Chris Cornell – the Avalon – Boston, MA – April 19, 2007
Posted by Jesse Coy on 04.27.2007
Chris Cornell sounds very enthusiastic, playing a number of songs he hasn't performed live in years... and they're all his tunes, folks.
Thursday was the Chris Cornell concert. Despite his management, I decided I couldn’t write a bad review (ah, the integrity), because the show was really good. Even though the word on this concert was that he’d be doing material from his various musical endeavors, from Soundgarden to Temple of the Dog, and Audioslave to solo work, I hadn’t really thought much of this fact, and that the show had great value, kind of like seeing a couple bands rolled into one.
I’d seen Soundgarden twice, but that was a long, long time ago. In ’90, they opened for Danzig, and were performing material off of Louder Than Love… same thing for when I saw them appearing on the second Lollapalooza tour in’92 (memorable for their cover of “Cop Killer”). I’d never seen Soundgarden doing material beyond their first two full-length releases.
Okay, time and place now… once again, there I was, underneath Boston Commons. Upon pulling into my parking space, I opened the mobile bar. Mixed one drink listening to the first Audioslave CD, and then mixed a double strong one for the walk to the Avalon.
This was a little closer than the Paradise Club, and I’d also get to walk down a different street… Newbury Street. That took me past all the fancy shops and restaurants in that area. And it got me to thinking how listening to people on the street and observing your surroundings is becoming a lost art with so many people on their cell phones (seemed like 60%). Perfect walking weather, too, by the way.
The Avalon is across the street from the city’s baseball stadium, which is why it’s a restaurant and pub district. Being oblivious to sports (aside from wrestling… yes, I know that’s sports ENTERTAINMENT), I was clueless. Here, too, was yet another sold out show. I guess I need to get used to very packed shows throughout the Boston and Massachusetts area (i.e., Peeping Tom and Type O Negative), or find more obscure bands (ha!).
There was quite a long line to get inside. My first impression of the venue was a bit negative, feeling I got oversearched. That’s earplugs, buddy… and that’s a pen and highlighter, okay? There was no opening act. I floated about trying to find a good vantage point. I ended up on the second level, around the one bar to the far left, and this turned out a good choice.
At the time, though, I had a fair amount of a wait, as everyone did. Time for editing The Galaxy Phobia. I had a good hour of that. And I maybe would’ve bought a drink, but I’m glad I didn’t, hastening my sobering up process (note to venues taking credit cards… $20 charge limit is very lame and loses business for you). I was liking the music they played during the wait… the Slits, the Ramones, and the Dead Boys? All good.
Finally, the show began. A small group had staked out the viewing area where I was before I’d gotten there. Happily, new arrivals solved the problem. Viewing solution? Hop up on the booth couch. So I did this, and since I was seated at the end of said booth seat, I had an uninterrupted view. Directly behind me were the two gals, clearly huge Chris Cornell fans, who went on to bellow the lyrics to songs slightly drunkenly and off key.
Why is it that that’s a mildly endearing thing, while males doing the same thing are obnoxious? Gender bias, I guess.
Anyway, knowing that Chris would do a mishmash of tunes, it got me to thinking of when a band splits… is it like a divorce? Do they claim ownership to songs they mostly wrote under a band banner? Is permission granted? You can have this song (kid) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and I’ll take him/her (the song) all other days.
I’m too lazy to check all these songs, but since I’m listening to Down on the Upside as I write this, I know for a printed fact via the album insert that Chris entirely wrote “Burden in My Hand” and “Pretty Noose,” which he performed off that album.
Okay, I lied, because I’m still checking.
“Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” (the show’s opener) off Superunknown… lyrics and music by Chris Cornell. And the solo stuff, that’s a no-brainer. Of course that’s his. There was “Seasons” off the Singles soundtrack (when else would you hear that sucker live), his Casino Royale soundtrack tune (first time I heard that one), a cover of “Redemption Song which people vaguely anticipated (not because some sweaty dude donated his Bob Marley t-shirt to the stage) (he did… I’m not kidding), an unidentifiable (to me) older solo track (“She….” something), and the three tracks off his soon to be released solo album.
As for the new tracks, first off, I very much respect that Chris toured this way, performing a slew of tracks from his other projects, and the sprinkling a few new ones in, as opposed to the other way around.
Bearing in mind it was a first listen, I liked “No Such Thing” the most, though I felt it reminiscent of a hungry Soundgarden or Stone Temple Pilots riff. I wasn’t as much into “Safe and Sound,” all good writing intentions on the subject matter aside, and “Ghost” musically is drawing a bit of a blank, besides the fact that it was part of the first encore (with “Black Hole Sun” and “Say Hello to Heaven”) and that it was its first live performance.
So as it stands, anyone who thus far has issue who Chris Cornell doing any of these tracks by himself… uh, you’re an idiot. The solo songs and the Soundgarden songs so far are 100% his own.
I think the Audioslave songs factor more into the “bitter divorce” analogy that I spoke of. Credits for Audioslave go… all lyrics by Chris, music by the band. So musically, we don’t know who did what. With the likelihood that Audioslave will never be again (never say never), I’m damn glad I saw Chris solo doing this mix.
With Audioslave, I loved their debut, was rather disappointed by their follow-up, and never got the third album. As for what disappointed me about Out of Exile, the great fire and interesting combination of the debut turned into a happy, light mellow sound on the second album.
From Audioslave, Chris played “Cochise,” “Like a Stone” (garnering a huge sing-a-long that he prompted), “Doesn’t Remind Me” (yes, off the lighter second album, but I’m glad he did it, and also would’ve liked to hear “Be Yourself”), and “Original Fire” off the last album, which sounded decent, but was news (new) to me. I did miss hearing “Show Me How to Live” and “Set It Off”… but hey, we can’t get all we want.
Besides, when are you gonna hear Temple of the Dog songs performed… and guess what? “Hunger Strike” and “Say Hello to Heaven”? Lyrics and music… Chris Cornell. Once more, anyone debating the legitimacy of him doing this solo… uh, they’re his frickin’ songs.
The last three songs I’ve yet to mention go as far back as Badmotorfinger. Writing credit? “Outshine” and “Rusty Cage” are both lyrics and music by Chris Cornell. As for his second, closing encore, “Slaves and Bulldozers,” he was the lyricist, and co-wrote the music with Ben Shepherd.
So in essence, anyone pissing and moaning about this tour, with Chris doing material from various projects he’s been in… get a grip, and you’re an idiot. The dude wrote 95% of what he’s performing. For those who don’t care a snot about that issue, probably check the show out, because it’s probable you won’t hear some of those tunes live again for a while.
During the second encore, because I’d been set to leave, only to be surprised that there was a second encore, I reclaimed my seat, and Erika introduced herself. She was curious as to what I was writing. Song notes. Nice to meet you. I shook her hand. Then, just as the last chord of the last song ended, I melted into a Boston night (you’ll find me in a parking garage under the Commons).
The 411: If a sampler of Chris Cornell's output from Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger to the last Audioslave album (all points in between), with some new solo stuff mixed in, interests you in any way (as it interested me), be sure to catch this tour. There's lots of songs you might never see live again.
