Ruth Eckerd Hall was packed wall to wall Tuesday night as Alice Cooper brought his “Alice’s Attic” tour to Clearwater. The Halloween-week crowd got the full production: “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Billion Dollar Babies,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Only Women Bleed” and “School’s Out,” plus a guillotine sequence where Cooper’s wife Sheryl carried his head across the stage.
The set also gave local fans a feel-good story. With guitarist Nita Strauss on maternity leave, 22-year-old Anna Cara filled in, handpicked by Strauss herself, and delivered a solo leading into “Brutal Planet.” Longtime lead guitarist Ryan Roxie anchored the band all night. The encore mashed “School’s Out” with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” before closing on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Cooper has a new book out, “Devil on My Shoulder,” and upcoming tour dates are posted at alicecooper.com. For anyone who grew up on this music or just loves a great live show, Tuesday night was a reminder that Clearwater can draw the real thing. Were you in the building for this one? Tell us your favorite moment.
