Thanks to Lisa for the photo. "Jeff Buckley's mom gave an old time red phone to him that had been Jeff's. CC said he always has it with him in hopes that someday he will pick it up..."

Dark Globe - Two Drink Minimum - Can't Change Me - Sweet Euphoria - I Am The Highway - Doesn't Remind Me - Wide Awake - Billie Jean -
Say Hello To Heaven - Fell on Black Days - Burden In My Hand - Safe & Sound -Imagine - (You've Got To) Hide Your Love Away - A Day In The Life

by shantasa

The moment I stepped into the hotel cafe, I knew that I was in for a very special experience. The Hotel Cafe is a very intimate and relaxed venue. 150 or so capacity. We were the very first people in the door so of course we went to the space in front of the stage.

All that was on the front of the stage was a mic, a stool, a guitar, and red telephone. Then Chris came out, sat down on the stool and played and sang for the next hour and 1/2. I don't remember the exact setlist, but I clearly remember the highlights for me. At one point he talked about hearing somewhere that an artist should never apologize for his work, but he apologized in advance anyway because was going to play a song that he never sang and played guitar on at the same time. The apology was needless because his acoustic Burden In My Hand was spectacular! Hearing it so minimalized, just guitar and words, yet still so powerfull and passionate, gave me the chills.

He explained that the red telephone was given to him by Jeff Buckley's mother after Jeff passed away. Jeff would pick up the phone and talk to God. Chris said that he will periodically pick it up and try to talk to Jeff. He tried that during the set but got the guy from the Brady Bunch instead. He had the entire crowd rolling with laughter over his monologue with the red telephone. Then he said that's why you have to be careful with this sort of thing because you never know who you're going to get on the other end of the line! There was a lot of humor, but there was also irony and pain in there too. He literally had me thinking to myself that maybe it really is just that simple, you know?

He also talked about how playing a small venue like this was the hardest thing to do. Much harder than a large show. For me it honestly felt like I was sitting in his living room or something! He was less than five feet from me, so relaxed, with his family and friends all around. After awhile, I just sat down too. The only time I have EVER sat down at a Cornell show! It felt okay.

The celebs were ushered in a little after the show had started. These guys in black leather coats squeezing past. One of them squished my toe a little on accident. One of the guys didn't want to be rude so he stopped short and just sort of knelt down in front of me. After a minute I was going to tell him to just go ahead and walk on through, but he went over and sat on floor. Then I realized who he was, Josh Brolin! He spent the rest of the night just sitting on floor near me just rocking out and smiling. At one point we looked at each other and we both had the same crazed grins on our faces! And of course, the other two guys, Javier Bardem and Sean Penn, (the one who squished my toe) were sitting at a table just drinking and having a good time. It was really cool to see such A list people there giving Chris the recognition he deserves, and in such a laid back and unpretentious manner. There was obvious respect coming from those guys who are top of the line talents themselves. Yay Chris!

But the real highlight was the Day In A Life rendition. He sang it so flawlessly and with so much intense energy! He was strumming his guitar so hard! It really was a perfect rendition and it was just him and his guitar...unbelievable. Most definitely the highlight of the evening for me. As soon as he hit that last chord he vanished into thin air. This was so practiced and flawless. It was so intense. It almost seemed like we didn't even know what we were experiencing until it was over. Does that make sense? There may as well have been a full orchestra in the room for the amount of intensity he was putting out there. Then poof, gone.

by sisters in black frocks

My favorite band growing up was Soundgarden. So tonite we went to a very small venue and saw Chris Cornell do a solo acoustic set. It was a great show, in a little room, with just a few very loyal fans. My kind of night.

thanks to sisters in black frocks for the photo

by stacy

An acoustic performance for about 150 people, sitting 10' away, directly in front of Chris. Say Hello to Heaven . . . Like me, you would have about died last night.

Chris was chatting back and forth with the audience. Everyone was singing. He told some very sweet and poignant stories. His wife, Vicky, was completely warm and friendly. He ended by singing John Lennon's Imagine, then he rocked the full version of A Day in the Life by the Beatles - so complicated to do acoustically on guitar!

Giants pitcher Bary Zito, who I was sitting next to, was so sweet and just as blown away. We kept looking at each other like we couldn't believe we were there. Apparently he plays guitar too and his parents are both classically trained musicians. Awesome night! I wish I could go back and visit it again!!!!

thanks to Yogi Lonich for the photo

by jeremy

Last night was fantastic. Burden in my Hand! Day in the Life! (with exceptional guitar skills). What a show! Hopefully a recording will surface.

Photo by Lisa

by julia

AMAZING last night - Call Me A Dog took my breath away. I got tix no problem and not in any way affiliated with the industry. I set an alarm for just before 11am, when they went on sale. It was the treat of a lifetime.

There are also some downloadable mp3 and video links at Jeffgarden's site!

from the soundcheck