thanks to Lisa for the photo: see more here

Most people said Chris looked tired and jetlagged after arriving from Europe and doing a string of public and promo shows in quick succession, but sang his heart out all the same. The show was notable for the first public performance of Finally Forever, which Chris wrote to sing at his own wedding reception. Chris's T-shirt advertises NYC indie band "Love Kills Boy".

Let Me Drown - Outshined - Show Me How To Live - No Such Thing - You Know My Name - Be Yourself - Say Hello 2 Heaven - What You Are - Rusty Cage - Safe and Sound - Finally Forever - Fell on Black Days - Like a Stone - Doesn't Remind Me - Cochise - The Day I Tried to Live - Can't Change Me - Spoonman - Jesus Christ Pose - She'll Never Be Your Man - My Wave - Burden in My Hand - Black Hole Sun

Photo by Timothy Norris - see more at Ground Control

by Peggy V.

Tuesday, I got an email from the team leader for the California members of the Chris Cornell Street Team. It said that I was chosen for a Meet & Greet with Chris Cornell after the Wiltern Theatre show in Hollywood the next night! I was so excited! I was going to finally meet one of my idols, a singer/songwriter/musician/performer that I have been in complete awe of since 1989!

Once Chris and his band took the stage, the night was magic. They kicked off the set with a Soundgarden classic from Superunknown, "Let Me Drown." The setlist spanned Cornell's entire career, including several more Soundgarden tracks as well as a Temple of the Dog song ("Say Hello 2 Heaven"), some Audioslave songs, and a selection from his previous solo album Euphoria Morning. His band is incredibly talented, most notably his two guitarists Yogi (formerly of Buckcherry) and Peter Thorn. Highlights for me were TOTD's "Say Hello 2 Heaven," "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden, "Safe and Sound" an r&b flavored song from the new album Carry On, Audioslave's "Cochise," another Soundgarden tune "Jesus Christ Pose," which ended the main set, and "Burden in My Hand, " one of Soundgarden's most complex songs, which was done during the encore. The band handled all the material as if they had been playing it for years. I must also point out that Cornell did three songs solo with acoustic guitar, around the middle of the main set. His voice was amazing for the whole show. He was enthusiastic and energetic, often jumping up and down, and joking with the band members and the audience.

After the show, Christine and I were let in backstage. We were directed to go downstairs and to the right. We were waiting in there for what seemed to be a really long time. The other band members came through and were mingling with friends and acquaintances, all of whom were wearing the same green backstage passes that we were given. Finally, Mr. Cornell walked in with his wife and a bodyguard/security officer in tow. He went and quietly mingled with a few people. He looked exhausted, I have to say. Then, to my horror, he started to leave! What happened to my Meet & Greet? Normally, I would not have said anything. . .But I had to stop him. "Excuse me, Chris," I stammered. "I'm sorry. . . I'm one of your Meet & Greet people, and I wanted to actually meet and greet you!" He laughed softly and stuck his right hand out for me to shake, and asked me, "why weren't you in the Meet & Greet room?" I told him that I was directed into the hopitality room by security. He said, "I'm sorry." I echoed his words and said, "I'm sorry. . .Would it be possible to get a picture with you?" He smiled and said, "of course!"....One of my team members, who was actually in the correct room, said that Chris was sitting at a table, signing autographs, and when she asked him for a picture, he apologetically told her that he had not slept for two days, and that he was "too tired to stand up right now." Poor guy. He did, after all, just play the Live Earth show in Germany a few days before, and even had a show in San Francisco the night before the Wiltern show to which I was treated.

thanks to Lisa for the photo: see more here

by Adrienne J.

Simply put, the Wiltern show was amazing. Chris pulled out many classic songs from his career, along with great songs from Carry On. His voice was spot on, and filled the entire building. Peter, Yogi, and Corey gave energetic performances and seemed to have as much fun as we did. Even more, I was so happy and relieved that Chris decided to keep the meet and greet on the schedule, even though it was clearly obvious that what he needed was a full night of sleep!

Unfortunately, I was one of the two street team winners who was directed into the wrong room for the meet and greet after the show. I was extremely lucky that Chris and Vicky both came down into the room where I was. For the minute I spoke with Chris, he was very gracious and kind, and made me feel like he was giving me his full attention. He shook my hand, and I thanked him for the show and asked to take a picture. I will always remember that very moment!

Variety

Chris Cornell; Juliette and the Licks

thanks to Lisa for the photo: see more here

For someone going through the rock version of a mid-life crisis, Chris Cornell looked and sounded like a very relaxed and happy man at the Wiltern. There were even signs of maturity.

