bridges” and then “Spend My Life.” The energy these guys were displaying was nothing short of miraculous. The night continued with the homage to either Vikings or Led Zeppelin, I am not sure with the “Immigrant Song,” followed by “Eye to Eye.” Did I mention the drum solo during “Eye to Eye?” Followed up with “Days Gone By,” “Real Love” and another of my favorites “Fly To The Angels.” To round out the set was that one song that everyone sang along to in their best impression of Mark, “Up All Night.” Slaughter closed out their set with a classic Who song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

Overall Mark sounded great and the band was all over the place on that stage with their high energy. Of course, as a fan we could have hoped to hear a few more Slaughter songs during that set.

SLAUGHTER photos

After a small break, it was time for the main attraction, Ace Frehley to hit the stage.
For the last few years Ace has been touring with Gene Simmons back up band, well at least they were when Ace started using them, not sure if they still are, guess I will find out when Gene plays at Mohegan Sun on May 11th. Scot Coogan is the drummer with Ryan Spencer on bass and Jeremy Asbrock on guitar. This is a multi-talented line up who not only play instruments but also sing, lending their abilities at various times throughout the entire set.

The night started with “Shock Me,” a song I am more used to hearing more toward the middle of the set when Ace does his guitar solo followed by “Deuce” and then one of his latest album, “10,000 Volts” and “Cherry Medicine.” As all of us photographers were being ushered out of the photo pit, the intro to “Rock Soldiers” was happening, I remember when that video came out, back when MTV played music… ahh to be young again. Then they went into a block of Kiss tunes, “Love Gun,” “Rocket Ride,” “Parasite” and “Detroit Rock City.” Then into a bit of a blues jam that broke up the Kiss jam before continuing with “Rip It Out” from his Kiss era solo album, “She” and another Kiss Era solo song, “New York Groove.” Then a little bit more of Blues noodling before what can be considered his signature song (well at least to me) “Cold Gin” and that infamous guitar solo that everyone looks forward to. The night ended with two more Kiss tunes, “Shout It Out” and the iconic “Rock N Roll All Nite.”

I have been a fan of since I was a kid and I have always enjoyed seeing Ace in concert. It was a great show, everyone was hitting their marks and the energy was contagious, especially when the loud audience made their presence known and sang along.