If you were to tell anybody that you had just seen Jerry Cantrell play solo, live, it’s guaranteed the response will be – “does he play any Alice in Chains?”
Well yeah, of course, the main dude from one of rock’s most unrivaled bands will drop a familiar song or two. But fans would be pleased that eight of the eighteen songs played on February 25th at Tempe’s Marquee Theatre were from Alice in Chains. The other solo tunes offered the signature sludging melodic tone from the Pacific Northwest that has laid an imprint in almost every 40 to 55-year-old’s musical DNA.
Cantrell has been touring continually for the past couple of years in support of Brighten, his first solo album since Degradation Trip in 2002. The album was recorded over the course of a year with the help of musicians ranging from bassist Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) to vocalist Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan) and drummer Abe Loriel Jr (Paul McCartney). The recording is a testament to the sound Cantrell has called his own atop lyrical themes of despair and honing the harmonic dual vocals that made Alice in Chains such a powerful song force. Of course, Cantrell knows a thing or two about riffs and is regarded as one of rock and metal’s most recognizable soloists.
After a propulsive opening set from Thunderpussy, Cantrell and his six-piece band took the stage to the gloomy one-two solo album punch of “Atone” and “Psychotic Break.” The rainy day ominous sound allowed for a gradual entrance as the 56-year-old Cantrell looked the part of the elder wise rocker with his long blond mane. The rest of the band featuring Tyler Bates (guitar), Greg Puciato (vocals), Gil Sharone (drums), Michael Rozon (pedal steel) and George Adrian (bass), and a keyboardist brought their diverse musical backgrounds to round out the Cantrell sound.
Forever the other signature mark of the Alice in Chains sound is the prementioned dual harmonies of Cantrell and Layne Stayley ( and later William Duvall in the second era of Alice in Chains). The weapon at large on this tour is vocalist Puciato (formerly of Dillinger Escape Plan). With his Maynard James Keenan stage presence, Puciato might not look the part, but man can this guy sing the shit out of the Stayley parts.
‘Did she call my name?/I think it’s gonna rain” Puciato sang with impulsive abandonment on the Dirt favorite “Rain When I Die. “Fucking A” yelled an astounded 50-something attendee multiple times as the song concluded. But Pucatio nailed these parts from the “Feed My Eyes/Jesus Christ/He Who Tries/Oh Feed My Eyes” chorus on “Man in the Box” to the climactic “Innnnn To The Flood Again” on “Would?”, the sound and energy was primal and most importantly- authentic. If Duvall ever goes MIA for Alice In Chains, this guy has the part nailed.
Mixing in songs from prior solo albums Boggy Depot (1998) and Degradation Trip (2022) paced the hour and half-show with a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar, keeping the momentum going to the encore. Brighten highlights include “Nobody Breaks You,” ‘Siren Song” and the title track where each song had the Cantrell signature crunching guitar riffs alongside sorrowfully melodic vocals.
As the crowd sang “Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo. Ooh, ooh, ooh. Ooh-ooh-ooh” to the opening chords of “Rooster,” Cantrell and his band gave the crowd more than they could have expected. As Cantrell signed off with a vulnerable version of Elton John’s “Goodbye” off Madman Across The Water, we were shown a more sensitive side to the frontman as virile chants of “JERR EEEE JERR EEEE JERR EEEE” echoed as the show concluded.
One Response
I love that you’re giving Greg all the props. That kid can sing his ass off. But names are important to get right. It’s Abe Laboriel, Jr. It’s Layne Staley. And the keyboardist is an artist in her own right, Lola Colette.