Of course, maturity is a relative notion. On his new album "Carry On" (Suretone/Interscope), former Soundgarden singer steers clear of bombast, crooning his way through a mixed bag of love songs that draw from the Beatles, classic Stax Records, and move soundtracks. It doesn't quite work, but the attempt is admirable.

In concert though, the changes are more subtle. Performing a two-hour set that leaned heavily on Soundgarden, Cornell returned to his old haunted, shredded bray. But the performer who used to believe that baring his chest was the same as baring his soul kept his shirt on the entire show.

He would pull on it every now and then (you don't get to be a rock star of Cornell's caliber without leaning how to be a tease), but his pecs remained covered the entire show.

In addition, the 40-year-old father no longer stalks the stage like a caged animal; while his tight, powerful quartet ground their way through the sludgy, Led Zeppelin riffs of Soundgarden's "Let Me Drown," "Spoonman," and "Rusty Cage," Cornell wandered around like a man doing a bed check; even more incongruous was the sight of him smiling while singing lyrics such as "Things aren't looking so good."

While he didn't quite walk though those songs, he was much more emotionally invested in tunes such as "Finally Forever" a song written for his wedding (and one he admitted was getting it's first public perf). Sung accompanied only by his own acoustic guitar, it was his most heartfelt vocal, but one that sent a good deal of the aud out to the lobby.

It also encapsulated Cornell's quandary--it's good to see him trying to find a style that suits his current station in life but until he finds a way to craft a live sound that reflects this, his perfs with come off as unsatisfying half-measures.

Cornell has figured out how to be effective while underplaying, something opener Juliette Lewis could stand to learn. Even after three albums and tours, her perf still feels like an actor's workshopped idea of a "rock singer": a manic, sweaty amalgam of Patti Smith and Mick Jagger. Every move is oversold, as if she's playing Staples Center; it feels like another variation on the bad girl she played in "Natural Born Killers" and "Husbands and Wives." Neither she or her blandly professional band are terrible -- certainly no worse than the hundreds of other bands playing in bars around Los Angeles. Oddly, for an actress, the Licks have very little character.

- Steven Mirkin, Variety

LA Weekly

Chris Cornell, Wiltern Theater

thanks to Lisa for the photo: see more here

Chris Cornell brought it. He brought Soundgarden. We love that. He brought Temple of the Dog. We love that too. He brought Audioslave. We even like a lot of that. He also brought his new solo material. The Wiltern bar staff must have appreciated that however, as each new song drove hoards of people seeking a buzz. The entire night seemed to be one long reminder of what a tremendous singer and songwriter Cornell is, while at the same time how genius each and every one of his former bands were to bring the music together with his lyrics in such unique ways that don’t sound like run of the mill rock music.

It might be something with the translation from the album to live performances, but the songs from his new album Carry On just did not work. And it wasn’t just me. I tried hard to embrace the new stuff. Everyone else tried less, and in the end the only excitement during new material was the guy in front of me chatting about how stiff his drink was. I would have rather watched the oddball opener, Juliette Lewis’ and the Licks, perform Chris’s new material than have him do it himself. That didn’t happen and the night was not lost, as Chris and band mates took it retro and brought a large helping of Soundgarden straight to our domes. His voice was astounding. Somehow in good shape this late into the tour (and his career), still able to hit those opera-like screams that fit in so well with ambiance at the Wiltern. Art Deco and Chris Cornell screams. Thank you.

Busting out Soundgarden songs not in regular concert rotation, Cornell did everything he could to make this a special night, including The Day I Tried to Live, which he announced from stage he hadn’t performed in ten years. Kicking off his set was "Let Me Drown" which was a nice start to the night, "Outshined", "Rusty Cage", "Burden in My Hand", and an acoustic version of "Fell on Black Days". It was quite the plethora of moldy oldies, but that’s what everyone was there for. "Jesus Christ Pose" sent us all off the deep end one final time, and left us with an appetite for something carnal. Something greasy. A short jaunt outside would cure any hunger pain I had.

Can I get a "Jesus Christ Pose" with a side of bacon dog? Yes. Yes you can. And at that very moment the world stopped. What were the proper condiments for a bacon dog? I had been versed in proper hot dog dressing, but never anything about his evil twin. I then decided that was far too much thinking for midnight with a bacon dog in front of my grill, so I scarfed it down in two bites, problem solved.

- Ryan Colditz, LA Weekly

Slideshow of photos by Timothy Norris from LA Weekly and Ground Control

Say Hello 2 Heaven - thanks cc777

Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007