thanks to Michelle for the photo
In Boston for the second time on this tour, this time everything didn't go to plan. A curfew cut the band off before their second encore and there were odd gaps in the best seated areas at this upmarket venue, suggesting corporate no-shows. A shame, because both committed fans and the somewhat jaded journo who reviewed the show for the Boston Herald agreed that Chris's voice was spot-on.
Let Me Drown - Outshined - Show Me How to Live - No Such Thing - You Know My Name - What You Are - Rusty Cage - Wave Goodbye - Say Hello to Heaven - Until We Fall - Out of Exile - Can't Change Me - Billie Jean - Fell on Black Days - Like A Stone - Doesn't Remind Me - Cochise - Spoonman - Be Yourself - Jesus Christ Pose My Wave - Seasons - Sunshower- Slaves and Bulldozers.
By Scott
The venue was only 2/3 full with many empty seats in the good sections (corporate "no shows" perhaps') Chris's confidence in his singing/voice exceeded even his with his previous Boston appearance. "Say Hello to Heaven" and "Bilie Jean" were the show stoppers of the night. Cornell's command of the vocal deliveries on both were jaw-dropping. (I hope someone recorded this show!) "Say Hello to Heaven" especially performed with sheer perfection... rivaling the studio version.
Chris introduced "What You Are" & "Rusty Cage" noting "You deserve to be happy no matter who you are - here's two songs about that very thing". Chris commented that "Out of Exile" referred to him being in a a major depression, isolated, and having the birth of his child pull him out of that.
This setlist leaned more into the quieter / acoustic numbers, perhaps more than past shows' (Can't Change Me, Billie Jean, Fell on Black Days acoustic, Like A Stone, Seasons, Sunshower, Doesn't Remind Me). But his band still hits hard on the classic SG numbers (My Wave / Jesus Christ Pose / Slaves)..
It's amazing that at this point in this long tour, Chris seems to be physically able to turn "on and off" both his "falsetto voice" and his "fiendish wail" (aka "Slaves and Bulldozers") on command...without any repercussions to his voice. Here's hoping we get some live audio or DVD released at years end to capture this chapter in his amazing comeback..!
Photo by silverbitta - see more here
by Silverbitta
The show was amazing. I saw them in Boston in April and that was incredible as well, but overall I thought that they were a lot more energetic this time, maybe because they've been playing together longer now. I was surprised not to hear more from Carry On, and I would have liked to, but can't complain about this setlist one bit. It was great. Chris looked like he was having so much fun and that just makes a concert that much better.
Silverbitta and friend at the meet and greet
by mahoney2
Had front row in section 1 which was amazing. The place was only like 3/4 full at 9pm though when he went on, including a ton of empty seats in the front sections. Unfortunately they cut the band off at 11pm. The roadies looked pretty confused when the lights on. I'm blanking on the encore right now for some reason. But for me the acoustic Billie Jean was the highlight of the show, it was fantastic, I liked it a lot better than the Live in Sweden version. This seemed like an Audioslave show for the middle portion of it. I'm surprised only 2 songs off the new album, but it was fantastic to get 2 off of Euphoria Morning.
Photo by Scarlet - see more here
by burningflame
What made that show for me was the acoustic set Chris performed. I believe it was 6 songs, right!? And you must understand that my absolute favourite thing is Chris Cornell and just an acoustic guitar, so that is why I loved it so much. Hearing the whole crowd sing the chorus to "Like a Stone" on just acoustic guitar was intense. And "Billie Jean"...oh, how I loved it. Like my sister and I were saying as we were walking out of Massey Hall, "Cornell, ALWAYS a pleasure!" :)
Photo by silverbitta - see more here
by showmehowtolive23
Let me Drown was GREAT!!! Ilove that song!! His band is so good!! I loved how Chris was so interactive with them.. they all really looked like they were having a great time joking around and playing great music.. I think that's one of the reasons Iwas smiling so much because he was having such a great time doing the concert and smiling himself.. it was great when the band came out after his acoustic set and the drummer had his tie around his head and Chris looked at him and just started laughing in the middle of the song!! I wish it never ended!!
