8th Pudding promo

Here's a pre-interview with Phoenix's CBS affiliate KPHO 5 promoing the '08 Pudding and what it's all about.

8th Pudding promo

a pretty cool Christmas present, right down to the Pudding

Since we're part of the Advent Conspiracy (and were even before discovering it) we don't do trinkety stuff for Christmas. Instead, we use the money we save to support causes that might actually help those in need (like Samaritan's Purse and World Vision), and hubby and I often take some kind of trip.

This all came together beautifully after a flight cancellation earlier this summer. We still had funds left in our Southwest account, Phoenix prices dropped considerably, and we decided to go for it, heading to the desert December 12-14 for Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding fundraiser to support Solid Rock.

We got off the plane at Sky Harbor Friday, grabbed the rental and headed straight for Cooper'stown for lunch. We once visited the Cleveland location before they closed up, but this was our first time here. Great food. Great atmosphere. We actually came back again for lunch the next day. They were nice enough to give us a Pudding poster. Here's some pix:

We had some regional fun. Friday night we visited Glendale's Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights, admiring Christmas lights on palm trees and feasting on chocolate covered cheesecake (never again). Saturday morning we spent some 2.5 hours in North Mountain Park wandering the desert, climbing up and down a mountain, getting some sun and snapping some pretty sweet scenery, just soaking in a different angle of God's creation.

Somehow there were a lot more hours in this weekend, especially Saturday, than I anticipated, which was pretty nice considering we were only in AZ mid Friday to mid Sunday, and came home to Midwest temps about 50 degrees cooler than Phoenix. And ice. Yay.

Saturday night it was off to the Pudding venue. We scored some free street parking and wandered around the Dodge Theatre trying to figure out where the VIP entrance was and studying the Solid Rock vehicles by the celebrity entrance. Some kind folks showed us to the line and we waited in the cool (not cold) breeze until they let us in just past 5:30 p.m.

Once inside we got our VIP lanyards and were shown down to the tables on the floor, jazzy Christmas tunes playing in the background. We had table 19, three rows from stage and toward center. Might have got closer, but we didn't want to sit to the side, plus there was a little back and forth communicating with the office. Either way, this seating was excellent.

It was amusing that everyone at our table was new to the event, all Pudding first-timers. We had representation from Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, plus some local color. I had a chance to meet a few folks I know only from online, one of whom just happened to be at our table.

Dinner was excellent, and catered by Cooper'stown, so that was three meals from them in one weekend. We started with a salad, followed by a plate of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce. And for dessert, pumpkin cheesecake. Good stuff.

Emcee Brad Perry of their local Channel 3 came out to work the crowd for a while, as did comedians Craig Gass and Mike "Blackjack" Wilson, before they called out the meet and greeters, which included Robby Krieger and, of course, Alice and Sheryl. Alice was immediately mobbed, as someone who'd been before warned might happen. So, since they were right by our table, we just got up and joined the fray.

I really, really hate being pushy at things like this, so even though I was standing right by I held back until the guy with them kept insisting it was time to go back stage. Clearly Alice really didn't want to. He'd rather stay out and sign everybody's stuff and say hi and tell stories. One guy had a great photo he shot at the Nebraska State Fair, so Alice launched into a tale about a squall line coming at them right outside the venue which caused him to drop his jaw. Naturally he brings up severe weather, another of my favorite topics. God truly does have a magnificent sense of humor.

After about the second time he was told to go, I finally took my shot to get a photo and the only thing I really wanted autographed—"The Last Temptation" album cover. I told him it was brilliant. He said it's one of his favorites too. That wasn't a surprise.

Funny, every single person I've spoken to who's ever met Alice (including another at a local mall just last week) said, "He's so nice." Truth is, he literally exudes a calm you can feel. All this chaos around, and he's simply the essence of laid back, looks you right in the eye and tells you how he kept on performing despite a possible tornado.

Once he moved on, I was stuck. Couldn't move for the throng, so I just stood and waited until they finally convinced him to go, and he told some folks, "I'll have to do this while walking." As I walked the other way (since everyone's asking...), I felt a brief tinge of emotion in that, while this obviously wasn't the "meaningful conversation" I'd really like some day (whenever), we did cross paths after all. Sounds silly to some, but I admire him in a way that transcends all the celebrity nonsense. Yeah, God's got him on a way different course in life, but he's my brother in Christ as well, and that's huge. (More on that later.)

Afterward, I ran out real quick to purchase a Christmas Pudding fleece scarf (in the desert) and talk to some of the Solid Rock volunteers, then ran back in before the rest of the seats were filled. It wasn't long after that the show began.

