Rockin' News for Week of Dec. 15 ,2008, p. 2
Alice Cooper brings home Christmas Pudding
This year's Christmas Pudding, held Saturday night at the Dodge Theatre,
featured everything from country singer Marty Mitchell doing a heartfelt
acoustic rendition of Stars by Dan Fogelberg to Megadeth's David Ellefson and
his new band, F5, pounding out the sort of heavy metal thunder you'd expect.
Whiskey Falls did a spot-on rendition of Seven Bridges Road.
Stand-up comic Craig Gass did an even more spot-on rendition of Christopher
Walken telling children's jokes. And Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch gave
Sentimental Lady a cocktail jazz makeover before Roger Clyne & The
Peacemakers joined him to rock out his other big solo hit, Ebony Eyes, and a
rollicking version of Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire.
That's pretty much par for the course at one of Cooper's yuletide bashes - an
almost surreal blend of practically everything under the sun (except hip-hop and
pan flutes).
This year's Christmas Pudding, held Saturday night at the Dodge Theatre,
featured everything from country singer Marty Mitchell doing a heartfelt
acoustic rendition of Stars by Dan Fogelberg to Megadeth's David Ellefson and
his new band, F5, pounding out the sort of heavy metal thunder you'd expect.
Whiskey Falls did a spot-on rendition of Seven Bridges Road.
Stand-up comic Craig Gass did an even more spot-on rendition of Christopher
Walken telling children's jokes. And Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch gave
Sentimental Lady a cocktail jazz makeover before Roger Clyne & The
Peacemakers joined him to rock out his other big solo hit, Ebony Eyes, and a
rollicking version of Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire.
That's pretty much par for the course at one of Cooper's yuletide bashes - an
almost surreal blend of practically everything under the sun (except hip-hop and
pan flutes).
Alice Cooper performs during his 8th annual Christmas Pudding at Dodge
Theatre Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 in Phoenix.
(Photo: Patricia Lapadula/The Arizona Republic)
Theatre Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 in Phoenix.
(Photo: Patricia Lapadula/The Arizona Republic)
The man of the hour made his first appearance at the mike sitting in for Jim Morrison on Roadhouse Blues and Riders on the Storm with
Robby Krieger of the Doors on lead guitar and reality star Les "Survivorman" Stroud on blues harp. Krieger's guitar wasn't working at first
but once the stagehands got it sorted out, he was pretty amazing, especially during a call-and-response with Survivorman. And Cooper
sounded great on vocals, if noticeably more subdued than he is on his own songs. "In 1968," he recalled, "I had moved from Phoenix to Los
Angeles and we didn't have any friends there until we met these guys the Doors."
Cooper's own set capped the night with what he said would be his biggest hits but in reality seemed more like several of his biggest hits and
other songs he figured everybody knew by now. Forgoing props, he let the music do the talking and it served him well, from the opening riff
of No More Mr. Nice Guy through Under My Wheels and a version of I'm Eighteen that had to leave a lot of people wondering how the man
can scream those high notes after all these years of screaming high notes.
Alice really hit his frontman stride on the "We go dancing nightly in the attic part of Billion Dollar Babies, then confessed "I haven't gone
this long on stage without killing something in a really long time." Only Women Bleed made the most of his underrated talent for nailing the
essence of a heartfelt ballad (You and Me, I Never Cry, etc.).
Then it was back into rock mode for the Killer classic Be My Lover, the darkly comic post-Nirvana abandon of Lost in America (on which he
was joined by the co-writer, local guitarist Danny Wexler) and Elected. Before Elected, Alice noted, "Even though we know this has already
happened and we know it's not topical, this was John Lennon's favorite."
Elected was probably Alice's most inspired moment on of the night on vocals. He really sold the line "I propose the formation of a new party
- the WILD party!!!" and ended with "I don't know why you would vote for anybody else. I'm your boy."
He wouldn't really want the job, though, so you know. As he told the crowd when that was over, "Whatever you do, don't vote for me,
please. I can't take the pay cut."
Alice saved his biggest hits for last - the unexpected comeback (Poison) and the one that kids will still be singing 50 years from now
(School's Out). Cooper's greatest hit became the all-star jam at this year's Pudding, a stage full of guys taking solos as the band cranked
out that timeless riff behind them in a shower of confetti.
Then, they ended with one final taste of Ride on Down, a Christmas Pudding theme song written by the singer's son's band, Runaway Phoenix
(whose own set worked the hard-rock side of power-pop with Dashiel Cooper recalling the raspier side of Superdrag on vocals).
