What can you say about one of the most underrated, legendary, and original recording acts ever in history? Well, after seeing their most recent concert effort; "nothing but great things...and the future looks very bright for lots more Alice In Chains"
On December 11th 2009, Alice in Chains (AIC) took the stage at The Joint, an intimate concert venue housed inside the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and proceeded to let everyone there know that AIC was still alive and fully prepared to kick some ass.
The band consisting of two members from the original line-up; guitarist/vocalist, Jerry Cantrell, and drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Innez [Inez replaced Mike Starr on bass in 1993], and the latest addition to the band, William DuVall, stepping into the vast shoes of lead vocalist Layne Staley [who sadly left us all in 2002].
Even though I always approach anything NEW with an open mind, It's hard for me to get past popular bands who have lost an original member or members, especially a KEY band member like the lead-vocalist, re-forming with new personnel under the same name. It's not only the potential for the band to stray from the sound that led you to them in the first place, but it's also like having a few friends out for drinks and one of them doesn't show up sending a complete stranger in his stead - you lose some of that endearing familiarity. But...my fears were laid to rest almost immediately.
They opened up with a searing version of "Rain When I Die" from their second studio effort "Dirt" and seamlessly slid into "Them Bones" from the same album - both songs are some of their earliest work and sounded better than ever. Layne Staley will always be missed, but here it was clear that the this incarnation of the band was still "the real deal" and ready to carry the torch first lit by Layne and Jerry back in the late 80's. Another great tune from "Dirt" titled "Dam That River" came next followed by "Again" from their eponymously titled 1995 studio release.
The venue (The Joint), has great acoustics and houses a nice sized stage placed in an nice-sized setting. The powers that be did a good job of making sure the place was constructed right, to properly accommodate the long list of celebs who would grace their stage. FOH (front of house) for AIC had the room down to a science; thundering-loud ballsy metal, yet still clear and legible. Rich hewn colors beamed down in front of a full-sized image screen setting the tone for the sometimes ethereal harmonies and music that Alice In Chains is revered for world-wide.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell switched guitars and took center stage, announcing it was "time for some NEW stuff" as the mellow yet haunting "Your Decision" from "Black Gives way To Blue" was performed flawlessly, giving fans ears a dynamic change of pace before erupting into "Check Your Brain" also from the latest effort. The latest effort which I can only describe as NEW vintage AIC - more hit songs adding to their already sizeable cornucopia of fan favorites.
The song choices reflected a very nice mix of all their studio efforts with the new stuff peppered in tastefully. Did they do all MY favorites? No...but how could they with such a long list of hits. I will leave you with this; I know for sure the fans and this journalist were left quite satisfied after a smoking evening of music from one of the greatest rock bands in history. A band that is still very fresh, vibrant, and obviously has much more to share with their fans.
If you get an opportunity to catch this band in your area, even if you're not already a fan -
I highly recommend it!
For interview or event review requests contact lew@24sevenmagazine.com
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