Serving One started with Alice onstage as Scrooge telling a horrible story to some children, then yelling at them to get out of his house as he knocked over a Christmas tree and sat down to sleep through Christmas. Some "Christmas fairies" (Sheryl and the girls) suddenly appeared to wreak havoc on him, and straighten up the tree. They also filled his hand with whipped cream, which he promptly plastered all over his face upon waking, yelling at them to get out of the house too. Then laughing, asked, "Where's my towel?"

They introduced the board of Solid Rock and one of the men led the prayer. I admit thinking how cool it was to be there praying with Alice. (Not too him, people. Let's get it right.)

Opening was Proof is in the Pudding winning band No Longer Together, followed by the winning soloist, Destinee Quinn, who I think has a ton of career potential.

Alice's son Dashiel's band, Runaway Phoenix, came on next for a few songs, including their new Christmas Pudding theme song, then were joined by "Survivorman" Les Stroud, who sang a tune and wailed on the harmonica in front of a couple of his own cameras. He said he'd been in the jungle vomiting something just a week before. Nice.

More comedy from "Blackjack" and then Michael Nitro's band took the stage, followed by an appearance by the 93.3 KDKB Phoenix staff. (Which we learned too late actually plays Alice's show at a reasonable time. Duly noted.)

ICON and F5 rocked the stage, followed by Marty Mitchell, who completely changed things up with some mellow guitar tunes. (Naturally, this was about the time we started getting tired. Remember, we were an hour behind.)

Then Bob Welch came on for a few, including "Sentimental Lady." With Roger Clyne he performed "Ebony Eyes," "Oh Well" and threw in "Great Balls of Fire" for good measure.

And the show was only halfway over.

At intermission, Alice and Sheryl came back out to tell us Mark Tarbell provided Christmas pudding for everyone, so we got bonus dessert in a small plastic cup. Then two autographed guitars were auctioned off for a sizable chunk of change to go to Solid Rock.

For Serving Two, Whiskey Falls hit the stage for a few. I enjoyed their version of "Seven Bridges Road."

After yet more comedy, Robby Krieger came on, and Alice and band filled the gaps for him. It was interesting to see Alice in character as Jim singing "Roadhouse Blues," joined by Les Stroud on harmonica, and "Riders on the Storm." Robby filled the room with that classic guitar sound. They were followed by a few from Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.

Then, after some humorous attempts to fill time by the emcee and entourage, Alice took the stage as, well, Alice. Sort of. It was Alice with pretty much no props, except the cane he threw out to the crowd, and he was quick to point out how long it had been since he'd performed without something dying onstage. So between songs he was more himself and less the character, quite a switch from the show we've so often seen.

They actually played "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Under My Wheels," "I'm Eighteen," "Billion Dollar Babies," "Only Women Bleed," "Be My Lover," "Lost in America," "Elected" (at which he said, "Whatever you do, don't vote for me. I can't take the pay cut.") and "Poison."

For the Grand Finale, all the guitarists, and quite a few others, came back out to take turns on "School's Out" as confetti cannons showered them all. Quite a sight to see. Fun stuff.

We also learned about a new website, bulbstorm.com/therock on which you can sign up to share your ideas about the teen center. For every sign up Solid Rock gets $1, so go and tell everyone you know!

We were invited to an after party, but I was about done at this point. I think it was 12:30 a.m. by the time we were back at the hotel (1:30 to us), and I wanted to get at least some sleep since I was determined to get up for worship in the morning.

Sunday we got up, packed up and headed out to church. (Yup, it was the Cooper's church. And, no, they weren't there. Take it easy.) But since I actually work at a church, and everything I've seen of this one looked somewhat similar too but larger than ours, I wanted to check it out. We actually stayed for both the modern and historic services. Same sermon, apparently the second in a three part Advent series and solid in the message of Jesus as Savior, but stark contrast in the worship.

I was excited during modern service to sing "My Savior My God" by Aaron Shust, which I'm just learning thanks to Pandora, and "Who is this King of Glory" by Chris Tomlin, who is rapidly becoming a favorite artist of mine. The historic service featured a full choir, bell choir and organ. That is a big place built for a big sound.

Everyone there was incredibly friendly. (Heck, everyone in Phoenix seemed super nice). We were even given a tour of the facility between services, and spoke a long time to a friendly couple, one of whom wanted to get us to move out there and sell us some real estate.

Truth be told, we did contact Solid Rock about the ministry a few months ago. My current top three ministry spots are youth, outreach and music, and this combines all three. Since hubby teaches music, we asked if they plan to hire or seek volunteers once the building goes up. At this point, we definitely don't feel God calling us away from where we are (don't anyone panic), but the past year seriously opened us up to possibilities as He leads.