While Alice's set was the feel-good highlight everyone anticipated, Welch's was the revelation (one that went beyond how impossibly skinny
the man remains).
Other highlights of the night included Stroud's own Cooper tribute (Generation Landslide), Gass' imitation of a loser trying to pick up girls by
imitating Adam Sandler and the Peacemakers rocking Banditos again as though they hadn't played it 7 billion times before with some truly
inspired raunch and roll guitar, as always, from the great Steve Larson.
(Story courtesy of by Ed Masley/The Arizona Republic)
Robby Krieger of the Doors on lead guitar and reality star Les "Survivorman" Stroud on blues harp. Krieger's guitar wasn't working at first
but once the stagehands got it sorted out, he was pretty amazing, especially during a call-and-response with Survivorman. And Cooper
sounded great on vocals, if noticeably more subdued than he is on his own songs. "In 1968," he recalled, "I had moved from Phoenix to Los
Angeles and we didn't have any friends there until we met these guys the Doors."
Cooper's own set capped the night with what he said would be his biggest hits but in reality seemed more like several of his biggest hits and
other songs he figured everybody knew by now. Forgoing props, he let the music do the talking and it served him well, from the opening riff
of No More Mr. Nice Guy through Under My Wheels and a version of I'm Eighteen that had to leave a lot of people wondering how the man
can scream those high notes after all these years of screaming high notes.
Alice really hit his frontman stride on the "We go dancing nightly in the attic part of Billion Dollar Babies, then confessed "I haven't gone
this long on stage without killing something in a really long time." Only Women Bleed made the most of his underrated talent for nailing the
essence of a heartfelt ballad (You and Me, I Never Cry, etc.).
Then it was back into rock mode for the Killer classic Be My Lover, the darkly comic post-Nirvana abandon of Lost in America (on which he
was joined by the co-writer, local guitarist Danny Wexler) and Elected. Before Elected, Alice noted, "Even though we know this has already
happened and we know it's not topical, this was John Lennon's favorite."
Elected was probably Alice's most inspired moment on of the night on vocals. He really sold the line "I propose the formation of a new party
- the WILD party!!!" and ended with "I don't know why you would vote for anybody else. I'm your boy."
He wouldn't really want the job, though, so you know. As he told the crowd when that was over, "Whatever you do, don't vote for me,
please. I can't take the pay cut."
Alice saved his biggest hits for last - the unexpected comeback (Poison) and the one that kids will still be singing 50 years from now
(School's Out). Cooper's greatest hit became the all-star jam at this year's Pudding, a stage full of guys taking solos as the band cranked
out that timeless riff behind them in a shower of confetti.
Then, they ended with one final taste of Ride on Down, a Christmas Pudding theme song written by the singer's son's band, Runaway Phoenix
(whose own set worked the hard-rock side of power-pop with Dashiel Cooper recalling the raspier side of Superdrag on vocals).
While Alice's set was the feel-good highlight everyone anticipated, Welch's was the revelation (one that went beyond how impossibly skinny
the man remains).
Other highlights of the night included Stroud's own Cooper tribute (Generation Landslide), Gass' imitation of a loser trying to pick up girls by
imitating Adam Sandler and the Peacemakers rocking Banditos again as though they hadn't played it 7 billion times before with some truly
inspired raunch and roll guitar, as always, from the great Steve Larson.
(Story courtesy of by Ed Masley/The Arizona Republic)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
MEGADETH Guitarist Is 'Excited' About New Material
MEGADETH is in the final stages of the songwriting process for the
band's new album, which is tentatively expected sometime next year via
Roadrunner Records. The CD is once again being helmed by acclaimed
British producer Andy "Undie" Sneap, who produced MEGADETH's last
album, United Abominations (May 2007, Roadrunner Records).
MEGADETH's forthcoming LP will be the group's first with guitarist Chris
Broderick, who replaced Glen Drover at the end of last year.
Broderick has issued the following update via the "Forums" section of the
band's official web site:
"I am really excited about what I am hearing at Vic's Garage [Megadeth's
MEGADETH is in the final stages of the songwriting process for the
band's new album, which is tentatively expected sometime next year via
Roadrunner Records. The CD is once again being helmed by acclaimed
British producer Andy "Undie" Sneap, who produced MEGADETH's last
album, United Abominations (May 2007, Roadrunner Records).
MEGADETH's forthcoming LP will be the group's first with guitarist Chris
Broderick, who replaced Glen Drover at the end of last year.
