Ace Frehley performs live with his band at the Tower Theater on Monday. (Andy Tullis/Bulletin photo)

Ace Frehley looked out at the sparse crowd two songs into his set at the Tower Theatre on Monday.

He seemed just a bit disappointed. The audience, though enthusiastic, barely filled half the venue. But as the old cliche goes, the show must go on — and the founding KISS guitarist and consummate showman was more than game.

“Even though we don’t have a full house tonight,” he said, “we’re still gonna kick your ass.”

And for the rest of the evening, Frehley and his ace band (pun alert) — former The Cult and Ozzy Osbourne bassist Chris Wyse, longtime guitarist Richie Scarlet and session drummer/singer Scot Coogan — did just that, logging 90-plus minutes of sleazy, snarling rock ’n’ roll.

Though the band always knew its way around an anthem, KISS became a rock institution because of its wild stage show. Frehley (who received a visit from KISS frontman Gene Simmons at a show only days before the Bend date) didn’t have the makeup and costumes and fire, though a smoking guitar did show up in his hands during “New York Groove.” What he had was his commanding stage presence — he still makes cool look like the easiest thing in the world — and yes, the songs.

At least half the set consisted of KISS classics, starting with a rip-roaring version of “Parasite.” Frehley’s husky growl led the way on “Rocket Ride,” “Shock Me” and main set closer “Cold Gin,” which turned into a rousing audience call-and-response. But he turned vocal duties over to Coogan for “Love Gun,” a wise choice.

When you have a backing band of this caliber, you tend to want to show it off, and everyone onstage got his moment. Wyse delivered a thundering mid-set bass solo before leading the band through KISS’ “Strange Ways”; Scarlet took vocal duties on Frehley solo track “2 Young 2 Die,” a dueling showcase for the two six-stringers; and Coogan also sang lead on “Detroit Rock City” during the encore.

The rest of the show was dedicated to Frehley solo cuts such as “Rip it Out” and the fist-pumping “Rock Soldiers,” and covers from Frehley’s most recent album “Origins, Vol. 1,” including Thin Lizzy’s “Emerald” and a sprawling take on Willie Dixon’s “Bring it on Home” that stole the show mid-set.

Through it all, Frehley was front-and-center, tearing off blistering leads on his Les Paul. While KISS’ theatrics could often overshadow the playing, in this setting Frehley was free to let it rip — culminating in an extended shred session to open the aforementioned “Cold Gin.”

The reformed version of Enuff Z’Nuff, featuring songwriter/singer/bassist/only original member Chip Z’Nuff, glammed it up during its 45-minute opening set. Z’Nuff and company delivered the band’s two biggest hits — “Fly Home Michelle” and “New Thing” — but the highlight was the slow-burning blues-boogie of “In the Groove.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7814, bmcelhiney@bendbulletin.com