Review: Alice Cooper - Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

There are very few artists who understand how to turn a concert into a full theatrical production quite like Alice Cooper. The “Alice’s Attic” tour stop in Spartanburg, South Carolina, proved once again why Cooper remains one of the greatest live entertainers in rock history. Even after seeing Alice multiple times over the years, this ended up being one of our favorite Cooper shows yet.

The 2026 lineup featured longtime band members Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen alongside drummer Glen Sobel, with a fresh addition in 22-year-old guitarist Anna Cara. Filling in for Nita Strauss during maternity leave is no small task, but Cara absolutely held her own. Cooper himself called her a “beautiful dynamic shredder,” and honestly, that description fits perfectly. Her playing brought technical precision while still adding her own personality and style to the songs.

Cara’s story makes the performance even cooler. The British guitarist first gained attention online during the lockdown years through guitar covers of bands like Iron Maiden, Slipknot, and Jimi Hendrix, eventually catching the attention of Tommy Henriksen himself. Watching her now on stage with Alice Cooper feels like watching someone live out a dream in real time.

The setlist balanced classics with surprises perfectly. Songs like “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Feed My Frankenstein,” and “Poison” had the crowd fully locked in from beginning to end. The production was everything fans expect from Cooper: horror-inspired theatrics, massive stage props, costume changes, and appearances from Cooper’s wife, Sheryl Cooper, during the theatrical dance segments that helped tie the show together visually.

One thing that really stood out was how the band changed up the ending sequence. “School’s Out” instantly transformed the venue into a massive party, complete with the snippet of Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 woven into the performance. The Pink Floyd addition fits surprisingly well and adds a fresh layer to a song fans already know by heart.

What made this especially memorable for me was that this was the first time I have ever seen Alice Cooper not end the show with “School’s Out.” I actually loved that they mixed things up and continued playing afterward instead of stopping where everyone expected the concert to end. I have never personally seen Cooper do an encore before, so it caught the audience completely off guard in the best possible way.

Then came the biggest surprise of the night: a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Covering such an iconic song is risky territory, but the band absolutely pulled it off. The performance felt edgy, energetic, and like a genuine tribute rather than a gimmick. Massive respect to the band for even attempting it. Judging by the crowd reaction, it was one of the highlights of the entire evening.

I took my oldest son Max to the show, and we met up with Steve Morse, Brandon Weeks, and several other friends there. All of us have seen Cooper multiple times over the years, but we kept saying afterward that this may have been one of the strongest shows we have seen from him.

Max summed it up best. He said the concert was “awesome and fun,” loved the Smells Like Teen Spirit cover, called it his favorite Cooper show, and even ranked it among the top five concerts he has ever seen.

At 78 years old, Alice Cooper still knows exactly how to entertain an audience. The “Alice’s Attic” tour is not just nostalgia. It is proof that Cooper continues to evolve while still delivering everything fans love about classic shock rock.

Final Thoughts
This was more than a concert. It was a celebration of rock history, theatrical performance, musicianship, and surprise moments that kept longtime fans on their toes. Whether it was the classic songs, the stage production, Anna Cara’s breakout performance, or the unexpected encore moments, this Spartanburg show delivered one unforgettable night.