Step into our DeLorean and travel back in time with me to a unique place in rock and roll history. In the 90’s, the pacific northwest delivered music from several bands characterized as “grunge”, much to their disappointment. Regardless of the label, the music and bands have become transformative to the rock and roll genre.
One of the biggest names associated with that “Seattle sound”, Alice In Chains, is bringing us all back to that pivotal time in music. On tour with Breaking Benjamin and Bush, the American Tour 2022 is pummeling venues all around North America.
Opening the gig in Ridgefield, Seattle natives Thunderpussy brought the energy. Vocalist Molly Sides has impressive range and sustain while her bandmates demonstrated incredible instrumental prowess. Guitarist Whitney Petty was exceptional and would be able to hold her own in a shred-off with a pretty long list of talented guitarists.
Bush came up next and they came with their own thunder. When they played Machinehead, it was like flipping a lightswitch. When that opening guitar riff came through those overhead speakers, the entire venue was singing “Breathe in, Breathe out” right along with the band. And their set didn’t stop crushing it until playing nearly a dozen tracks. Just after midway through the set, during “Flowers on a Grave”, I realized that most of the venue was facing the back. I turned to see what everyone was looking for expecting to see a fire, hot air balloon invasion, or a juggalo human pyramid. I don’t know. But it turned out that lead singer Gavin Rossdale had sprinted through the amphitheater and was singing from the lawn. Okay, so perhaps I’m not the most observant individual. He returned to the stage just as quickly, with security chasing behind him, trying to keep up.
Breaking Benjamin was up next. In my opinion, nobody holds a candle to Benjamin Burley when it comes to rock/metal power ballads. With songs like “Dear Agony”, “Ashes of Eden”, and “Breath”, it simply doesn’t get any better. “Dear Agony” and “Ashes of Eden” didn’t make the set list, but “Breath” and fifteen other tracks did. During the first three songs, lead singer Burley passed around the vocal responsibilities, showcasing the impressive vocals of his bandmates Keith Wallen, and Aaron Bruch. Burley commented about his gratitude for the double-decade career that he attributes to his devoted fan base. He also went on to remark about the fact that Alice in Chains was the first concert he ever attended, with Bush being the second and how surreal it was to be sharing the stage with them.
Alice in Chains opened their set with a roundhouse kick right to the sternum with “Again”. The set list was strong, showcasing many of their hit songs in the beginning and end with deeper cuts sprinkled through the middle. Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall shared vocal responsibilities throughout and the band sounded tight. The back and sides of the stage were draped in chain curtains and the irony of Alice in Chains, in chains, didn’t escape me. But the curtains did produce a pretty unique lighting effect when illuminated throughout the performance.
Still on tour currently scheduled through October 8th, be sure to get out and see this killer lineup.
