Thanks to aud10slave for the photo

Last time Chris played in New York was at Madison Square Garden with Audioslave, but this much more intimate show seems to have been even more well-received, at least by fans: unsurprisingly, gossip rag the New York Post preferred Avril Lavigne's "Extra Sauce" show across town.

Chris played Soundgarden's Loud Love (previously reincarnated at Audioslave's 2005 Paris show) for the first time on this solo tour.

Spoonman - Original Fire - No Such Thing - Say Hello 2 Heaven - Like A Stone - Arms Around Your Love - Outshined - Seasons - Call Me A Dog (acoustic) - Can't Change Me (acoustic) - Doesn't Remind Me (1/2 acoustic) - What You Are - Rusty Cage - Zero Chance - Billie Jean - Loud Love - Hunger Strike - You Know My Name - Black Hole Sun - Wide Awake (acoustic) - Jesus Christ Pose

thanks to ctgolden for the photo

By von moishe

"He was absolutely on fire. When he was screaming "Na-ails! Na-ails!" during Jesus Christ Pose, it didn't sound like Chris of '01. It sounded like Chris of '91. I felt like those notes were driving nails right into my brain. Whomever said that being too close made it tough to hear Chris in the mix was right. After being second row off the rail for most of the show, we moved back for the second encore, and it was worth it. Wow, wow, wow! He sounds unbelievable. The range of the early nineties combined with the soul and maturity of his early forties. And the band was awesome.

Thanks again to Bill for all of the effort he put into the meet and greet. I had a nice chat with Yogi, and then two great conversations with Chris and Vicky. What a night! Here's hoping that Thursday in Boston is just as good..."

by JoAnne

"I just arrived home from the Irving Plaza show in New York City. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen. The venue was quite small which was great. The set list escapes me right now, but he did open with Spoonman (I won a five dollar bet for that one) and he then preceded to amaze. Vocally he has never sounded better. He hit every note effortlessly. I noticed people around me kept commenting how great he sounded and kind of shaking their heads in awe (I was too). He performed one of my favorite songs - Seasons - beautifully. I actually cried. (It has a very deep and personal meaning to me).

The crowd was pretty mixed-some moshers tried to get things going, but the crowd wouldn't have it. One crowd surfer passed by my head three times. Most people (including myself) were pretty mellow. He was very engaging with the crowd, making jokes about all of us screaming "Chris", but he was getting a second hand pot buzz and he thought we were yelling "Prince"!

The second encore was Jesus Christ Pose and holy shite!!! he sounded unreal. I felt like I had been transported back to 1992 Lollapalooza-if ANYONE ever says he doesn't have the goods anymore, I swear I will personally hunt them down. He blew us away. Do you remember what Henry Rollins said on the '20 Greatest Vocalists' show on MTV?? Something about watching Chris Cornell peel the paint off of the walls---yeah, that's what it was like. " (thanks JoAnne)

by Judy

"The show at Irving Plaza was THE BEST SHOW I've ever seen him do in every way. I cannot stress that enough. He sounded awesome; strong, clear, on-pitch, confident, in-control yet inspired. His voice was so awesome that he played with it quite a lot. He knows how to control his vocal prowess to do all sorts of things. He was so lovely and humble and thankful it just blows me away. He was chatty and funny. He backed up and drew the audience's attention to the guitarists when they solo'd (BTW the band ROCKS intensely intensely intensely!!!!!!) which is so NOT egotistical. He was so at-ease it was as if he was relieved and free of the Audioslave thing, and it was liberating....he is at the top of his game!!!!! " (thanks Judy)

by Gary

"Cornell's been one of my favorite singers since I saw Soundgarden purely by accident in a small club as an opening band. It was just after Louder Than Love came out. To this day, the best relatively unknown opening band I've ever seen. I caught the New York (Irving Plaza) show Monday night & it was phenomenal. His voice was a bit shaky during the opener (Spoonman) but then he seemed to get it warmed up & it was great. Although near the end you could tell he was starting to lose it again, he didn't back off at all, he just gutted it out. Throughout the show he seemed to be really enjoying himself & the band was dead on at all times...a couple of great surprises in there for longtime fans, which based on the crowd response, I'd say nearly every single person was." (thanks Gary)

by Nina

My excitement can be compared to a little girl waiting for the clown to appear at her birthday party. Not just any clown, the one with the big red squeaky nose! When I got into the venue, I was about 5 people from the stage. It was going to be at least an hour till showtime and my feet were killing me! The crowd on the floor was already packed in but the fans around me was so nice to help pull off my high heel boots! I took off my stinky sweaty socks (I'd figure I'd tackle that one myself) and put on my flip flops I had in my back pack! I came prepared!!

