Well, I sent the original post from my phone and just haven’t gotten around to updating it… So here’s a proper concert review:
I went to the show calling it an Alice in Chains concert, even though they were technically opening for Velvet Revolver. Given that over half the crowd left when AiC went off stage, I must not have been the only one thinking that way. Alice in Chains were amazing… I was sad when Layne died because I knew I’d never get to see the real Alice in Chains–however, my fears were unfounded. Jerry Cantrell (the guitarist) is the heart and soul of AiC. Anyway, here’s the set list… The only songs that are in the correct order are the first and the last.
Again We Die Young Angry Chair Rain When I Die Grind Man in the Box Them Bones Down In A Hole Junkhead It Ain’t Like That Would Rooster
About 3 songs in Ann leaned over and whispered the line that used to be the only thing on this post: “They never cut their hair.” Now it’s true… they never physically cut their hair off, but what Ann was really driving at is that they haven’t lost a bit of talent and they never “toned down” or “sold out” their sound to make other people happy. During Junkhead we finally smelled pot… which is of course is just more stoner irony–the song is a satirical look at the “benefits” of drug use.
The absolute best part of the show was Rooster. They played it last and before they started Jerry introduced his father who was in the audience. Jerry’s dad was drafted into Vietnam and Jerry wrote Rooster to honor his father’s service and protest against war in general. I have always loved this song and it was made so much better just by knowing the full story behind it–not to mentioned the video to it extolling us to seek peace. Download the song or read through the lyrics if you want.
For those wondering… Velvet Revolver sucked. I mean, Slash is still amazing on the guitar, but Scott Weiland is apparently back on heroine and has given up fighting his addiction–he actually said to the audience, “I guess you haven’t smoked enough weed or dropped enough acid,” when he didn’t get the amount of applause he thought he should. Funny thing is the reason he didn’t get the applause he wanted is because most of the crowd left with Alice in Chains. On top of that his voice is completely shot… he butchered Patience by Guns N Roses and that’s about when Ann and I decided to leave. Actually we were afraid he’d try his hand at November Rain and we’d never be able to listen to it again!
Despite VR’s terrible showing, we had a great time for our first night away from Lilybeth… and Ann only called once during the show! I will see AiC every time they come to town (especially if they do an acoustic set around us) because they are quite simply that good.
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