Southampton Guildhall 25-7-08
As the house lights dim and the air of expectation rises, you can’t help but look around at the Guildhall’s high ceilings and chandelier type lights and think how well it complements the atmosphere that the man performing tonight exudes.
A huge drape with the legendary name ‘Alice Cooper’ emblazoned on it hangs at the front of the stage, concealing the rostrum from view. Suddenly a spotlight shines from behind onto the veil and into the beam strides the silhouette of Alice Cooper.
He punches the air and the crowd shout out their appreciation, but wait…another silhouette appears behind the first, holding a sword, he raises his arm and runs the first one through. The curtain falls and there stands a black leather-clad Alice Cooper over the still twitching body of his white tuxedoed doppelganger.
This is pure theatre and the Guildhall’s audience is eating it up. Over the next hour and three quarters, we are witness to one of the best rock shows in the world. Not only are we bombarded with a visual feast of entertainment but also the music’s not bad either!
This tour is promoting the release of his latest album ‘Along Came a Spider’ but Alice Cooper knows that what 95% of the crowd want is the ‘old stuff’ and boy does he deliver! No More Mr Nice Guy, Eighteen, Under My Wheels, Dirty Diamonds and Woman Of Mass Destruction are fired off in quick succession.
A short break for the man himself while Kerri Kelli and Jason Hook play two short guitar solos and then pitch in to help out (former Kiss drummer) Eric Singer play a thundering drum solo.
Alice returns for Only Women Bleed and his daughter, a classically trained dancer in her own right, twirls and pirouettes in time to the rhythm. At this point, being dragged on to the stage by grotesque henchmen, is a huge gallows. Cast to the floor and put in a straitjacket, Alice is then hauled up the stairs, has a noose placed around his neck and as a minion pulls the leaver activating the trapdoor mechanism, he plunges through it. Alice is then wheeled off the podium, swinging gently between the gallows posts.
Have no fear, he returns for an encore of his hit songs Billion Dollar Babies, Poison and Elected and judging by the general feeling as we head out into the night, Alice Cooper the master showman, made sure we all had a night to remember.
Tuesday 19 August 2008
Motorkill
+ Voodoo Veags @ Mr Kyps 13-8-08
It’s a debut for Motorhead tribute band, Motorkill at Mr Kyps. A lot of people are turning up early to see the excellent Voodoo Vegas who are supporting them tonight.
The Vegas boys put on cracking show and their good time party rock songs such as ‘Perfect Girl’ and newie ‘The Ferry Song’ are the perfect introduction to the headliners set.
Motorkill play Motorhead’s classic tracks just like the real thing, very loud and very fast.
Opening with ‘Sucker’ and ‘Please Don’t Touch,’ they pound the crowd into submission and don’t let up once. Midway through the set, Lemmy invites Voodoo Vegas up on the stage to perform the song ‘Born To Raise Hell’, at which point things get very messy onstage and everyone in Mr Kyps is joining in the party.
It’s got to be said that the band has Motorhead down to pat and have obviously been listening to and studying them hard. Lemmy is very good and looks and sounds just like the man himself. Expect the word to spread and the next time they play here there will be twice the crowd. So book in advance and be prepared to have your eardrums blown to bits.
It’s a debut for Motorhead tribute band, Motorkill at Mr Kyps. A lot of people are turning up early to see the excellent Voodoo Vegas who are supporting them tonight.
The Vegas boys put on cracking show and their good time party rock songs such as ‘Perfect Girl’ and newie ‘The Ferry Song’ are the perfect introduction to the headliners set.
Motorkill play Motorhead’s classic tracks just like the real thing, very loud and very fast.
Opening with ‘Sucker’ and ‘Please Don’t Touch,’ they pound the crowd into submission and don’t let up once. Midway through the set, Lemmy invites Voodoo Vegas up on the stage to perform the song ‘Born To Raise Hell’, at which point things get very messy onstage and everyone in Mr Kyps is joining in the party.
It’s got to be said that the band has Motorhead down to pat and have obviously been listening to and studying them hard. Lemmy is very good and looks and sounds just like the man himself. Expect the word to spread and the next time they play here there will be twice the crowd. So book in advance and be prepared to have your eardrums blown to bits.
Whole Lotta Led
MR KYPS 27-6-08
I’ve heard good things about tonight’s band and I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed. Billed as a ‘sound a like’ rather than a ‘look a like’ tribute band, they take to the stage and deliver classic songs from Led Zeppelin’s immense back catalogue with aplomb.
The audience, granted, consist mainly of middle-aged blokes, but there is also a smattering of the younger generation. Kids probably curious about Led Zeppelin after reading about them in the rock press and having their fave bands cite them as a major influence. And not being able to afford £160 for a ticket to the O2 gig, this is as close as it’s gonna get.
There is no support band, so the show is split into two halves with a 15 minute break or thereabouts, in between. Singer Lee Addison does a fantastic job, as Robert Plant isn’t the easiest of singers to emulate. He also introduces each song and tends to give out a bit of relevant trivia i.e. if the song was ever played live; what album it was on; which gig etc.
These guys have a serious passion for their idols and the second half of the set is filled with the showpiece songs. Bass guitarist Geoff Hunt makes ‘Dazed and Confused’ a set highlight, as does Graham Twist on ‘Moby Dick’. Drum solos don’t usually go down too well in this MTV influenced age but this was a faithful recreation of John Bonham’s solo on ‘The Song Remains The Same’ album and I’m glad to say it went down a treat with the Mr Kyps faithful.
Of course the yardstick which every Zepp tribute act will be measured by is ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and they pull out an absolutely amazing rendition of this much loved classic. Climaxing with ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and with ‘Communication Breakdown’ slotted in the middle for good measure, guitarist Nick Ferris excels himself and shows off his six string skills to the max.
If you haven’t seen this band before and you like Led Zeppelin, beg, borrow or perhaps more sensibly buy a ticket and be prepared to have one of the best musical experiences around. I know I did.
I’ve heard good things about tonight’s band and I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed. Billed as a ‘sound a like’ rather than a ‘look a like’ tribute band, they take to the stage and deliver classic songs from Led Zeppelin’s immense back catalogue with aplomb.
The audience, granted, consist mainly of middle-aged blokes, but there is also a smattering of the younger generation. Kids probably curious about Led Zeppelin after reading about them in the rock press and having their fave bands cite them as a major influence. And not being able to afford £160 for a ticket to the O2 gig, this is as close as it’s gonna get.
There is no support band, so the show is split into two halves with a 15 minute break or thereabouts, in between. Singer Lee Addison does a fantastic job, as Robert Plant isn’t the easiest of singers to emulate. He also introduces each song and tends to give out a bit of relevant trivia i.e. if the song was ever played live; what album it was on; which gig etc.
These guys have a serious passion for their idols and the second half of the set is filled with the showpiece songs. Bass guitarist Geoff Hunt makes ‘Dazed and Confused’ a set highlight, as does Graham Twist on ‘Moby Dick’. Drum solos don’t usually go down too well in this MTV influenced age but this was a faithful recreation of John Bonham’s solo on ‘The Song Remains The Same’ album and I’m glad to say it went down a treat with the Mr Kyps faithful.
Of course the yardstick which every Zepp tribute act will be measured by is ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and they pull out an absolutely amazing rendition of this much loved classic. Climaxing with ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and with ‘Communication Breakdown’ slotted in the middle for good measure, guitarist Nick Ferris excels himself and shows off his six string skills to the max.
If you haven’t seen this band before and you like Led Zeppelin, beg, borrow or perhaps more sensibly buy a ticket and be prepared to have one of the best musical experiences around. I know I did.
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