Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson brought their “Masters of Madness: Shock Therapy” tour to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor on Friday night, treating fans to a double feature of theatrical mayhem. Alice Cooper headlined the show, greeting the crowd at about 10:00 PM with the opening tune “Hello Hooray.” In fine Cooper fashion, he entered the stage shrouded by a curtain of pyrotechnical sparks. He and his band sounded great. Orianthi Panagaris not only packed a girl-powered punch on lead guitar, she shredded it! Cooper, now 65 years young, incorporated elements from a few tours into this show. He gave fans a little bit of everything from a live snake to a giant Frankenstein (“Feed My Frankenstein”) and, of course, the famous guillotine that lopped off his head. It’s not an Alice Cooper show if he doesn’t get killed at least once. On this tour, he’s having twice the fun coming back to life as he gets killed two times per show. Doing the duties of Nurse Rozetta are none other than Alice’s wife Sheryl Cooper. Finishing up with the oh so appropriate for mid-June song “School’s Out,” complete with confetti and giant balloons, the set covered a good balance Alice Cooper material. Alice took time out to introduce the band during “School’s Out,” which also featured guitar and drum solos and a rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in The Wall Part 2.” The encore for this show was exceptional as Marilyn Manson joined Alice Cooper for an “I’m Eighteen” duet. Manson showed his endearment for Alice by literally kissing his feet during this one.
Following a brief performance by Picture Me Broken, fronted by Layla Allman (yes, Gregg Allman’s daughter), Marilyn Manson took the stage shortly after 8:00 PM, while the sun was still out, seeming a bit odd given his gothy-glam aura of darkness. He was joined by Twiggy Ramirez on guitar, Fred Sablan on bass, Jason Sutter behind the drum kit and Spencer Rollins at the keyboard. Manson performed a strong set as spurts of dry ice completely obscured him at times. “Angel With the Scabbed Wings” was Manson’s opening number. It was a bit of a slow start for Manson but he really perked up with “The Dope Show” as the audience chimed in on the chorus. A huge American flag served as a back drop as he performed an outstanding cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” A giant chair was then brought to center stage and Manson contorted himself all over that chair as he was singing “Mobscene.” The highlight for me came next. Marilyn Manson was on stilts and sang “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” It was a version of the Eurhythmics’ classic that would make Annie Lennox proud! The punky anthemic “This is the New Sh–” had the crowd fist pumping and singing along. Wrapping up with “The Beautiful People,” Manson owned the show as he exited the stage.
The Masters of Madness Tour, with Alice Cooper Marilyn Manson on the bill, was all I expected it to be and more. These girl-named make-up wearing shock rockers are a formidable duo and Alice Cooper is the undisputed leader of the pack in this genre.
Alice Cooper Set List:
Hello Hooray
House of Fire
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Billion Dollar Babies
I’ll Bite Your Face Off
Is It My Body
Under My Wheels
Hey Stoopid
Poison
Dirty Diamonds
Welcome to My Nightmare
Go to Hell
Feed My Frankenstein
Ballad of Dwight Fry
I Love the Dead
School’s Out
Encore:
I’m Eighteen
Marilyn Manson Set List:
Angel With the Scabbed Wings
Disposable Teens
No Reflection
The Dope Show
Rock is Dead
Great Big White World
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode Cover)
mOBSCENE
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This – Eurhythmics Cover)
This is the New Shit
Antichrist Superstar
The Beautiful People
All Photos by BackstageAxxess Correspondent Michael Mietlicki.
We would like to thank Jessica Ritch from After Dark Entertainment for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
