Review + Live Photos
Last night at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA, shock rock icon Alice Cooper and GRAMMY-Award winning rockers Halestorm kicked off their 2019 summer tour with special guests Motionless In White. The three acts proved to be a solid bill, with a diverse group of fans coming together to rock out with two Pennsylvania rock heavyweights and a living legend. The venue, having hosted Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson’s Twins of Evil tour exactly one week prior, held up for another heavy music show.
Metal outfit Motionless In White kicked off the show (and the tour) with “Disguise” – the title track from their latest studio release. The album dropped last month via Roadrunner Records. It cracked the Top 50 on the Billboard Top 200, peaking at No. 27.
The band were a bit outside of their comfort zone on this tour, but they knew it. And it was ok. A few songs into their set, frontman Chris Motionless thanked the crowd for listening to them, and attempting to experience something they may not be too familiar with. But, depsite knowing their different, Motionless also let fans know that at the same time they didn’t really care, as they proceeded to play “Loud (Fuck It)”
“‘Cause, fuck it,” Motionless stated.
Although they were the opening act, the band managed to steamroll through an 11-song setlist that included six tracks from their 2017 outing Graveyard Shift.
Fellow Pennsylvania natives Halestorm took the stage next, opening with “Killing Ourselves To Live” from their last studio LP Vicious (Atlantic Records, 2018). The ripped right into “Love Bites (So Do I)” which garnered the band a GRAMMY Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2013. There was no question that the band were looking to set the tone early, and they did.
Halestorm would perform three other tracks from their latest album – “Black Vultures,” “Do Not Disturb,” and the GRAMMY-Nominated “Uncomfortable.” They sprinkled in other hits such has “Freak Like Me” and the ultra-heavy hit single “I Get Off.“ The set also featured a drum solo from Arejay Hale.
They wrapped up their time on stage with “I Miss The Misery” from their sophomore outing.
While their musical performance was right on the money, Halestorm’s set also featured stellar production. Lights as brignt as the sun, and a huge LED logo hangning behind Arejay’s drum kit. The band have done well for themselves, with excellent album sales and a GRAMMY Award to boot. Its clear they have invested in their stage show, which is a huge treat for fans (and photographers) and will certainly prove to be worth it for the group in the long run.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Alice Cooper’s debut album. Now at 71, Cooper has officially launched one of the biggest rock tours of the summer and is currently working on material for a brand new studio album. Despite being in his 70s, he’s clearly showing no signs of slowing down.
On this run, Cooper is serving up both his biggest hits and some deep cuts for his loyal fans. He kicked off the night with his heavy anthem “Feed My Frankenstein.“ From there, he proceeded to play a massive 21-song set.
Not wanting to waste any time, Cooper rolled right into his classic “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” From that same album, 1973’s Billion Dollar Babies, Alice also extracted “I Love The Dead,” “Raped and Freezin’,” and the record’s title track.
Other highlights included “Muscle of Love,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Poison,” “Dead Babies,” “Teenage Frankenstein,” and others. While Alice himself is still the main attraction, over the last few years he has surrounded himself with a band comprised of stellar musicians that help make the songs larger than live when performed live. Guitarist Nita Strauss added a guitar solo to the set, showcasing her shred skills.
The show’s encore saw Cooper perform “Under My Wheels” and “School’s Out,“ the latter with Halestorm vocalist Lzzy Hale.
It is clear that Cooper and his music have stood the test of time. While his live shows may not be quite as shocking as they were back in the day, that doesn’t make them any less epic. His place in rock history is surely cemented, and apparently his story isn’t quite over just yet.
LIVE PHOTO GALLERY:
