[Susan Foreman]

Starting to get some reviews of the new tour, and as usual they are raving over the shows!

Metal Rules .com
"Alice Cooper Unleashes his Nightmare Castle on Unsuspecting Allentown, PA 7/17/19

Alice Cooper made a grand entrance at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this past Wednesday with his new stage show “The Nightmare Castle.” Donning his trademark eye make-up, a black leather jacket, and wielding a cane, he opened with “Feed My Frankenstein” while pacing the stage like a menacing ringmaster about to unleash a bizarre freak show on the unsuspecting crowd. By the look on Alice’s face, you knew he meant business. And so began the spectacle dubbed, “Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back” for a 19 date co-headlining tour across North America with Halestorm.

Like a fine wine, Alice only gets better with time and never disappoints. If you’ve never experienced one of his shows, be prepared and forewarned that it can get pretty gruesome. This year’s stage resembles a medieval castle littered with torture devices, skeletons, skulls, coffins, and ghouls. During “Dead Babies” while in a straitjacket, Alice attempts to cut the head off a baby doll with a clever. His plan is foiled when two henchmen dressed as evil babies put him in the guillotine and cut his head off while the band sings, “I Love the Dead!” On “Teenage Frankenstein,” a monstrously tall “FrankenAlice wreaks havoc with Alice’s and his bandmates. During “Roses on White Lace” a bloodied bride takes Alice to the top of the castle to seduce him and who couldn’t forget when an inflatable 10-foot baby breaks through the castle wall during “Schools Out.” All of this mayhem is choreographed to Alice’s biggest hits from the last 48+ years. The thrilling madness of his show had fans entertained and in awe!

The set list reads like a greatest hits CD with some deep cuts thrown in for good measure, the classics included “Under My Wheels,” “Billion Dollar Baby,” “Poison,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Dead Babies,” and of course “I’m Eighteen.” The deep cuts that excited Alice’s loyal subjects were: “Bed of Nails,” Raped & Freezin,” and “Muscle of Love.”

His 75-minute show paid homage to his musical career and many of his macabre antics from the 70s. Both longtime fans, as well as first-timers, got more than they bargained this evening. Prior to his performance, I asked Alice about his macabre show; he replied, “My show has a reputation for being different from anything you’ve ever seen. Even if you’ve seen a show before, there will be some new aspects or songs that will be different.” Bassist Chuck Garric mirrored the sentiment, “We always have something to prove, and there is always a new fan in the audience. It’s always somebody’s first concert. I think there is more pressure if you have seen us ten times because you know what to expect. I think it’s important to give it your all every show. I’m giving 110%.”

His band sounded fantastic! They are a tight-knit group that which includes guitarists Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen, and Nita Strauss. You couldn’t get three better guitarists on the same stage who genuinely complimented each. They each bring a unique quality and style of playing that gives the songs dimension and power.

Bassist Chuck Garric who has been with Alice since 2002, bashed out bass lick after lick with sheer brute force while playing soulfully and tastefully in the pocket of Glen Sobel’s drum playing. Each band member received their own time center stage while Alice poked, prodded, and taunted them with swords and canes. Fortunately, they never missed a beat!

For the finale, Lzzy Hale joined Alice and his band for “Schools Out” amidst the swirling confetti and excitement of the fans!

At 71 years old, it’s quite evident that Alice is still a force not to be reckoned with stemming from his charisma that hasn’t changed since the inception of his career. He still dresses the part, commands the stage like a rock star, and packs the vocal ability that fans expect. This show is not to be missed!"

Timesonline
"Alice Cooper + Halestorm rock Burgettstown

BURGETTSTOWN — Alice Cooper and his band took over the KeyBank Pavilion stage Friday on what can only be described as a very hot and sticky night.

As the mercury and humidity pushed upward, the sweat-drenched crowd of early comers got to witness Scranton, Pa. natives, Motionless In White. Lead vocalist Chris “Motionless” Carulli performed in an oversize knit sweater, with sweat dripping from his brow as the blaring sun shone in his eyes.

Next to the stage was a band that has been all the buzz in the past few years, Halestorm, fronted by the enigmatic Lzzy Hale, and backed by her brother and drummer, Arejay Hale. The band stormed through a set that highlighted Lzzy’s vocal chops including “Love Bites (So Do I)”, “Apocalyptic” and the monster hit “Freak Like Me.” The band rounded out a set of 11 songs as the sun dipped below the horizon with the track “I Miss the Misery.”

As day turned to night, the tension in the air grew as thick as the humidity in anticipation that rock icon Cooper soon would take the stage. With a career that has spanned over 50 years and a catalog of both radio hits and fan favorites it must have been a daunting task to create a setlist. But the 71-year-old shock-rocker did fine from a stage featuring his new “Castle Cooper”. The entire stage was decked out as a medieval castle with macabre props and subtle hints of days gone by from Cooper’s illustrious carer. The band flew into “Feed My Frankenstein,” as guitarists Nita Strauss and Ryan Roxie tore through the riffs of the classic metal song. Next up was the anthem “No More Mister Nice Guy”, followed by the late ’80′s hair metal gem, “Bed of Nails.”

The rest of the set followed suit, with “Billion Dollar Babies,” “I’m Eighteen” and “Poison” going down in order. Strauss took center stage and literally shook the foundations of the pavilion during her guitar solo on her custom-designed Ibanze guitar.

At this point the band took a bit of a turn and played a group of somewhat lesser know, but equally impressive songs such as “My Star,” “Black Widow Jam,” and “Steven.” They wrapped up the set with “Teenage Frankenstein.”

The encore began with “Under My Wheels,” and then was highlighted by the most popular and recognizable song in Cooper’s catalog “Schools Out.” Hale joined in on stage, as the song built in a part of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” where the kids and chanting “We don’t need no education”.”

Overall an impressive performance from a master of his art. Cooper was near perfection and blew me away with his spot-on performance. His band of superb musicians made it look effortless and made us all forget that is was so hot."

Eponymous Review. Com
"Alice Cooper, Halestorm, Motionless in White annihilate Tinley Park

School’s out for summer so, naturally, Alice Cooper was in Tinley Park to celebrate the seasonal freedom from pencils, books and teachers’ dirty looks, bringing his rock spectacle known as the Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back tour to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 21. Halestorm and Motionless in White completed the face-melting triple bill which had Chicago fans head-banging, cheering and hurling hand horns into the sky throughout the night.

Motionless in White kicked things off with a trio of heavy hitters in “Rats,” “Unstoppable” and “Everybody Sells Cocaine.” Fans of the five piece loved every note and soon the group captivated the attention of even the most aloof members of the crowd.

The band’s front man, Chris “Motionless” Cerulli, pointed out the audience’s growing enthusiasm, adding that it’s cool to have fun during the opening act.

“Spoiler alert. By the time the show ends, you’re going to f*cking love it,” he said, referring to the group’s set, as the band dove into “Brand New Numb” off their 2019 album, Disguise.

When Motionless in White’s set came to a bombastic close with “Voices,” Cerulli’s prophecy had come true.

Halestorm took the stage next, rocking a no-backing tracks allowed set which included “Love Bites (So Do I),” “Do Not Disturb” and a goosebumps-inducing rendition of “Familiar Taste of Poison” during which lead guitarist Joe Hottinger and front woman Lzzy Hale found ample opportunities to shred.

Hale connected with the crowd, saying that the “boss man” Alice Cooper helped her realize, back in the day, that “it’s okay to be yourself.”

“When I was 11 years old, my favorite album was Love It to Death by Alice Cooper,” she said noting that she soon knew that she was not like other girls. “There wouldn’t be a ‘Mz Hyde’ without Alice Cooper.”

Drummer Arejay Hale brought The Strange Case Of… single to an epic climax with a hard and fast solo that continued to build until it seemed he was hitting each drum at once. The only way to top it was to break out “big *ss drum sticks” in honor of his love of Chicago’s “big *ss deep dish pizza.”

If Halestorm’s set was big, Alice Cooper’s was gargantuan in its musicianship, showmanship and stage design, which featured a multi-story layout and a collection of torture devices that sprayed confetti and Cooper cash – during “Billion Dollar Babies” – and held back monsters – in “Feed my Frankenstein.”

“I’m Eighteen” found lead guitarists Ryan Roxie and Nita Strauss – the latter of whom proved her rock Goddess credentials with a sprawling yet intricate solo deeper in the set – going head to head and riff for riff as the crowd sang at the top of their lungs. Cooper got up close and personal with fans as he sang “Poison,” taking time out to muss the hair of particularly venomous members of the audience.

There is a fine line fusing the terrifying with the terrifically fun, and Alice Cooper, Halestorm and Motionless in White provided fans with the chance to reside in that crazy crossroads if only for a night."