So what a Christmas present. Practically seamless, other than learning our way around. During the show I just kept thinking this was probably the most worthwhile concert I've ever been too. I said I wanted to see what Solid Rock was up too in person before and after the building goes up, and I'd definitely consider doing all this again, even if December is a crazy and unpredictable time to fly. It's pretty clear the Lord was, and will be, in control of it all.

Merry Christmas!

a pretty cool Christmas present, right down to the Pudding

time for some Christmas Pudding: Update

Tickets are still on sale through Live Nation for Alice Cooper's 8th Annual Christmas Pudding December 13 at The Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. All proceeds support Solid Rock and Arizona's youth.

So far, this year’s line-up includes:
Alice (who, as of now, is doing the entire '74 Greatest Hits)
Bob Welch – Fleetwood Mac
Robby Krieger – The Doors
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers - Alt-Country/Rock
Whiskey Falls - country rock
F5 - heavy metal
Les Stroud - Canadian musician and survival expert
Runaway Phoenix - Alice's son Dash's band
Mike “Blackjack” Wilson - comic
Brad Perry - emcee (KTVK-TV)
The "Proof is in the Pudding" Band and Soloist winner (which band appears to be called No Longer Together)

This just in:
Icon - metal glam
Marty Mitchell - Southern rock and country
Michael Nitro - Valley rock and blues guitar
Craig Gass - comic

I've also heard Iron Chef winner Mark Tarbell is making Christmas pudding for everyone.

Eclectic! Looks like we're going this year as VIP's. Just have to pack (and pray for no ice or snow), and we're off to the desert. If you can, go and support this great cause and, Lord willing, we'll see you there.

Stay tuned for highlights if we make it out!

time for some Christmas Pudding: Update

the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Hey, let's get back to whole reason we started this blog in the first place, shall we?

Here's a few interviews, past and present, with Craig Ferguson. (I really like that dude, even more since this, also from 9/10.)

interview (Sept. 10, 2008)


Elected!


___________________________________________________

Part 1 (Sept. 25, 2005)


Part 2

the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

100 hole golf-athon

I recently got this evite for a special Solid Rock fundraiser in December.
Apparently, this is for all of us who really don't know what we're doing on the green...

On December 6, Alice and up to 60 event golfers will beat, chase, chip and hack at golf balls - risking total exhaustion, aching muscles and possible cardiac arrest - to help make a difference in the lives of kids that we endeavor to reach.

If you would like to sponsor Alice for $1, $2, $3.../hole, and he WILL play 100 holes, please call or e-mail Kendra or Jeff (see below).

The 100 Hole Golf Marathon is an incredibly fun event which will raise some serious funding for Solid Rock and The Rock Teen Center. When compared to a traditional golf tournament, golf marathons are much more fun and a whole lot more profitable.

If you're not a golfer, that's OK. No golf skills are actually needed for this golf marathon!

Each golfer that participates will be required to do three things.

1. Dedicate a half day of golf, 7 a.m. to noon. That includes breakfast, lunch and golf!
2. Sponsor yourself for at least $1 per hole.
3. Solicit sponsorships from business associates & friends with a minimum goal of raising $25 per hole ($2,500). Our overall goal this year is $200,000!

If you would like to sign up or have more questions, call Kendra or Jeff at 602-522-9200 or email Kendra@alicecoopersolidrock.com or jeff@alicecoopersolidrock.com. Not only are they organizing the event, they're also participating!

Alright, so there's your chance to swing for a good cause. I can't make it for this, but I'm hoping to make it for Christmas Pudding this year. I'd love to get out there before the place goes up and revisit after it's going strong.

100 hole golf-athon

Alice live from the front row

• The Pageant, University City, MO, August 7, 2008

Well this was a different experience for me. Back when I got tickets, I somehow missed the initial sale (despite every possible alert). I was going to get reserved balcony, but they were gone. So, general admission it was. Again. Having seen Alice here many times, always stuck standing in back of the room gasping my way through cigarettes, I decided to take the day off and see if I could actually work the system. That idea paid off in a big way.

I love U City's Loop. Lots of quirky shops, unique restaurants and entertainment venues. So, even though our schedule was tight, we ran up the street to catch a quick meal and free root beer float at Fitz's. Before dinner was served, I ran across the street to grab "Along Came a Spider" at Vintage Vinyl, one of our last remaining pure music shops. (Still trying to support the "little" guys.) Afterward, we booked it back, just minutes to spare, to stand in a rather long line for a bar.