Along with my flip flops, I knew I wanted to bring my license plate from my truck (SWTU4RIA). Not only was I going to hold it up during the show, I thought since having the meet and greet passes, I would have CC sign it and what a cool way to preserve a piece of CC Memorabilia!

The lights went down and I started screaming!! His band started to play as he was standing to the right side of the stage. It was undoubtedly Spoonman. My excitement when he came out center stage was immense! I had never seen Soundgarden live and to hear and experience this rebirth was totally emotional for me! He immediately noticed me with my license plate, made eye to eye contact with me which made me go nuts!! At that moment I knew this night was going to be beyond special!!

After Spoonman, his eyes directed back at me and he asked for my license plate which he flashed to the rest of the audience and said a few words that I can't remember. He gave it back and I held onto it all night as if it were a personal gift from him to me. In a way, just having his attention was a gift!

Fast Forward a little while and prior to his next song he said something like... This is dedicated to the lady with the license plate! He went into Can't Change Me which made for an even more memorable evening. Not only was I happy to hear a song from the EM era (my favorite), he dedicated it to me!! How lucky can this girl get!

He seemed so happy on stage the whole evening. Smiling, talking, sharing. It really made me look at him differently than I had had during his Audioslave years. I thought the CC I had met 7 years ago was gone forever but he was back with a vengence tonight! His voice was dead on and his band truly rocked. Everything felt so right!

After the concert, I headed upstairs for the meet and greet. I was a nervous wreck!! I got my camera out, I had my license plate and I also blew up my pic of him and I from 7 years ago for him to sign. It was my turn.... As I walk toward the semi circle booth he was seated at I bowed, saying "I'm not worthy of this moment" and he smiled out of the corner of his mouth. I sat, immediately pulled out my license plate and he said "Is this really from your car?". I said "YES, and it wasn't going back on either". He asked my name and wrote... "Thanx Nina! You Rock!", then his traditional signature. I also managed to mention that Sweetu4ria was who I am on the fan forum and how he's brought so many people together through the years. I thanked him for his music as I put my hands on his and asked if it were okay to give him a hug. He said "of course," and it was an immense moment for me! I took out the photo of him and I, he asked if it was taken "here" and I told him it was taken outside "The Vanderbilt" on Long Island. He personalized my photo, gave it back, we took a few pictures I have yet to post and I said one more thing.... I asked him If I can ask a ballsy question. He said go ahead... I asked if he could sing me a line or two from Sunshower. I told him I loved the song and he said he loved it too and mentioned that rest assured, I would hear it soon. I said "Really?" He said "Don't worry". I thanked him again, walked away and that was a beautiful ending to a unbelievable evening!" (thanks Nina)

Girl Power Upsets Rocker

By Dan Aquilante, New York Post

BECAUSE of the trite vapidity of Avril Lavigne's latest record and the critical acclaim for Chris Cornell's body of work (from both Soundgarden and Audioslave), when the pair wrestled in a steel-cage death match, it was a shocker to see diminutive Miss Punk kick the grungemaster's butt Monday night.

OK, they didn't really grapple on the same stage - or even know that they were grappling. Avril was performing at the Fuse studios (across the street from the Garden), taping the music station's inaugural "Extra Sauce" performance series, and Cornell was holding class downtown at the Fillmore.

But despite separate locations, the battle of the bands was apparent: Lavigne's show was terrific from start to close while Cornell's concert was - with the exception of a couple of choice songs - a yawn.

Cornell is the better singer and the better writer, but at the Fillmore his blues rock-laden set was slow and lacked vitality. With slumped shoulders, his mien onstage was one of defeat. Even his greatest song - "Black Hole Sun" (which he saved for the encore) - was a downer.

Lavigne, on the other hand, was pure energy whether she was doing her love-in-the-time-of-punk song, "Sk8er Boi," or her new single, "Girlfriend." In front of the intimate studio audience she was vibrant - obviously feeling the music and moving her body to the beat.

Cornell did excel a couple of times during his set. He - and, consequently, the audience - woke up for the old but powerful Soundgarden anthem "Outshined." And he was compelling on the Audioslave number "Doesn't Remind Me," which he cranked to a start solo before his backup band joined him. Too little, too late.

Lavigne was Monday's treat. Unfortunately, this was her only East Coast performance before she starts an international tour; she won't be playing the States until early '08. In the meantime, check out the sterling "Extra Sauce" gig when it re-airs tonight at 10 on Fuse.

From New York Post April 18 2007

(links may not be permanent)

Seasons (thanks illdey1618)

Billie Jean extract (thanks sweetlady76)

Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007