Audioink
"Alice Cooper Tour Review: Theatrics + Musicianship Rule on Summer Trek

Alice Cooper and Halestorm brought a dramatic, bloody show to DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan

Not many musicians continue to thrill audiences and fill amphitheaters decade after decade, but Alice Cooper certainly isn’t most musicians. From his blockbusters ‘70s and ‘80s rock hits to his latest, 20th studio album, “Paranormal,” Cooper defies the years and continues to stay not only relevant but serve as a trendsetter in the rock and metal worlds.

Throughout the years, Cooper’s live show has helped propel him to the superstar status that he is today, and that was apparent during his jam-packed show Saturday (July 20) at DTE Energy Music Theatre near Detroit, Michigan. The concert was part of his 2019 summer “Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back” tour.

After a rain delay, opener Halestorm kicked off the night around 7:50 p.m. (Motionless In White, who was scheduled to go on before Halestorm, did not perform, due to the delay.) Lzzy Hale took the stage belting an acapella introduction to the band’s hit song, “I Get Off,” and when the rest of the band joined in, the stage exploded with the kind of raw energy that defines the rock ‘n’ roll genre. With a powerful female vocalist and high-energy live show, Halestorm was an apt band to set off the night.

As the sun slowly set, the darkness set the perfect mood for The Coop’s menacing production. Around 9:20 p.m., the black stage curtain came down, revealing Cooper and his roster of seasoned band members ready to rock. Cooper, donning his trademark black eyeliner and shock-rock makeup, powerfully launched into “Feed My Frankenstein,” and the crowd exploded with excitement.

One of Cooper’s most recognizable anthems, “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” followed. As he strutted from one side of the stage to the next, his band members took turns stepping up to the spotlight with their fiery soloing and instrumental aerobics. Guitarist Nita Strauss is charismatic and vibrant onstage, and she deftly swings from one end of the stage to the other, putting on a dramatic presentation with her guitar.

Musically, the set featured hits, such as “I’m Eighteen,” “Poison” and “School’s Out,” with some songs that haven’t been performed live as much, such as “Roses on White Lace” and “Muscle of Love.” The set came complete with all the theatrics fans love about an Alice Cooper show, such as a life-sized Frankenstein during “Teenage Frankenstein” and a bloody bride for “Roses on White Lace.”

From the blitz of Alice Cooper’s first moments onstage to his epic “School’s Out” finale, the Coop’s summer tour delivers a frighteningly fun, powerful, thrilling show that shows why he is everyone’s favorite shock rocker."

Rocknfolk
"Alice Cooper is probably an artist who knows no introduction. He is a true pioneer and a rock and roll survivor who is still going strong. Recently, he partnered up with Halestorm for a massive tour, which brought the two acts across the United States. Cooper and Halestorm are two acts with a rather different background.

The former has been pushing the boundaries and breaking all the rules since the 70s, while the latter is quickly growing into one of the biggest names in the modern hard rock scene. Although some people might argue that these acts are quite different in their sound, it is interesting to see two acts that bring such a diverse dynamic to their setlist. Halestorm just released a raucous new album, and the new songs translate really well in a live setting.

Cooper’s setlist, on the other hand, mostly focused on classic tracks, such as the evergreen rock anthem “School’s Out.” Those riffs really made the whole place shake, and the audience went nuts. As you would expect from such a seasoned act, Alice Cooper has an amazing stage presence, with its lavish outfits and spectacular live band, also featuring Nita Strauss, an excellent guitarist with a mind-blowing set of skills. She knows when to play within the lines and serve the songs. However, she is also a master at improvising and allowing her playing to let loose and wild.

Alice Cooper surrounded himself with talented musicians, and the quality of the show was truly astounding. From the skills of these performers, down to the passion and focus displayed with each song.

Halestorm definitely pulled their weight as well. Big riffs, huge vocal hooks ad larger-than-life song structures. All the ingredients of a great rock band are there, and they certainly know how to cater to the audience. On this tour, the band is definitely taking home an army of new fans.

Even those people who showed up for Alice Cooper alone responded well to Halestorm. This is the kind of band that really lets you enjoy the songs, even if you do not necessarily know them. Their tracks are rock and roll bangers that will make people move with crazy riffs and lots of energy.

Alice Cooper / Halestorm is a dream bill for many, and this tour is definitely one of the hottest to travel through the world this summer!"