Rock The Plaza – Concert To Save The Historic Plaza Theatre
This live effort, produced by Spike Edney, Brian Ray & Matt Sorum, was recorded Nov. 11th, 2022. The LP was produced by Brian Ray. It was a concert to help restore the historic Plaza Theatre (Palm Springs, CA) with performances by Alice Cooper & Paul Rodgers (Free, & Bad Company) with Joshua Homme (guitar/Queens of the Stone Age) & Orianthi (vocals/guitar).
There are 16 cuts to Rock The Plaza – Concert To Save The Historic Plaza Theatre (Drops Dec. 6/Omnivore Recordings/65:31). The concert begins with 4 fully inflated Alice Cooper songs. He’s in fine voice like a true professional. The sound is solid with gripping guitar lines, powerful vocal backup, & theatrical arrangements. “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” & the classic “School’s Out,” coupled with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In the Wall.” Alice gets rousing audience participation that’s emotionally thrilling. AC returns impressively at the end with The Who’s “My Generation.”
Things don’t drag after Alice. Joshua Homme lays down a definitive funky groove on David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” with his tonality close enough to Bowie to believe David was resurrected. Scary good. Jay Nailor does it as well on Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” & the band itself — Bowie-like. Marvellous showing.
While not having the charm of Frank & Nancy Sinatra, Joshua & Orianthi capture the ambience of “Somethin’ Stupid,” & turn in a respectable cover. Orianthi then recreates the musical muscle but not the magic of Nancy’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” It lacks the seductive attitude of the original. Not something easily captured by singing well. I do give her credit for the effort.
Same issue with Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” Orianthi & Brian Ray sing well but lack the swagger of Sonny & Cher. Their performance is admirable. They’re not trying to emulate – just bring forth honest nostalgia. And they did.
Paul Rodgers energetically revisits his classics “Can’t Get Enough” & “Feel Like Makin’ Love” superbly. The finale is his classic Free song “All Right Now,” reproduced marvelously. It has all the rock veracity intact, fluent & dynamic. It must have been a great concert.
Highlights – “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” “School’s Out/ Another Brick In the Wall,” “Let’s Dance,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Rebel Rebel,” “My Generation” & “All Right Now.”
Musicians – Jay Nailor (vocals), Sheryl Cooper & Vanessa Amorosi (bgv). House Band – Spike Edney (keys/vocals), Brian Ray (guitars/vocals), Matt Sorum & Eric Singer (drums/vocals), Pete Thorn (guitar/vocals), Jon Button & Bernt Bodal (bass), Teddy Andreadis (keys/vocals) with: Matt McKenna & Job Pritzker (acoustic guitars) & John Philip Shenale (orchestral keys).
Alice Cooper image courtesy of Ole Hagen/Redferns. Color image of Paul Rodgers courtesy of his website.
Includes a 16pp stitched color insert with liner notes & a brief paragraph from Alice Cooper. CD @ Amazon & https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/rock-the-plaza/ + https://www.palmspringsca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/8487/