Two words.. still recovering, or maybe just one word âwreckedâ… Â Just from the concert that is…  What a corker of a night in Sydney on Saturday at the Hordern Pavilion when we had the double delight of the legendary Mr Alice Cooper celebrating 40 years of touring Australia, with some awesome Ace Frehley hammering our heads beforehand… Wow, this was just the perfect night of rock! Whoever decided to bring the Spaceman in as a special guest is a genius. I couldnât think of a better way to awaken my ear drums and torture my body than by letting go to some serious rock’n’roll battering by two phenomenal artists like this. I still have that âvague steamrolled head spaceâ feeling even now, you know the one, smash! But itâs oh so worth it. I am more than happy to spend the next two days suffering for these two world class rockers.
Before I move on to the man of the moment, I have got to give some love to the Spaceman himself. Like many Kiss fans, Iâve always had a big soft spot for Ace Frehley and love his Kiss and solo tunes, which are on regular rotation for me. The venue was virtually full as his set was about to begin, such is the respect that this man commands, and what a legacy he has within the world of music. Songs like â2,000 Manâ, âTalk To Meâ and âNew York Grooveâ just to name a few. Ace and band, you were brilliant, it wasnât just the guitar that was smokinâ. Some of the best music rolled in with âtoo cool for schoolâ, Ace still being his fun and charismatic self. As well as being in cracking form, it was just a pleasure to be there watching you all tear it up. I would love to see you guys back here for a headline tour in the near future and Iâm pretty sure most of the crowd would agree.
Now that weâve all been nicely tenderised, itâs time for some full blown roasting. The wicked Alice Cooper, celebrating an enormous milestone on this current Australian tour, and it doesnât look like this juggernaut is slowing down any time soon. I was like a wide-eyed kid being thrown inside the worldâs most heaviest and craziest fun park. This was a virgin Alice gig for me, a total lamb to the slaughter. I have been waiting years to revel in his live show and now I know why heâs still touring and has the iconic shock rocker tag accompanying his name. With over 50 years of giving it all to his craft, itâs an amazing achievement that not many accomplish. So worthy of all the worship is this man that, ironically, has a chick’s name. Knowing quite a few songs, reading all the stories, and seeing the headlines over the years isnât the same as having the man himself welcome you into his ghoulish parade.
Then it began, it was heavy rock frenzy time and when the first sound of those hefty guitars on âBrutal Planetâ began, those heads started to bang. Oh God, itâs not just the planet thatâs brutal, I think this concert is gearing up to be just the same. Classic gems like âNo More Mr Nice Guyâ, âUnder My Wheelsâ and âDepartment of Youthâ continue this first part of the night as the hair was flyingâŠfor those of us still lucky enough to have hair…
Itâs a packed house with every type of person under the sun; young, old, parents bringing kids, men/women and some hard to tell  âunderneath all that make upâ. But one thingâs for sure, the fansâ undying loyalty is on show. I donât know where to look half the time. The stage is one big vibrating mecca of banging music and theatrics, and then thereâs the crowd, thumping and air punching. So many tracks, âPainâ, âBillion Dollar Babiesâ, âThe World Needs Gutsâ and âWoman Of Mass Distractionâ playing at a savage pace. And Alice is doing his thing, so effortless and streamlined but with power and stamina. A unique and dazzling front man, Iâm loving the live versions more on many songs across the evening and there are so many great moments, I canât narrow down a favourite. Nitaâs guitar solo was a very pleasant break from so much testosterone. What a cool gig sheâs got, and being hot and talented doesnât hurt either. I love âPoisonâ, as do the frenetic fans and âHalo Of Fliesâ was dynamite. Some tracks just need that live treatment to break them out of their vinyl skin, and the latter is one of those.
More stage props coming to life as âFeed My Frankensteinâ kicks in. I love the giant costume terrorising the stage as it moved into the next song âCold Ethylâ, with Alice dancing with a life size doll. It’s not just a newbie thing for me, it’s just so entertaining mixing horror, theatre and heavy cranking rock music. I can only imagine how mesmerised all the kids in the crowd would have been seeing Aliceâs world come to life. You can see that look on many adult faces too, as it no doubt brings back childhood memories of being blown away by this maestro of metal throughout the years. Of course, 70âs anthem âOnly Women Bleedâ is a big favourite for many and then itâs time for: âParanoiac Personality’, âBallad of Dwight Fryâ, âKillerâ and âI love The Deadâ. Fusing great lyrics and music with a straight jacket, and Aliceâs own version of a goth Nurse Ratched, was incredibly engaging. For me, it was very symphonic, even as Alice’s head is chopped off. So strange to feel calm while watching horror. With props galore, weâve had whips and swords and now a crutch appears on âIâm Eighteenâ. Love it. No slowing down for Alice as itâs encore time with a steroid-pumped version of âSchoolâs Outâ with some Pink Floyd âThe Wallâ snippets. As bubbles swarm the stage, itâs more fist pumping and multiple guitars while giant balloons bounce over the crowd and confetti sprinkles down. We all love a big showy finale and Alice and band donât disappoint. Everyone cheers and hopes for more, but alas, itâs the dreaded time to go home. But what a way to spend a Saturday night, perfect. This is way too much fun to have in one concert and I feel like I need to swing by the nearest church confessional in the morning and repeat a few Hail Mary’s.
What a cool dude you are Alice, not to mention wildly humorous and charming. I love all the pomp and tongue in cheek. Flashy, heavy rock at its best. You and the whole band are worth every sore muscle Iâm still sporting today.
I think schools need to have rock concert excursions added to the curriculum. This was a lesson in not just great rock and heavy rock, but real entertainment, creativity and talent. Visually stimulating, while blasting your head apart, is quite an intoxicating combination that itâs no wonder we have this awe inspiring, nearly 70 year old man, still touring the world. I wonât repeat the Wayneâs World joke but everyone who has seen the movie knows what Iâm talking about. On your knees people. A phenomenal gig to celebrate a rare milestone, 40 years in Australia and counting… Â âAlice, Alice, Aliceâ…..until next time, we will be waiting!
Review: ALICE COOPER – AIS Canberra – 23 October 2017 – Rock Club 40
October 26, 2017 at 5:34 pm
[…] 1 hour ago Review: ALICE COOPER – Hordern Pavilion – 21 October 2017 […]