Alice, Why So Loud?

J and I went to see Alice Cooper in concert last night. This was one of the items on my 101 Things list, so I got to mark it off. Woo! I love marking things off that list. I need to go in and edit it, to make sure that all of the things listed are things that I can do and list off, instead of just general lifestyle change things.

Anyway, so the concert. It was at a venue that as about an hour and a half away, so we had a little ride there and back. It wasn't too long, though - just long enough to be fun, instead of tiring.

We got there early enough to scope the place out, get some good free parking right across the street, and for J to spend money at the souvenir booth. He had quite a collection of Alice Cooper shirts, and was able to add to that last night. Also, they should either hire people who can do math, or give them calculators, because this guy working the booth was very slow at the price thing. I ended up totalling things for him.

Anyway, J got his stuff while there wasn't a line, which was nice, then we went to the doors and waited to be let in.

And let me tell you about this venue. It's an old theater, built in 1926, and it's so ornate! Standing there, surrounded by people wearing black leather, Alice's black face paint and concert t-shirts, I could almost envision the much different crowd of the 1920s, coming to see a play. I tell you one thing, those people never could have guessed at what would be going on in that theater just 82 years later.

Anyway, so it was all gold leaf and art deco and gorgeous, as the picture I stole from their website sort of shows. Once we got inside, there were hanging chandeliers, a balcony (which is where we sat), and those little side booths that hang in mid-air just under balcony level (I have no idea what those are called). It was gorgeous. J said it as a lot like a theater in Syracuse, but I've never been to it, so this was a new experience for me.

There was an Alice Cooper screen hanging on the stage, hiding their set, and they started to play his newest CD over the speakers, setting the mood. That mood was slightly broken by the fire alarms going off, which was kind of disconcerting, but they didn't evacuate, and the alarms were shut off before long, so it was okay. Kind of scary at first, though. I was just picturing the news stories today, telling about this historic theater burning to the ground, and just hoping that I would be around to read it. Yes, I was very nervous. But it was fine.

About 7:40 the concert started, and let me tell you, if you've never seen Alice Cooper in concert, it is quite an experience. Of course he sings all the songs we all know (School's Out, etc.), just like any artist you see in concert, but you also get like this little show. Of course, it's Alice Cooper, so the show is all about blood and gore, but whatever. It was fun.

I was happy that I knew about half of the songs he sang, so I could sing along at least a little bit. I had fun, bouncing around in my seat.

J, however. Well, for him Alice Cooper is like Bob Seger for me - he LOVES him. So it was fun for me, to watch him there, screaming the lyrics at the top of his lungs and dancing in his seat, and playing the air bass (and guitar, and drums - whatever fit the moment). I was so happy to be able to be there with him, watching him enjoy the artist he loves most.

Now I just wish Bob Seger would tour again, so that J could see ME enjoy the artist I love most. It'll probably never happen, though. (But seriously, Bob, if you ever google yourself and find this - just one little show in central New York, and I would be there with bells on. It would make my life, so think about it, okay?)

So we watched Alice sing, and we watched him get hung on stage (a very intersting experience), and we had a lot of fun. When it was over, my ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton, and they're still ringing right now (and I imagine they will be for a couple of days - I need to invest in a set of ear plugs).

Oh, and I made some guys laugh on our way out. J mentioned that he had smelled weed in the room, and I said (a little too loudly, because of my stuffed up ears) that I had never smelled it before. These young guys walking near us cracked right up. And then last night when I went to bed, I realized that I think I DID smell it, I just didn't know what it was. I thought someone was wearing some weird smelling cologne or something. How did I get to the ripe old age of 39 without knowing what marijuana smells like? I've lived a very sheltered life, in some ways.

Anyway. I had a ton of fun. This morning I have ringing ears, I'm tired, I have one more item scratched off my 101 Things list, and most important of all, I have a great memory of a great day with J.