RECAP: Alice Cooper @ SPAC, 9/27/2025

Words by Lori Anne McKone.

The September 27 triple-threat lineup at SPAC – Corrosion of Conformity, Judas Priest, and Alice Cooper – was a full-throttle celebration of metal’s enduring spirit, with each act delivering a distinct flavor of rebellion and theatricality. Lori Anne McKone captured some of the night in words and pictures.

Alice Cooper

I’d never seen Alice Cooper live before, and now I’m wondering how I went this long without stepping into his twisted carnival. From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear: this wasn’t just a concert, it was a production. Every song felt like a scene, every costume change a shift in mood, every prop – from guillotines to serpents – a character in its own right.

The music wasn’t just background; it was the spine of the show. Laid out with precision, each track built on the last, guiding us through madness, mischief, and menace. Cooper’s voice was sharp, theatrical, and perfectly matched to the chaos around him. He didn’t just sing – he narrated the descent like a ringmaster in a haunted circus.

What struck me most was how immersive it felt. You didn’t just watch – you entered his world. The lighting, the pacing, the choreography – it all worked together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts. And yet, beneath the spectacle, there was a sense of control. Cooper knew exactly when to turn up the spectacle and when to pull back and let the music speak.

For a first timer, it was exhilarating. Not just because of the theatrics, but because it reminded me that rock can be more than sound – it can be story, character, and myth. Cooper didn’t just play the hits. He embodied them.

See photos of Alice Cooper’s show here …