That's the interesting thing about this place. We had to get in line outside in hopes of getting in another line inside. At 5 p.m., the 21 and older crowd are heralded in limited numbers into the Halo Bar, and thus gain early access to The Pageant. Given the numbers before us, I thought we might miss the cutoff, but we made it in. And there we stood an hour and a half, meeting some interesting people and being thankful we weren't in the outside line when the sky let open.

Right after getting in, I learned small cameras were allowed. Of course, mine was in the car. But I asked permission and ran out to get it with no problem. (This seems to be a habit for me. At least this time I didn't have to run clear across London's Hyde Park.)

At 6:30 p.m. we were finally corralled into the venue, rejoicing to learn it was a non-smoking show. The vast majority of early entrants headed straight for tables. I, somewhat in disbelief, walked right down front to the left facing the stage. Right down front. I guess standing for several hours no longer appeals. And there we were, right on the rail, meeting more friendly people who were very willing to save each others spots.

It was 9-something when Alice finally took the stage.

This is still the Psycho-Drama Tour, so it was very similar to the one we saw (from a distance) in Sedalia, MO last year. It was hard rocking and thoroughly entertaining as always, but it was nice to catch some of the little details we usually can't. I've seen "Only Women Bleed" performed at nearly every show, but being able to see the expressions on Calico's face I was surprised it actually got to me a little more. She does a great job.

It's also a little different when your hero (there, I said it) is standing 2 feet in front of you. Nice to really be able to see all the expressions and movements he's honed over the years, along with all the costumes and the rest of the insanity going on all over the stage.

I was surprised when they brought out the gallows. I always reckoned this stage was too small for that since we've always seen the guillotine, but I understand they just finally brought it back after the near mishap years ago. (I was mesmerized by that trick as a kid at Buckskin Joe's in Colorado, so now I watch to make sure they've really got Alice hooked up just right.) I heard a few audience members comment on how scary they thought it was.

Things were constantly flying over our heads—guitar picks, canes, balloons, "dirty diamonds," Alice bucks—but we didn't manage to score anything except a few little pieces of confetti from the balloons, as seen on my ticket above.

Good thing I grabbed that camera. I somehow managed over 100 photos while still enjoying the show. Here's a sampling:



Following "Elected," a masked Obama and Hillary ran out, fighting, then embracing, then fighting some more, until Alice told them, "Get off my stage." Pretty hilarious.


After the concert, we went out back to stand around the bus and see who showed up. Chuck Garric, Keri Kelli and Eric Singer hung out and signed stuff, especially for the kids. That's Chuck's autograph on my ticket. Alice stayed on the bus, but signed a jacket they took into him for a lady in a wheelchair, which we thought was nice. The guys were cool, but it didn't take long before they had to jump on the bus and roll.

The video is dark, but the bus is green. Bet they get some good gas mileage with this monster.



Alright, so this week I met people, from golfers to rock fans, who've met Alice, I stood right outside his bus, met some of his band and we stood 2 feet apart, but still no meaningful conversation. It's cool. I figure we'll talk sometime. It just might have to wait 'til the other side of eternity.


the Band:
guitarist Jason Hook
guitarist Keri Kelli
bassist Chuck Garric
drummer Eric Singer

the Set List:
It's Hot Tonight
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Under My Wheels
I'm Eighteen
Is it My Body
Woman of Mass Distraction
Lost in America
Feed My Frankenstein
Be My Lover
Dirty Diamonds
Muscle of Love
Desperado
Halo of Flies
Welcome to My Nightmare
Cold Ethyl
Only Women Bleed
Steven
Dead Babies
Ballad of Dwight Fry
I Love the Dead
School's Out
Billion Dollar Babies
Poison
Elected

Alice live from the front row

a little time with the golf monster

Alice Cooper, Golf Monster:
A Rock 'n' Roller's Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict

So, I finally bought and read Alice's autobio. Ok, maybe I'm slow. I've had my eye on it for a while, but we're always looking for a deal. So after I got a Borders birthday coupon—and eventually located it in the golf section, as opposed to the music section where we originally found the hardback—I grabbed the paperback about a week ago.

I actually finished today. Nice timing, since we're scheduled to go see him in concert Thursday. But this is also a major feat, since I have this bad habit of reading about a quarter of a book and then start in on something else. I have stacks of fourth and half read books. But I burned through this in just a few sittings. I couldn't put it down.

Even more ironic is the fact that I actually finished the last few chapters on a golf course. I got roped into working a sponsor hole on one of the hottest days of the year at the St. Louis Italian Open for Children's Charities at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis. We had a contest to see who could whack a marshmallow the farthest. (The record at our hole was 136 feet or so.)

