Photo by HarleyFenix - see more here

Sound problems bedevilled this show - for some reason, the volume was unusually low. Equipment malfunction or local limits? However...according to one crowd member Chris warned the female members of the audience to "watch out" for his band. "Unlike all the other bands I've played with," he said, "these guys aren't scared of women."

Spoonman - Outshined - Original Fire - No Such Thing - Be Yourself - Hunger Strike - Mission - What you are - Rusty Cage - Seasons - Scar on the Sky - I Am The Highway - Can't Change Me - Doesn't Remind Me - Your Soul Today - Billie Jean - Cochise - Like a Stone - Sunshower - Black Hole Sun -Arms Around Your Love - Slaves and Bulldozers

by Lisa

"Overall, the concert was amazing. This is the third time that I have seen him perform alone. I have seen Audioslave 3 times and Soundgarden 3 times and this is by the far the best I have seen him perform. He is so happy and just seemed to be having a lot of fun, which is something that I didn't see in the previous shows. I just feel lucky to have had the chance to see him at this stage of his career. He was funny as always, cracking jokes throughout the show and having everyone yell as loud as they could. It just reminded me of the Chris Cornell from long ago. Just a great experience....."

By christhekiller

"Quote of the night (while introducing the rest of the band): "Watch out! Unlike (all?) the other bands I've played with, these guys aren't scared of women."

Random stuff: Very strong show! Just over 2 hours. The venue sounded great but I couldn't hear Yogi's solos from the right side of the stage. Crowd had awesome energy. Phoenix crowds are often subdued but this was definitely not the case tonight. Chris was dead-on the entire night. Being able to crush the high notes on S&B after two hours is proof enough he's still got many many good years left. The setlist, on paper, was average. I Am the Highway (acoustic) was a big surprise. Mission was a happy minor surprise. I was hoping for Zero Chance and JCP in there but I'll live. The version of BHS they played tonight was absolutely the best I've ever heard the song performed for any iteration of Chris and his bands. I half-expected Chris to phone in many of the older songs but he kept the energy up for the whole show. Chris was in such an obviously great mood and clearly enjoyed playing for us. This show was the 2nd best I've seen with CC (Detroit, EM tour) and its only going to get better as he re-explores more of his catalog of music. Get tickets any way you can for this tour!"

By kellbell58

"I have to agree an the energy level of the show. It was amazing. And Chris really did seem happy. I have to admit I was a little freaked out about the way he left Audioslave, but now I get it. I've seen Audioslave live and there was just no comparison to the difference. This was one of the best shows I've ever seen.."

by srhavok

"I have to say that I have seen both Audioslave and Soundgardne multiple times and not to downplay the "originators" but Chris and the band sounded better than either Audioslave or Soundgarden. Slaves and Bulldozers was absolutely ridiculous and I am happy to say I was there to witness it all....."

by particle collision

"I was completely blown away by the energy of this show, and by Chris' voice. HOWEVER - I can't believe no one has mentioned the fact that there was NO volume to this show whatsoever. Did everyone notice that they let the crowd in and started the show late? The whole time we were waiting to get in, you could hear them sound - checking (trying to fix the PA) and about a third of the way through, Chris even said something to the effect of, "Sorry we're not louder for you, we'll just play a long time!" It's not like this runied the show or anything, but I could literally have a conversation with my wife at a slightly louder than speaking voice during the songs. Anyway, the show still gets 10 out of 10, but I wanted my ears to BLEED!"

Chris Cornell Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, AZ

By Shane Handler, Glide Magazine

You gotta wonder how many guys have admitted - “I’d give my left nut to sing like Chris Cornell.”

The former Soundgarden/Audio Slave front-man turned solo artist holds a Rock-God voice that ranks up with Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, Axl Rose and Roger Daltrey. Touring in support of his forthcoming second solo CD, Carry On ( June 5), Cornell played an intimate show at the Celebrity Theater, comprised of songs from three bands, two solo albums and a few special rarities.

Featuring a back-up band of hired guns, Cornell joked: unlike my previous bands, “these guys aren’t afraid of girls.” However, the performance was billed as an “Evening with Chris Cornell” and people had paid to hear “the voice,” and “the voice” delivered. It delivered to the point that it didn’t matter that there were no Kim Thayil or Tom Morello guitar riffs and solos.

Appearing happy, slim and youthful, Cornell (42) appeared at least ten years younger, enthusiastically high-fiving the crowd between songs. Opening with "Spoonman,” Cornell, in his signature high register sang, “feel the rhythm with your hands/steal the rhythm while you can.” Following with Soundgarden’s 1992 breakthrough hit “Outshined,” Cornell appeared enthralled as he and the crowd sang- “I’m looking California and feeling Minnesota.”

However, it was the Audioslave compositions that made for the brightest moments of the evening, as Cornell proved that no mater how much corporate radio air-time Audioslave received, there’s no denying the power of these anthems. “Be Yourself,” “What You Are," “Doesn’t Remind Me,” “Like a Stone” and a moving acoustic versions of “I Am the Highway,” proved that Cornell’s recent Audioslave split has nothing to do with any distaste for the music. “Like a Stone,” featured a Cornell and crowd sing-along, and the personal “I Am the Highway" was goose-bump worthy. And for those pop traditionalists, a reinvented stripped down smoky version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” proved even an 80’s dance/rock theme can be made singer-songwriter legit. Along with “Billie Jean,” there were four other new songs performed from Carry On, (“No Such Thing,” “Arms Around Your Love,” “Scar on the Sky,” “Your Soul Today”) that although mellower in nature, they showed promise as convincing rockers.

Cornell also revisited the hey-day of the grunge era with “Seasons,” from the Singles soundtrack and “Hunger Strike,” from Temple of the Dog. However, it was the high note Soundgarden closer- "Slaves and Bulldozers,” where everybody soaked in the front-man’s jaw-dropping range, as he hollered, “Now I know why you’ve been shaking/So bleed you heart out/there’s no more rides for free.”

There’s no doubt a stellar solo career for Chris Cornell is in the wings; something most lead-singers, like that guy in Fall Out Boy, would give his left nut for.

Reprinted from Glide Magazine

From HenleyFenix

Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007