Alice Cooper
Date: May 6, 2006 I Gave It Everything I waited a long time for my first Alice Cooper concert but a Canadian tour in support of Dirty Diamonds offered me a quick follow-up. As with his previous stop in Ottawa, Cooper again touched down at the Civic Centre. While the hit-filled setlist and impeccable stage presence were the equal of that last show, the fact that I had moved up to front row seats made this experience even better. Canadian hard rock survivors Helix opened the night with a spirited performance. Prior to this tour announcement, I had no idea that the band was still playing, nor had I heard any of their songs in years. Nonetheless, I was surprised to recognize nearly every song in a set that concentrated on the group's biggest years in the 1980s, including "No Rest for the Wicked," "Heavy Metal Love," the obligatory cheesy ballad "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want," and the demonstrably true "Running Wild in the 21st Century." The opening slot in an arena show can be a tough position. Considering the fact that the audience was largely split between fans too old to be jumping around all night or too young to recall Helix's heyday, it was unsurprising that the band didn't create a lot of motion on the floor. However, they did a solid job getting the crowd warmed up, with singer Brian Vollmer climbing into the seats and the rest of the group playing with enthusiasm. By the time that they wrapped up with "Rock You," Helix had set the stage for Cooper. To a large extent, you know what you're getting with an Alice Cooper show. An opening salvo of "Department of Youth," "No More Mr. Nice Guy," and "Dirty Diamonds" set the standard for a night that would scatter a few newer songs amidst a block of proven classics. Being so close to the action had its benefits, as proven when we managed to snag some of the fake money that Cooper launched into the crowd during "Billion Dollar Babies." The prime vantage point also afforded a great opportunity to take in the playing of his talented band. While bassist Chuck Garric returned from the previous tour, personnel changes saw frequent Cooper contributor Eric Singer back on drums, with guitar duties falling to Keri Kelli and Damon Johnson. As Johnson was positioned directly in front of me, I took notice of his playing the most but Kelli and Garric also patrolled the stage effectively. The musicians all appeared to be having a great time on stage, matching the mood on the floor, and their playing was perfectly polished, as demonstrated on songs like "Be My Lover" and "Lost in America." Naturally, though, Alice is the star of the show, whether swordfighting his way across the stage, goading the crowd, or simply sitting down for an unadorned run through the acoustic "I Never Cry," his voice perfectly conveying the weariness and vulnerability of that song. The set rolled along with "Woman of Mass Distraction," and the early hits "I'm Eighteen," "You Drive Me Nervous," and "Is It My Body?" "Go To Hell" marked the midway point of the concert, concluding with Alice's daughter, Calico, in demonic make-up, chasing him from the stage. Calico would go on to play the role of Alice's victim or victimizer several times in the more theatrical remainder of the show but not before the band had its chance to shine, on an extended instrumental rendition of "The Black Widow," complete with multiple solos. Alice returned with "Feed My Frankenstein," assembling a collection of body parts into a headless monster, standing in an upright coffin. "Welcome To My Nightmare," which Alice performed with a mammoth snake draped over his shoulders, signaled an extended foray into the album of the same name. "The Awakening" continued that trip, and the eerie "Steven," wrapped around "Only Women Bleed," saw him menacing Calico with a knife before being wrestled into a straitjacket. "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" showcased his escape from that entanglement but the coolness of "Killer" ended with a trip to the guillotine, giving Calico the chance to complete the previously headless monster, while the band handled vocal duties on "I Love the Dead." Of course, Alice materialized from the coffin, clad in a white jacket and top hat, to close the set with the anthem "School's Out." The 90-minute performance was capped with an encore of "Posion", "I Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills," transformed with Calico's aid into a slam on Paris Hilton, and the classic rocker, "Under My Wheels." To be sure, many of the tricks and the songs are well-worn but it's interesting to see how they are brought together. Alice Cooper once again delivered a great concert, complete with impressive showmanship, faultless musicianship, and excellent songs. Alice Cooper setlist Main Set
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