One of our contestants, Sam, asked who was reading the Alice book and told me he golfed with Alice a few years ago at an amateur tourney right before the Phoenix Open, with comments like, "He's a really good player," and, "He's a nice guy." Yup, that's what I keep hearing.

So, reading this book did make me think that one day maybe I could actually get off the driving range and onto a course. Maybe. We tried a range again this week and I did about as good as usual, which isn't very. Still, I tell everyone I used to win trophies at mini golf. Not kidding. So if I could actually get it on the green, piece of cake. It's the few hundred yards between that seem to be the problem.

But Alice doesn't stop short in giving out all kinds of good advice on playing the game, on down to his own little clinic at the back. And, as with everything, it makes me a little scared to ever get bit by the Golf Monster. I'm always afraid I'll end up obsessed myself, and with me that can tend to get expensive.

If you're not into the whole golf scene (or not yet, anyway), but really dig rock 'n' roll, you won't be disappointed either. This seems like a pretty well crafted, if not occasionally repetitive, account of Alice's life, including many of the celebrities whose paths he's crossed.

But what really struck me wasn't the celebrity flashbacks or the early rocker lifestyle. That was just an account of day to day life from somebody who happened to live it. More, it was seeing the path he's been on and the fact he's still alive. I knew a lot of the stories, since he tells them all the time, and even wondered about a few that seemed to be missing, but this helped put some of the events in a time perspective.

From the peritonitis caused by a burst appendix at age 11 to the bouts with alcohol and subsequent pancreatitis and other issues, it's a wonder he has an organ left functioning. But as the story goes on, it seems clear the Lord took him through all that and kept Alice alive for a reason. And having just read that big things appear ready to start happening with Solid Rock, I wonder if we're about to see the next part of God's plan take shape.

Overall, this is a fun read, with a lot of drama and truly dangerous situations mixed in. You get a chance to see just how much of Alice's life is reflected in his work, and what's really important to him now.

It amazes me just how many people I run into, even fans at the shows, who have no idea of any of this, especially since he's been so open about it for so long. They know the image they were sold in the past, but just don't know what's going on in the present. If that's you, then you really ought to get your hands on this book and learn something about the Alice you never knew.

And see if you can run from the Golf Monster. It might at least get you out to the creepy glow-in-the-dark Putt Putt.

a little time with the golf monster

Along Came a Spider pinball

Well, the villain is definitely back. (And this is a heckuva marketing job.)

Wanna meet him? Play the game! Visit the SPV site for more on that.
And listen to the whole album while you're at it, if you're not squeamish.

Along Came a Spider pinball

along comes a spider...

Well, in case you haven't heard it (and I'm sure you have), Alice's new song "Vengeance is Mine" is available for listening on his .com and MySpace (but not forever). They also say a new website is in the works.

"Along Came A Spider" is due out July 29, and along with that came more tour dates, so keep your eyes peeled for spiders, er, I mean a show near you.

In the meantime, you should probably check out Gabrielle Geiselman Photography, who is responsible for Alice's new cover art. Dig around the site, though. There's some really cool stuff, including Alice stage pix.

Oh yeah, and if you happen to have $500 laying around (after gas money), check out the new Platinum Packages and go meet the man. If you'd like to buy me one too, definitely feel free. :p

along comes a spider...

BSCN Sports, Toledo, OH

Now the whole golf thing is over (hey, I hear they raised over 50K this year), and I pulled all the promo posts, here's a nice sports+ interview...

Part 1


Part 2

BSCN Sports, Toledo, OH

is that my mic?

Here's a fun article featuring Alice's opinion on Shure microphones (the very brand we use :).

Check out the "On Tour With Shure" Winter 2008 Magazine. After you marvel at the cover, jump straight to page 16 for the story.

is that my mic?

Alice turns 60

Happy birthday to our favorite rocker!

I would wish Alice many scary clowns today, but they really freak me out. So I won't. How 'bout this instead:

Alice turns 60

Bridgestone Tires: Unexpected Obstacles (2008)

So I kept saying, "I wonder if Alice is at this Super Bowl," given the location. Never expected this!

(Also just bought a set of pretty sweet Bridgestone Potenza G009's. I can handle the Alice endorsement. That other guy scares me...)


Check out some photos from the commercial shoot.

Bridgestone Tires: Unexpected Obstacles (2008)

vote for the wild party!

Given the upcoming "Super" Tuesday, and all the annoying garbage we have to put up with in any given media these days, why not let's do a little appropriate and bizarro old school...

Elected!

vote for the wild party!