Review: Alice Cooper at the Uptown

Photo by Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Dolls, dummies and a hangman's gallows were among the many props employed by Alice Cooper Sunday night at the Uptown Theater. Yet it was a simple crutch that was most effective.

The 59-year-old brandished the crutch as he belted "I'm Eighteen," his early-70s ode to teenage confusion. It was a funny and poignant gesture from the theatrical shock-rock veteran.

Although his shtick is a bit shopworn and tawdry at this late date, Cooper's one hour and 45-minute performance delighted an audience of approximately 1,100. Now more lovable goof than threatening menace, Cooper's predilection for disturbing imagery predates the likes of Kiss and Marilyn Manson. Similarly, his initial primitive sound laid the groundwork for punk rage and goth morbidity.

The triple-whammy wallop of "Under My Wheels," "I'm Eighteen," and "Is It My Body" at the start of the show provided the evening's highlights. The delightfully obnoxious garage rock songs remain fresh and engaging.

It was an unsustainable pace, however, and only a few subsequent songs approached those heights. This was partly because the volume level throughout the Uptown was so extreme that any nuances were masked behind ringing ears.

Cooper chewed scenery like an old pro, but it was his youthful band that propelled the show with a satisfying metallic crunch. Even lesser material like "Poison" was rendered compelling through their efforts.

One of the faux political campaign signs raised when Cooper closed with "Elected" proclaimed "He doesn't care." It's just not true; Cooper still seems to care a lot. Had a straw poll been taken Sunday night, Cooper would have deservedly won in a landslide.

Whitestarr, the subject of VH1 reality show The Rock Life, opened for Cooper with a 45-minute set of adequate Guns N' Roses and Motley Crue-style trash rock. They proved adept at standard-issue cliches, including telling the Missouri audience that they were glad to be in Kansas. It's telling, however, that the California band's best attribute is a fleshy male dancer with the moniker of Tony Potato.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[J Devanny]

Concert was good, maybe too loud, Tony Potato was weak,real weak

[C. Jeney]

If it's too loud, you're too old.

Great show. It was my first visit to the Uptown Theater--it reminded me of the old Akron Civic Theater (flashed back momentarily to the 1970's "guitar wars" waged there by Robin Trower, Ronnie Montrose, and--I think--Frank Marino).

Isn't it so much more fun to see a show there or at the Starlight than some big, depressing, industrial arena where binoculars and big-screens are the only way to see the band?

Of course it is!

[Will]

If it is too loud. it is just too loud, what does age have to do with it?

I was with 13 and 17 year olds who thought Cooper was trying to reach an audience in Nebraska from 37th street.

Still a great performer, and that made it even worse.

I can see why the Whitestarr would be so loud, besides the goof on the stage what else would attract attention?

But Cooper? No need to blow out the glass with all that talent, so loud it distorted, and not because it was part of Cooper's intentionally distorted show, it was too loud to understand the singer from the other frequencies, and if that is all it takes to entertain, is to see if the group can blow the speakers and ear drums out of everthing and everyone in the place, I guess that will sell tickets. My guess [and plenty more of the 1100] is that the extremely overdriven NOISE will sell less in the future.

Shame.

[Wayne]

Loud schmoud. Compared to most concerts I've attended, the volume at this one was only mid-level. It wasn't so loud that, only 25 feet from the stage, I couldn't hear the drunk guy in front of me arguing with the bouncer.

As for sound distortion, well, *what* disortion? I had no trouble hearing Alice's lyrics on every song.

It was a truly excellent show, the most fun I've had at a concert in years. Alice was in good voice, his band was spot-on, and the crowd (down front, anyway) was very appreciative.

Hats off to you, Alice. Thanks.

[Wadkc]

Loud. Why yes it was but that's what ear plugs are for. I thought it was an entertaining show with some old nuggets thrown in.

I really enjoyed Whitestarr. I have their 1st CD from about 9 months ago and the new one dropped yesterday. Tony Potato was a blast. Either you get it or you don't.....

[Bubba]

Wow! I didn't realize we could post a comment THIS far back. Do any of you REMEMBER the very same night that Uncle ALICE played the Uptown, some teen mother working at the McDonalds right up the street from the venue tried to flush her newborn baby down the ladies room toilet? I certainly do - does anyone know how that child is doing? Heard something about the child on the news awhile back but didn't catch the actual story. Just wondered. Now, there's a child that likely needs some holiday cheer.

[greenman]

I heard that was David Cook's love child.

[Bubba]

Greenman - (ha-ha-ha)....that's not very nice! SERIOUSLY doubt David Cook would have been with a ghetto teen anyway. What are you on? Can I have some?