london, 2 march 2009

chris cornell plays shepherds bush empire

photo by Jim Dyson/Getty

Thirty songs, over two and a half hours - even those who saw Chris Cornell's wonderful show at London's Roundhouse in 2007 have to agree that this one ran it very, very close. Chris sang "Hunger Strike" with Tim McIlrath from Rise Against.

Part Of Me - Time - You Know My Name - No Such Thing - Gun - Spoonman/Good Times, Bad Times - Hunger Strike - Show Me How To Live - Exploder - Be Yourself - Billie Jean - Ground Zero - Never Far Away - Gasoline - Rusty Cage - Can't Change Me (Acoustic) - Fell On Black Days (Acoustic) - Dandelion (Acoustic) - Like A Stone (Acoustic) - Band Jam - Cochise - Watch Out - Burden In My Hand - Pretty Noose - Arms Around Your Love - Scream - Outshined - Jesus Christ Pose - Immigrant Song - Disappearing One - Like Suicide

thanks to this site for the setlist (as I forgot to write it down...!)

From The Times:

Chris Cornell at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12

The rumour that Chris Cornell was being considered as a stand-in for Robert Plant on a supposed Led Zeppelin tour turned out to be false, but it was surely flattering for the former Soundgarden and Audioslave singer to be in the frame. He underlined his credentials for the role at the Empire with a sizzling encore of Zeppelin's Immigrant Song and earlier managed to weave a verse and chorus of Good Times, Bad Times (from the first Zeppelin album) into the middle of Spoonman (from Soundgarden's fourth).

But while his high, rough-hewn voice was stunning and his skinny frame and long curly hair fitted the bill, Cornell, 44, didn't quite have the commanding presence of a first-division rock god. This was the second show in London to flag up his new album, Scream, released this month, and although the original plan was to perform this groundbreaking work in its entirety, that idea had been abandoned. The album was co-produced by the hip-hop studio star Timbaland, and has been hailed as an imaginative attempt by Cornell to move out of his hard rock comfort zone. But while the singer may be happy to ring the changes, his audience is clearly in no hurry to leave behind the legacy of his former bands.

The show began with an intriguing taste of the new Cornell as the clattering, electronic-sounding drumming of Part of Me flowed seamlessly into the four-on-the-floor dance beat of Time. But it wasn't long before a brooding version of the James Bond theme, You Know My Name, ended with a bloodcurdling shriek and we were back in more familiar territory with Audioslave's Sound of a Gun, a song guided by a riff that moved like a brontosaurus on the march.

It was not quite the revelation that had been promised. But, in a loud and lengthy performance, Cornell and his tireless four-man band certainly displayed a formidable work ethic. Among the highlights was his dead-slow, Vanilla Fudged version of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, a super springy Gasoline from the first Audioslave album, and a stripped- down version of Soundgarden's Fell On Black Days, one of several songs that Cornell played alone on an acoustic guitar. - David Sinclair

thanks to meanstreak for the photo

From The Daily Star:

Chris Cornell: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

No-one can accuse Chris Cornell of short-changing fans. Cramming 30 songs into a hefty two-and-a-half hour set - working out at just 91p a song - it was certainly a bargain of credit-crunching proportions.

The rocker fused classics from his musical past - Soundgarden and Audioslave - with present solo tunes mastered by Timbaland. Despite roping in Justin Timberlake and Ryan Tedder on the new record, Timbaland hasn't turned him into a Trousersnake clone. Part Of Me and Watch Out were standout tracks. - Natalie Edwards

by mud island mike

Last night, I wasn't expecting much from the Chris Cornell show. I had investigated the setlists of his most recent shows in Amsterdam and Berlin. 90% of it was to be his new stuff which isn't great to be honest. 3 songs in he announces... "Shepherd's Bush was the first European venue Soundgarden ever played. That was 20 years ago, so with that in mind we are going to play everything from the past 20 years, and we aren't going to stop playing til they kick us out!" They then proceeded to explode into Spoonman, that's the moment I shat myself. But I cried real tears of emotion when, after 2 and half hours of vintage Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of a Dog, and solo Cornell they finished with probably my favourite song of all time: Like Suicide, the final song on Superunknown and a song I don't think has been played since the Soundgarden days. That was something else. Thank you Chris.

See mike's blog here

Hunger Strike with Tim McIlrath: thanks to meanstreak for the photo

by shazza

I just wanted to add my thoughts on this excellent gig, particularly as I had not heard any of the new stuff. My god I was pleasantly suprised, it was funky, catchy and still in keeping with rock - I'm guessing because of the way Chris' band adapted to this new dancey kind of stuff I kept hearing about that Chris has done with Timbaland. I think Chris was superb as always, and Yogi, Peter, Corey, Jason were fantastic. Absolutely loved the gig, loved the new songs, can't wait for the album when it gets released here in the UK 23rd March - bring it on.

Hunger Strike with Tim McIlrath: thanks to meanstreak for the photo

by richie

I think for any true Chris Cornell fan, this gig was unforgettable. His set was perfect, the band played amazingly and for anyone to sing such challenging songs for that length of time without a real break has to be admired...it was the best gig this year so far.

by cradle88

Just came back and yes I am sooo bloody chuffed Chris played LOADS OF SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE, TOTD etc and mixed in a handful of the new stuff. It was an awesome, awesome night and Chris won back my heart! I saw him in LA last year when he only played the Scream album (and Black Hole Sun at the end) and I admit, it was loooong. This selection was soooo much better and when he played the new stuff the fans actually appreciated it and rocked out to it. Yes I am guilty of wanting to relive Chris' musical past although I totally respect that he wants to forge a musical future. Anyway I am buzzing.

thanks to lipglossjunkie for the photo

Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2009