Alice Cooper Rocks the Taste

I informed my 11 year old daughter that I was going to the Taste of Minnesota with the guys from the Lava Lords for another “band outing” to see Alice Cooper. “What kind of music does she play dad?”

hmmmm… my daughter is a budding musician herself singing and playing the piano and in fact has been exposed to other classic rock bands Head East and Blue Oyster Cult at previous Taste of MN shows. How to explain Alice Cooper? Rather than go into the details of the evolution of shock rock, boa constrictors and Alice actually being a he not a she I remarked “more classic rock my dear” and left it at that….for now.
(she’s probably at home right now snooping through my massive vinyl collection looking for clues)

The 21st Century version of Alice Cooper and his band rocked St Paul on Friday June 30th, 2006 opening their 2006 North American tour at the Taste of Minnesota. Alice of course was the same old Alice from the 70’s fighting with his internal demons played out musically on stage in a vaudevillian rock opera, including of course the albino boa constrictor, fake blood, Alice getting his head chopped off in a guillotine and singing “Ballad of Dwight Fry" while constrained in a straight jacket.
(I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to get out of here”)

The 21st Century version of his band Keri Kelly / Damon Johnson on guitars, Chuck Garric on bass and Eric Singer on drums were very tight and in many stretches SIZZLED and kept to the essence of the songs but with a more edgy metal / thrash feel.

The band ROCKED through many of Alice’s older classics including “Billion Dollar Babies”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “Be My Lover”, “Poison”, “Is It My Body”, “Under My Wheels”, “I’m Eighteen” and “Schools Out” and the guitarists both switched to acoustic guitars for “Only Woman Bleed”. The songs, the costume changes, the demons and stage props along with general showmanship of the band was very entertaining in a sort of campy Alice Cooper way.

We had made our way through the crowd and ended up standing just to the right and in front of the sound booth surrounded by around 10,000 or so Alice Cooper fans many sporting the “Alice Cooper eyes”. The concert itself started at EXACTLY 7:00 PM as advertised – not 6:59 or 7:01 or 7:45 which was as it should be and they ended at 8:30.
It was like the band could not wait to get the show and the 2006 North American Tour in motion. If you did not get a chance to see them at the Taste they will also be performing at the Moon Dance Jam in Walker, Minnesota July 13

Price of Admission = FREE FREE FREE except for the $2.00 wrist band you were supposed to have to get beer sold to you which I did not know or seem to need until my last trip for a beer when I was refused since I had no wrist band !!!!
(got around that by going to the same beer booth but the other side where they did not notice my lack of wrist band)
(and what’s up with having to buy 8 tickets for $5 but only needing 7 for a beer – lame)
(not Alice’s fault)

BUT WAIT – NEWS FLASH – THE NIGHT WAS NOT OVER

After the Alice Cooper concert we spent some time “Milling About Smartly” and then headed down town St Paul to the Hat Trick Lounge to check out
“The Intangibles” led by singer / songwriter Bob Nordquist. If you have been reading this blog you already understand that going out on the town to support our fellow musician friends is one of our “2006 Band Goals”. The Intangibles also include Dale “eBuzz” Enquist and Brian “High Bun” Russ who are friends and former Fairmont natives. The Intangibles barely fit on stage with 7 members this night, and played to a very appreciative crowd. Lonzo was especially happy to hear some of his own personal Bob Nordquist favorites “You’ve Never Been So Alive”, “Waiting for the Dam to Break”, “Why Am I Still Alive” and “A Good Day”. PLUS some new cool stuff off the new CD especially "Would You Like to Buy Some Candy". We partied till the wee hours with the Intangibles and caught most of their show. A good time was had by all. It sure is nice going out on the town, supporting friends, checking out Alice Cooper and NOT having to drive home. Thanks to “the Cuz” for being the “sober cab”.