Alice Cooper w/ Ugly Kid Joe, Duff McKagan’s Loaded - Wembley Arena, London 28.10.12
Halloween once again is upon us, and so it must be time for shock veteran Alice Cooper to be bringing his annual spook fest to the UK. Tonight it is Wembley Arena getting the shock treatment, and he has brought a whole host of tricks and treats for us to enjoy!
First up tonight are Duff McKagan’s Loaded and they bring the noise and try and get us warmed up tonight. Being first on isn’t always easy, and the people seem a little sombre but Duff and co power through and rock the place regardless. Their breed of hard rock is always a pleasure to witness and towards the end of their short set they seem to win the crowd round, it may have something to do with them ending on Guns N’ Roses It’s So Easy but nonetheless Loaded got things going. Next up, Ugly Kid Joe, who are brilliantly tight and very fun to watch. They bring humour and energy to the place and the crowd seem more involved. Of course, Cats In The Cradle and Everything About You get mass sing alongs and much arm waving but it is their finale of Motorheads Ace of Spades, which sees McKagan join the band onstage that really stands out.
Finally, the time is nigh for Cooper to take to the stage. Still looking as iconic as he did, he moves around the stage belting out hit after hit like he hasn’t aged a day. Loud and proud, his band are on fire, and the addition of former Michael Jackson guitarist Orianthi gives a female edge to the band, and she looks striking on stage.
We hear songs from House of Fire, No More Mr Nice Guy, recent hit I’ll Bite Your Face Off, to Caffiene, Hey Stoopid and Feed My Frankenstein. The crowd, a mixture of young and old, some in Halloween attire, some not, are lapping up every second of it. The show is not so different to previous incarnations, but that doesn’t matter because it is Alice Cooper and he is doing what he does best. Pyrotechnics galore and more props than ever, he certainly knows how to entertain.
There is a whole section tonight where Cooper ‘raises the dead’ and pays tribute to his friends who have passed on. Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Hendrix and Keith Moon are all honoured as Cooper covers some of their most famous tracks. Break On Through, Revolution and My Generation are all given the rockers spin but it is his cover of Foxy Lady that is particularly fantastic, and there were more than a few doing the ‘dance’ a la Waynes World.
Finishing the night off with an amazing rendition of Eighteen, Under My Wheels and of course Poison and School’s Out may be predictable, but who cares? It’s Halloween and you are at an Alice Cooper show, perfectly fitting. Cooper is one of rocks great survivors, and with shows like this it is very clear to see why.
Caris Smith
Photos courtesy of Hels Bels Photography
Song of the day
Christmas Special!!
Alice Cooper - Santa Claus is Coming to Town (feat John 5 and Vinnie Appice)
Song of the day!
Alice Cooper - Feed My Frankenstein
Here’s one from Mr Halloween himself! Happy Halloween ladies and gents! Have a spooky one!
Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
36 years after the release of Alice Cooper’s original Welcome To My Nightmare, he has once again returned to the concept with Welcome 2 My Nightmare (see what he did there!) It is also good to see that it is the same band from the original, who also got inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Rather surprisingly, first track I Am Made Of You, is a mellow start to the album, not that it makes it a bad song. With some soulful guitar throughout, it’s a more heartfelt start to the album than expected. The pace picks up in second track Caffeine with added distortion and cowbells. The Nightmare Returns provides a small interlude featuring typical Cooper characteristics of haunting high pitched piano and dramatic guitars.
Last Man On Earth includes the addition of a banjo and tuba giving a country/blues element with it’s swinging rhythms and walking bassline. First single I’ll Bite Your Face Off appears in the middle of the track listing followed by Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever, which as the title suggests, has a typical synthetic disco backing track before finishing with frantic guitars.
A ballad comes in the form of Something To Remember Me By and a guest appearance from Ke$ha on What Baby Wants. As terrible as those two names sound together, the track isn’t a complete disaster. It does of course include the annoying feature of auto tune though.
The album finishes on a somewhat majestic, orchestral instrumental with the addition of electric guitars.
Overall, the album is an enjoyable listen and contains a lot of variety and influences from various different genres. Alice has just gone to prove he still has what it takes to create great records as well as put on a spectacular live show. A legend in the name of rock, he hasn’t let us down.
Songs I’d Recommend: A Runaway Train, Last Man On Earth, I Gotta Get Outta Here.
Laura Woodhead
Song of the day!
Our song of the day today is the new track from Alice Cooper, I’ll Bit Your Face Off! Available now on itunes, it is the first to be released from his forthcoming album Welcome 2 My Nightmare released in September! We love it, and so should you!!
Download Festival 2011!!
So its that time of year again, festival season is upon us, and last weekend we trotted off to one of the first major ones to take place this year, Download Festival 2011!
Much has been said about this years line up, some raving about how amazing it is, others disagreeing and favouring Sonisphere instead with their announcement of ‘The Big 4’ in the UK together for the first time. Despite all this, come Friday morning Donnington was overrun with thousands of music fans ready to rock the weekend away and watch some great bands.
