A Night of Shock and Rock: Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie Live in Concert
If you’re a fan of theatrical rock, heavy metal, and a spine-tingling live experience, Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach was the place to be on August 30, 2023, when two legends of shock rock took the stage: Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie. With four bands on the bill things got off to an early start with no help from mother nature as heavy rains rolled thru just as doors were to open.
Filter, known for their industrial sound and alternative rock hits, started the night with a bang. The stage was set in a minimalistic yet intense fashion, bathed in blue and red lights. Richard Patrick, the frontman, emerged with a charismatic presence, and the band launched into their set with “The Drowning.” Filter’s performance was characterized by raw energy and a powerful sound. Patrick’s vocals cut through the thick layers of guitars and electronic elements, creating an intense atmosphere that resonated with the audience. Filter concluded their set with “Hey Man Nice Shot,” leaving the crowd eager for what was to come.
Filter Setlist:
The Drowning
For the Beaten
Obliteration
Take a Picture
Welcome to the Fold
Hey Man Nice Shot
Ministry, the industrial metal pioneers led by Al Jourgensen, continued the onslaught with their relentless and politically charged music. The stage transformed into a dystopian nightmare, with flashing lights and harsh industrial aesthetics. Jourgensen, a figurehead of the industrial genre, captivated the audience with his presence and powerful voice. Ministry’s setlist was a sonic assault that included songs like “N.W.O.,” “Just One Fix,” and “Thieves.” The crowd moshed and headbanged with abandon, fully immersed in the band’s abrasive sound. Ministry ended their set with “Goddamn White Trash,” leaving the audience with a sense of catharsis and a taste of industrial metal at its most unapologetic.
Ministry Setlist:
Thieves
The Missing
Deity
Stigmata
Supernaut (Black Sabbath cover)
Burning Inside
N.W.O.
Just One Fix
Goddamn White Trash
Co-headliner Alice Cooper took the stage next with his trademark blend of rock ‘n’ roll and horror. Cooper just released his twenty-second solo album, Road on August 25th. The album hit the number seven spot on Billboard’s US Top Hard Rock Albums, and has received a lot of praise from the critics. The set kicked off with Alice cutting thru a large newspaper banner that read ‘Banned In Virginia’ to take the stage for “Lock Me Up.” From there the band took the audience for a trip down memory lane with “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” and “Billion Dollar Babies.” Guitarist Nita Strauss has rejoined the band after touring with Demi Lovato and proved to the audience she hasn’t missed a beat with a blistering guitar sold at the end of “Poison.” At seventy-five years young Alice Cooper proved to the ten thousand plus that he’s still as great as ever! He closed his set with “School’s Out,” complete with a shower of confetti and giant balloons, leaving the audience on an adrenaline high.
Alice Cooper Setlist:
Lock Me Up
No More Mr. Nice Guy
I’m Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Billion Dollar Babies
Hey Stoopid
Lost in America
Snakebite
Feed My Frankenstein
Poison
Guitar Solo (Nita Strauss)
Black Widow Jam
Ballad of Dwight Fry
Killer
I Love the Dead
Elected
School’s Out
Following a short intermission, Rob Zombie and his band took the stage, and from the first note of “The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition),” it was clear that we were in for a wild ride. Zombie’s set was a relentless onslaught of heavy, industrial-tinged rock and his trademark horror-inspired visuals. Zombie’s blend of horror-inspired shock rock was the perfect crescendo to an already intense evening. Hits like “Living Dead Girl,” “Dragula,” and “Superbeast” unleashed a frenzy of energy in the audience. Rob Zombie’s stage show was a psychedelic nightmare, featuring visuals, dancing monsters, pyrotechnics, and a giant robot that seemed to have stepped straight out of a B-movie nightmare. His charismatic and eccentric stage presence had the crowd in a trance. Zombie closed the night with “Dragula,” leaving a lasting impression with his powerful stage presence and relentless energy.
In summary, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie’s concert at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater was a night of pure rock and horror indulgence. Both legends delivered electrifying performances that showcased their enduring talents and their mastery of shock rock theatrics. The audience left the amphitheater thoroughly entertained, their ears ringing and their adrenaline pumping. Both artists proved that age is just a number, as they commanded the stage with the same intensity and charisma that made them legends in the first place. The combination of classic hits, theatrical production, and a dash of horror created a night that will be remembered by fans for years to come. This concert was a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll, horror, and the enduring power of two iconic performers.
Rob Zombie Setlist:
The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)
Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown
Feel So Numb
Well, Everybody’s Fucking in a U.F.O.
What Lurks on Channel X?
Superbeast
Demonoid Phenomenon
The Lords of Salem
House of 1000 Corpses
Drum Solo
Living Dead Girl
More Human Than Human (White Zombie song)
Thunder Kiss ’65 (White Zombie song)
“House of 1000 Corpses” re-release trailer
Dragula
2023 FREAKS ON PARADE TOUR DATES:
Thu Aug 24 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sat Aug 26 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 29 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Wed Aug 30 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Fri Sep 01 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 02 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Tue Sep 05 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Wed Sep 06 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Fri Sep 08 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Sat Sep 09 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Sep 10 – Hartford, CT – The XFINITY Theatre
Tue Sep 12 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Sat Sep 16 – Englewood, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Tue Sep 19 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Wed Sep 20 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 22 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Sat Sep 23 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Sun Sep 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Follow Alice Cooper:
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Follow Rob Zombie:
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