Photo by Scarlet - see more here
Michelle with Chris at the meet and greet
Boston Herald
Chris Cornell 'Outshined' by his prior bands, Juliette Lewis
Practice makes perfect.
Well, maybe not quite, but in Chris Cornell's case it's made for great improvement: Since premiering his solo act in Boston three months ago at Avalon, Cornell and his hired help have shaped up considerably.
Last night's Bank of America Pavilion show rivaled the spring gig on the strength of the band's chemistry. It'll never compensate for his missing mates from Soundgarden or Audioslave, but it might be enough to quiet his worst critics.
Cornell opened predictably, with a pair of crowd-pleasing Soundgarden tunes, ' Let Me Drown 'and 'Outshined,' that gave his impressive larynx-scraping screech a workout.
It soon became apparent that Cornell's not much interested in pushing his softer new disc, 'Carry On,' since he played only two of its originals. The punchy 'No Such Thing' blended seamlessly with older material, while 'You Know My Name' proved an excellent vehicle for the more soulful nuances of his voice. Even more soulful yet was 'Say Hello to Heaven' from the early '90s Temple of the Dog side project, enriched here by harmonies from guitarists Yogi Lonich and Peter Thorn.
Clad in a simple jeans-and-T-shirt combo, Cornell looked healthy and thanked his Boston devotees. He seems relieved to find an audience waiting when the curtain goes up each night.
'Rusty Cage' was perhaps the best example of the band's capabilities. Lonich and Thorn shredded while drummer Jason Sutter and bass man Corey McCormick churned out rhythmic thunder, culminating in a gnashing fury of sound.
Cornell showcased his versatility again during an all-acoustic set that magnified the emotional intensity of Soundgarden's 'Fell on Black Days' and Audioslave's 'Like a Stone.' Likewise, slowed and dressed down to its bare bones, Cornell's haunting treatment of Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' took the tune into a new, darker space than the original pop classic.
But no matter how improved Cornell's set may have been, 'Outshined' is the only way to describe how it compared with that of openers Juliette Lewis and her four-piece backup band, the Licks.
Supporting 'Four on the Floor,' in stores yesterday,Lewis was every bit the unruly vixen you'd imagine from her role in 'Natural Born Killers.'
'We will be your appetizer this evening,' she said, and proceeded to serve up a four-course rock 'n' roll meal that would've tasted as fresh and delicious at CBGB 30 years ago. Dressed in skin-tight sparkling tights and knee pads, Lewis projected her own brand of sexy irreverence combined with Jagger-like stage swagger and the volatile air of a young Patti Smith.
- Christopher John Treacy, Boston Herald
BostonNow
Chris Cornell still rocks!
Tuesday night’s Chris Cornell show was awesome. Cornell has recently passed the 40 year old mark, but it doesn’t show. His voice is still amazing, his music still rocks, and he still has an obvious love for the music, his fans and his bandmates.
The set was weighted toward his Audioslave years, but with enough Soundgarden to please those of us who wore a lot of flannel in high school, as well as newer solo stuff to keep it fresh. In the middle, Chris sat down by himself with an acoustic guitar for some obvious choices (”Like a Stone”) and a weird, wonderful treat - a mournful, bluesy version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
Throughout the show, I couldn’t help comparing the performance and the new album to Cornell’s contemporaries - Axl Rose, Scott Weiland/Velvet Revolver, and Army of Anyone. Cornell is the only one who seems to be progressing and growing musically and to not have lost his mind.
Outshined (extract) - thanks Silverbitta
Can't Change Me (extract) - thanks Silverbitta
Jesus Christ Pose (extract) - thanks Silverbitta
Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007
