Watch: Alice Cooper Launches 2026 Tour With Nirvana Cover
via RichG LIVE / YouTube (Screen capture enhanced)
The curtain rose in Texas with a performance that leaned more on atmosphere than conversation, as Alice Cooper launched his 2026 spring tour inside San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre. The production, titled “Alice’s Attic,” unfolded like a dark stage play, with carefully timed visuals replacing extended crowd interaction. Each segment flowed quickly into the next, creating a steady rhythm that emphasized mood over spontaneity.
Instead of relying on constant audience chatter, the show focused on structure. Lighting shifts, props, and choreographed movement guided the experience, giving the night a cinematic feel. The pacing remained tight throughout, keeping attention fixed on the unfolding scenes rather than on pauses between songs.
A Setlist Built Across Eras
Material from different points in Cooper’s career appeared side by side, creating a broad overview of his catalog. Early in the performance, selections from the early 1980s and late 1980s established the tone, while later tracks from the same period reinforced the direction. These choices highlighted a phase when his sound leaned heavily into theatrical hard rock.
Classic songs were placed strategically throughout the set, preventing the show from leaning too far into any single era. Familiar titles such as “I’m Eighteen,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” and “Billion Dollar Babies” were spaced out, giving the audience recognizable moments without disrupting the overall flow.
A Surprise Shift in Sound
Midway through the night, the performance took an unexpected turn when Cooper revisited a recent addition to his live repertoire. He delivered a version of Smells Like Teen Spirit, originally by Nirvana. The track had only been introduced days earlier during a separate event, making its inclusion here notable.
The song stood out against the rest of the set, adding a different tone to an otherwise classic-heavy lineup. Its presence suggested a willingness to blend newer influences into a performance built on decades of material, giving the audience something unexpected without shifting the overall identity of the show.
