ALICE COOPER - ORLANDO - 2011

ALICE COOPER IN CONCERT!
"No More MR. Nice Guy" Tour
Hard Rock Live Orlando - December 14th, 2011

Artwork by Java John
Photos by Dylan & Java John Goldacker
My fifth time seeing the "Godfather of Shock-Rock" in concert in 36 years, was no less exciting than the very first ("Welcome to my Nightmare") or any of the others, as a matter of fact, it quite possibly could have been the best of them all!
Something that made the night very special was the fact that I had my son, Dylan with me. At 14 he's only slightly younger than I was the first time I saw Alice (at the Hollywood [FL] Sportatorium, April 18th 1975, with Suzi Quatro opening) . For most of the show Dylan was on his feet singing, rocking, and taking pictures...makes a father proud!
One of the many highlights of the evening was the opening act, a rocking London based five piece band called LIVAN. Great songs, a lot of power, and the lead vocalist, the band's namesake, has an exciting stage presence reminiscent of Freddy Mercury, or even Alice himself. I'm looking forward to an interview with LIVAN after the first of the year.
Alice's band is tighter than ever, especially with the addition of the beautiful, and amazing ORIANTHI on lead guitar! Wow what a talent. Ori is best known for her hit single "According To You", and her work with Michael Jackson for the "This Is It" tour that was never to be (see the DVD for "This Is It").
Orianthi was performing right in front of my son and I (we happened to be in the front row!), and we even gave her an Alice 'troll' doll that I made and he kicked around on stage a short time earlier. She spent the first part of the evening with a scowl and fake blood on her face (no doubt trying to live up to the "Nightmare" mystique!). Eventually she loosened up, slyly sharing her gorgeous smile...and plenty of guitar picks!
The show opened up with VINCENT PRICE'S voice...speaking an intro to "The Black Widow". Followed up by "Brutal Planet", "I'm Eighteen", and "Under My Wheels". Next came everybody's favorite "Billion Dollar Babies", during which Alice flings "Cooper Cash" off his sword into the audience...Dylan and I both managed to get our hands on a few!
Halfway through the show Alice played "I'll Bite Your Face Off", the only track he was to play off his new album "Welcome 2 My nightmare". I really like the CD, though it does not remind me enough of the fist "Nightmare" album. But, I did think a better choice would have been for him to play "What Baby Wants" off the new disc. An awesome song with which he shares vocal duties with Ke$ha on...maybe Orianthi could have sang it on stage. Several songs that surprised me in the set list was the ancient "Halo of Flies", his 'new wave' hit "Clones (we're all)", and "Feed My Frankenstein"...which featured a very kool giant 'frankensteined' version of Alice(?)!
After a Full Set that also included "Cold Ethyl", "Muscle of Love", and "Poison", Alice came back with the double-punch encores of "School's Out", (and another fave of mine) "Elected". The former added the chorus from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2", and the latter with Alice (the all-American boy) clad in red white and blue, waving a huge flag. I'd vote for him. Again!The Setlist:
(Vincent Price Intro) Black Widow
Brutal Planet
I'm Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Billion Dollar Babies
No More Mr Nice Guy
Hey Stoopid
Is It My Body
Halo Of Flies
I'll Bite Your Face Off
Muscle Of Love
Only Women Bleed
Cold Ethyl
Feed My Frankenstein
Clones (We're All)
Poison
Wicked Young Man / Killer - I Love The Dead (excerpt)
School's Out (incorporating 'Another Brick In The Wall pt 2')
Elected

CHECK OUT MY BLOGPOST FROM MY LAST COOPER SHOW IN '09

....."REMEMBER THE COOP"!

visit our friends online-
ALICE COOPER: alicecooper.com/
ORIANTHI: www.orianthi.com/
LIVAN: livan.co.uk/

JAMES and BEN TAYLOR In Concert!!

JAMES TAYLOR IN CONCERT!
With Special Guest Ben Taylor
Jacksonville -March 22nd, 2011

Last Tuesday night I had the distinct pleasure of
photographing James Taylor and his son Ben in concert
at The Moran Theater in Jacksonville.

James and Ben sound wonderful together, as you might expect.
It makes me think that it would be awesome to see more
of the Taylor clan tour together in the future!

The show was sold out, and being approved as a press
photographer, I was only permitted to shoot and be in the
building for the first 3 songs! But, it was worth it,
and I am truly grateful to to James, Ben and the
Moran for all of their assistance!

This one's for Jen....

Before the show, I ran into Ben Taylor outside
his bus...he said he was very excited to be on
tour with his dad, and promised to do an
interview with me soon, so watch for that!

In January, I shot James' younger brother Livingston
at his performance here in Florida. Larry Hoppen
of ORLEANS joined me, and I caught this great pic
of he and Liv singing "Still The One" backstage
before showtime. What a great bunch of guys!

Jennifer and I with JT backstage at The King Center,
January 1996.

And with Livingston the following year.

My portraits of James and Liv, signed by both.

JAMES TAYLOR

BEN TAYLOR

LIVINGSTON TAYLOR

HIPPIEFEST 2010 - Ruth Eckerd Hall

HIPPIEFEST
August 28th, 2010
Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, Florida

What a kool event! It was my fist visit to the beautiful Ruth Eckerd Hall, and let me tell ya, those folks sure know how to treat a bunch'a hippies!

There was an old car, Volkswagon, and VW bus show outside. 'Hip' vendors inside, life-size classic photos of John & Yoko, Joni, Janis and others, and a very kool chalk album cover illustrating contest.


But the music was the real treat.

Legendary CREAM lead vocalist and bassist JACK BRUCE was my personal favorite. Jack's voice was in fine form, and there is no doubt in my mind now tthat he may be the world's greatest bass player. Jack kept with the fest's mode playing all CREAM tunes: Sunshine of Your Love; N.S.U.; I Feel Free; We're Going Wrong; I'm So Glad; Politician; and White Room. All of the songs kicked ass! With Politician probably being my favorite of the night...heady stuff man.

The other players on the bill: WAR; RARE EARTH; and MITCH RYDER I'd seen before, and all put on fine performances, with a few cracks about their age thrown in for kicks. Mitch said we came to the point in the show where he would have normally cut loose with his famous dance moves, but being that he was on his second hip replacement he'd forgo the boogieing down. Although he did sound great - "Jenny take a ride", "Devil with a blue dress", and my fave "Sock it to me" all sounding awesome!

I'd never seen Joey Molland's BADFINGER thinking he was not in the original band, but apparently he joined in '69 and was in the band for all the hits. It was great to hear Baby Blue; Come and Get it; Day After Day; and No Matter What.

HIPPIEFEST

RUTH ECKERD HALL

JACK BRUCE

WAR

MITCH RYDER

RARE EARTH

JOEY MOLLAND