At 78 years old, Alice Cooper continues to prove why he is a rock-and-roll legend, and he put on a wildly entertaining show in Albertville.
Even before the show got underway, fans were in great spirits, with many in costume. Walking around the venue, there were plenty of fans donning their favorite Alice Cooper look. There were several audience members in long white coats, some sporting top hats and canes, while others dug deep in their closets, pulling out the vintage Cooper tour T-shirts. The wardrobe and getup from the crowd all felt appropriate for the aptly titled Alice’s Attic Tour. Seeing Cooper live is more than just your typical concert; it’s a theatrical performance. The stage was set up to feature several relics and items from Cooper’s past, which made some of the performance feel nostalgic.
With the rest of his band already on stage, Cooper took the stage, literally appearing out of a book, as he got set to tell his story to the audience. He wasted little time in his performance, diving into fan favorites like “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “I’m Eighteen,” which were showcased early.
While there’s rock and roll galore on the stage, the Godfather of Shock Rock also included a heavy dose of dark humor mixed into the evening. As the music played, guillotines, fake blood, and even a giant Frankenstein’s Monster were featured center stage. Even a “paparazzi” ended up stabbed during the track “Hey Stupid.” While some may find it over the top, the stage show is half the fun at Cooper’s concerts, as he makes sure to put on a rock show combined with comedy and horror. It’s ridiculous in the best way.
While the theatrics were entertaining, Cooper’s band includes some of the best musicians in the music industry. While Cooper is the ringleader in this production, he always makes sure to let the rest of the cast get their moments to shine. Guitarists Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, bassist Chuck Garrick, and drummer Glen Sobel have been performing with Cooper for a while and showcased their skills during the concert. There was one change to the lineup ahead of this tour, as Anna Cara is in for Cooper’s longtime guitarist Nita Strauss, who will welcome her first child later this year. At just 22 years old, Cara proved the stage was not too big, displaying her talent and even commanding center stage with an incredible solo before Cooper and his band performed “Brutal Planet.”
While fans were clearly enjoying the show, it was never more evident than late into the concert, with “School’s Out” turning into one big shouting sing-along. Cooper closed out the rest of this set with a brief cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” before concluding with “Under My Wheels.”
As fans exited the amphitheater, there were plenty with smiles on their faces from what they had just witnessed on stage. After all these years, Cooper continues to put on one of the best shows around, and here’s hoping he still has many more to come.
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