If you have any photos of this show - contact me!!
Spoonman - Let Me Drown - Show Me How to Live - No Such Thing - Hunger Strike - What You Are - Rusty Cage - Sunshower - Call Me A Dog - I Am the Highway - Doesn't Remind Me - Cochise- Outshined - Black Hole Sun - You Know My Name - Jesus Christ Pose
by Steph
The Atlanta Big Day Out Festival was the first time I saw Chris and the band in a festival format, but it was the best. My family and I were on the way back from Nashville, where the hubby and I got to see Chris close up and personal. We were also on a family vacation to see my dad and had the kids with us, so we decided to make their first rock concert ever a Chris Cornell experience.
We had lawn seats so that the kids could handle it; they are only 6 and 4, so we needed to make sure that they would have room to move around as kids will do. We got to the show during the mid-afternoon, got our place on the lawn, and I saw that there was a Chris Cornell signing booth set up somewhere at the venue and it was starting in twenty minutes. So I grabbed my Arms Around Your Love/Thank You single CD and ran to try and find the signing tent. The line was a mile long to get in, and my heart sunk. I had a feeling that I wouldn't get in to meet him, I was too late! Sure enough, as I got closer to the entrance, security came out and said no more signing would happen. I must've looked pretty pitiful, because the security guard took me aside and told me that if I went to the side of the tent where Chris would be exiting, I might be able to catch him. Angel of a security guard. The one by the exit was nice too. He gave me a Sharpie and we waited and sure enough, Chris came out with a big smile on his face. He was really tall, I remember thinking. I yelled "Chris" and held out my CD with the sharpie. He took it and wrote his signature on it while not missing a stride. Awesome! I was trying to talk to him while he signed it, but I'm not sure I was all that coherent. I was trying to tell him that I saw him in Austin, where he performed "Thank You" and that I had just seen him in Nashville too. Anyways, he was very gracious to give me an on-the-run autograph like that. I was thrilled!
So, back at the show, Cake was playing and the sun was going down, almost time for Chris and the band to take the stage. My kids were so excited, they were already Chris Cornell fans because of me. Chris came out and the band opened with Spoonman, followed by Let Me Drown, which was great, because I had gotten to hear the band and Chris rehearsing that song over and over at the Nashville soundcheck. This was the first time that they had played it on this tour and it was kickin'. The next song was Show Me How to Live, which was a definite crowd favorite. Then they did No Such Thing, which a lot of people didn't know, but my 4-year-old daughter was loving it. She was singing it at the top of her lungs. Then they did Hunger Strike, another crowd favorite, followed by What You Are and a rousing rendition of Rusty Cage. Then they did Sunshower, which was an incredible performance by the band, especially the jam at the end by Yogi and Pete. They were in fine form.
Then Chris went acoustic with Call Me a Dog, which was surprising, since I don't think a lot of people there knew the song. But it was an amazing performance, a definite highlight, especially since he followed it with I Am the Highway. Then he did Doesn't Remind Me, with the band joining in halfway. The acoustic set majorly rocked.
Then they did Cochise, which my kids loved, but their favorite song was next, Outshined. It was so fun to see them watching that song live after having them sing it at home to the DVD player. To this day, they ask me at least once a day to play Outshined! The next song was Black Hole Sun, which was perfect, and then they did You Know My Name, which happens to be my least favorite song on the Carry On CD. Not that big a fan of the song live, either, but that is just because the song just doesn't do it for me.
The big finale in the hour set was Jesus Christ Pose, which was so much fun dancing to on the lawn because my son and I had all the room we wanted to do the JCP dance. My son got down on the ground and was shaking his body to the song with his arms and legs in the air. It was completely hysterical. People all around us were watching. I don't think any of them had ever seen a 6-year-old boy do the JCP dance before. Simply priceless.Go to a Chris Cornell show and definitely bring the whole family!
Rusty Cage - thanks matejoh
What You Are - thanks matejoh
Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007
