red lights

Concert Livewire
basement tapes concert reviews cd reviews interviewsticket swap music news


Christmas Pudding For All

Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding
Comerica Theatre
Phoenix, AZ
Decmeber 7, 2013
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
KISS
KISS
Joan Jett
Joan Jett

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

What happens when the "king of shock rock" puts together a variety show to benefit teenagers? It's a tasty extravaganza of dance, comedy and rock 'n roll! And it was predominantly "hair metal" music this year. This is an annual event to support Cooper's "Solid Rock" charity for teens.

The roster included Minnesota hair-metal cover band, Hairball, to back up all the performers giving us a taste of '70s and '80s classics during the second half of the show. Hairball started the music portion of the show with a mini-set of '80s covers that featured David Lee Roth, Dee Snyder, and Brian Johnson look alikes that set the tone for the rest of the show.

Rocker Joan Jett was up next with an all too short set that had the audience excited, up and dancing. Her set included "I Hate Myself For Loving You," "Any Weather," and the old Tommy James song, "Crimson and Clover," Way too small of a morsel for my taste!

Kip Winger, the lead singer for Winger and a former member of Alice Cooper's band, was well- received when he sang "Madelaine," He was joined by Warrant singer Robert Mason for a version of explosive version of "Seventeen."

Stephen Pearcy, lead singer of RATT, burst on the stage with renditions of "Lay It Down" and closed with "Round and Round."

Cinderella front-man, Tom Keifer, was next spreading his love with "Somebody Save Me." "Gypsy Road" and "Shake Me."

Motley Crue's Vince Neil, kept the ball rolling with "Kickstart My Heart." "Wild Side" and "Girls, Girls, Girls," with Pearcy, Mason, and Winger joining him.

Alice Cooper dished out a plate of goodies singing "No More Mister Nice Guy." "I'm Eighteen." (He quipped "pretty soon its going to be I'm 80"), "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" (a Doors song), and "School's Out" which he incorporated Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In the Wall, Part 2."

The final portion of Pudding was THE theatrical rockers, KISS! Alice Cooper introduced them as "America's greatest rock and roll band!" And a tasty portion it was! It was served up without make-up, yet still a delicacy. There was "Shout It Out," "Deuce," "Lick It Up," "Calling Dr. Love" and "Detroit Rock City" were served up on the platter!

The finale of the night was all the vocalists on stage singing "Rock and Roll All Night." with a dash of fake snow falling! All were there except Joan Jett.

John O'Hurley MC'd the first half of the show that showcased some of the dance students from 'Solid Rock' performing Dance Through the Decades. The Phoenix Boys Choir performed "School's Out." Bill Engvall did a clean stand up comedy routine. Rock Demarco, the world's fastest painter, did his painting routine. He told the crowd that Alice Cooper had taken up painting and called him out to do a painting. Cooper came out and painted on the canvas "Olivia will you marry Rock?" which was meant for his girlfriend. Of course, Olivia accepted his proposal of marriage on stage. Cooper joked "Next year, she will be delivering a baby on stage."


Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
KISS
Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Winger
Kip Winger
John O'Hurley
John O'Hurley
Winger
Kip Winger
Hairball
Hairball
Hairball
Hairball
Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer
Vince Neil
Vince Neil

What Do You Think?

Name:

Artist:

City & State:

e mail:

Here's Your Chance to.... Respond!



Your feedback will be featured on
Rant or Rave within 24 hours.

Return to Reviews
Return to Menu