Broderick has issued the following update via the "Forums" section of the
band's official web site:
"I am really excited about what I am hearing at Vic's Garage [Megadeth's
recently built recording studio]. It's got aggression and some cool twists and turns. The other day I watched [MEGADETH mainman] Dave
[Mustaine] come up with some parts that have a heavy groove.
MEGADETH will embark on the "Priest Feast" European tour in February 2009 with headliners JUDAS PRIEST and openers TESTAMENT.
(Courtesy roadrunnerrecords.com)
*** *** *** In other MEGADETH news: *** *** ***
MEGADETH DRUMMER COMMENTS ON GIGANTOUR '09 RUMORS
93X has the real story about Gigantour: Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover has shot down rumors that Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet For My
Valentine are in talks to take part in next year's North American Gigantour — the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched by
Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine.
Posting in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site in a thread where fans were discussing the above-mentioned rumor, Drover
simply wrote "No" in response to the online chatter.
No official announcement has yet been made regarding the lineup of the fourth edition of Gigantour, which will once again feature Megadeth in
the headlining slot. (Courtesy www.93x.com)
[Mustaine] come up with some parts that have a heavy groove.
MEGADETH will embark on the "Priest Feast" European tour in February 2009 with headliners JUDAS PRIEST and openers TESTAMENT.
(Courtesy roadrunnerrecords.com)
*** *** *** In other MEGADETH news: *** *** ***
MEGADETH DRUMMER COMMENTS ON GIGANTOUR '09 RUMORS
93X has the real story about Gigantour: Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover has shot down rumors that Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet For My
Valentine are in talks to take part in next year's North American Gigantour — the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched by
Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine.
Posting in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site in a thread where fans were discussing the above-mentioned rumor, Drover
simply wrote "No" in response to the online chatter.
No official announcement has yet been made regarding the lineup of the fourth edition of Gigantour, which will once again feature Megadeth in
the headlining slot. (Courtesy www.93x.com)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
STATIC-X: New Album Title, Release Date Announced
Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X has set Cult of Static as
the title of its sixth studio album, due on March 17, 2009 via Reprise
Records. The CD will include a new version of the song "Lunatic" (which
originally appeared on the soundtrack release to "Punisher: War Zone")
featuring a guest guitar solo by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A
national tour in support the album will commence in early April.
Cult of Static follows the in concert DVD, Cannibal Killers Live, which
was released on October 14 via Reprise Records. The DVD was shot
during a show in Spokane, Washington on June 2, 2007, shortly after
the release of the band's latest studio album, Cannibal. The 17-song set
compiled from the tour includes material from STATIC-X's entire
14-year career, showcasing old favorites like "Push It" and "Bled For
Days", along with newer songs from Cannibal, like the album single
Destroyer and everything in between.
Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X has set Cult of Static as
the title of its sixth studio album, due on March 17, 2009 via Reprise
Records. The CD will include a new version of the song "Lunatic" (which
originally appeared on the soundtrack release to "Punisher: War Zone")
featuring a guest guitar solo by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A
national tour in support the album will commence in early April.
Cult of Static follows the in concert DVD, Cannibal Killers Live, which
was released on October 14 via Reprise Records. The DVD was shot
during a show in Spokane, Washington on June 2, 2007, shortly after
the release of the band's latest studio album, Cannibal. The 17-song set
compiled from the tour includes material from STATIC-X's entire
14-year career, showcasing old favorites like "Push It" and "Bled For
Days", along with newer songs from Cannibal, like the album single
Destroyer and everything in between.
A complete video history is also included in the special package, with every video STATIC-X has ever made, along with an audio CD of the
concert. In addition, a limited-edition package was released that includes a bonus DVD featuring the band's 1997 concert at Hollywood's
famous Whiskey A Go-Go club, which was recorded two years prior to the release of STATIC-X's platinum-selling debut Wisconsin Death
Trip.
Cannibal, which was released April 3, 2007, debuted at Number 36 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, selling more than 30,000 its first
week out. The album has gone on to sell more than 160,000 copies, solidifying the band's place as one of the metal's pre-eminent artists.
(Courtesy roadrunnerrecords.com)
concert. In addition, a limited-edition package was released that includes a bonus DVD featuring the band's 1997 concert at Hollywood's
famous Whiskey A Go-Go club, which was recorded two years prior to the release of STATIC-X's platinum-selling debut Wisconsin Death
Trip.
Cannibal, which was released April 3, 2007, debuted at Number 36 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, selling more than 30,000 its first
week out. The album has gone on to sell more than 160,000 copies, solidifying the band's place as one of the metal's pre-eminent artists.
(Courtesy roadrunnerrecords.com)