When you see a prominent member of a band spin off into a solo career, youre not entirely sure what to expect. Walking into Starland Ballroom that steamy July night, I was anxious. A voice Id grown so accustomed to hearing lead such epic bands as Soundgarden, Audioslave, and the mysterious Temple of the Dog, was about to take the stage as a solo artist. It was my first time seeing Chris Cornell live.
Opening the evening were rock and roll warriors, Juliette & the Licks. I get a few chuckles whenever I mention this band. Another actress starting a rock band they say. Well, talk is cheap. Juliette & the Licks stomped out any doubt that anyone in the crowd had from the second they hit the stage. Let it be known- Juliette Lewis knows how to bring the rock as sure as her predecessors Patti Smith, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry once did. She had the crowd by the third song, their hit single “Hot Kiss”. During “Purgatory Blues”, Juliette leaped onto the barricade greeting the crowd with high fives and challenged them to sing a long. Almost like jungle natives gone ape, The Licks’ guitarist and bassist dropped their axes to pound out a tournado of percussion- bongos, snare, bass drum, cymbals, and tambourine. Juliette picked up a pair of drum sticks and beat them to the crowd as if to ward off a lion. The Licks wrapped up their set with Speaking and the crowd was still begging for more.
Chris Cornell took the stage at 9:30 to an ear piercing roar from the crowd. It was clear that the 2000 or so people gathered were just as anxious and excited as I was. I turned to look behind me and everyone was on their feet, at the edge of the bar railings, eyes fixed on the stage. Even for anyone who has lived under a rock for the past 20 years, there is no mistaking Chris Cornell. His voice is very unique, very remarkable, unforgettable. The two hour long set opened with “Let Me Drown” and included favorites “Spoon Man”, Soundgardens “Jesus Christ Pose”, “Show Me How to Live”, and “Doesn’t Remind Me”. Cornell sat down mid-set for a special acoustic session. “Like a Stone” acoustic was STELLAR! I watched from a back corner platform and joined with the crowds singing. The pinnacle moment of the night was Temple of the Dogs “Say Hello 2 Heaven”. Its very rarely ever performed and was one of two songs Chris Cornell wrote after the death of his friend and roommate, Andrew Wood. The set wrapped up with the ever popular “Black Hole Sun”. File Chris Cornell under the Top 5 Concerts of the Summer of 2007.
