Alice In Chains

[Malcolm]

Who would've thought Maynard James Keenan, the spooky singer for TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE, would have made a near-perfect singer for ALICE IN CHAINS? That was one of the many surprises Friday night when some of Seattle's brightest musical stars came out for a cause at Premier nightclub.

The cause was a benefit concert for victims of last year's tsunami and the stars included Ann and Nancy Wilson of HEART, NIRVANA bassist Krist Novoselic, SUPERSUCKERS, SIR MIX-A-LOT, THE CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION and others. But the brightest stars were the remaining members of ALICE IN CHAINS ? drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and guitarist Jerry Cantrell ? who performed together for the first time in six years.

Novoselic acted as emcee for the show, which was put on by radio station K-Rock (KRQI-FM/96.5) and raised more than $100,000 for relief efforts.

The reformed ALICE IN CHAINS featured several big names filling the shoes of late vocalist Layne Staley, who died of a drug overdose in 2002. Wes Scantlin from PUDDLE OF MUDD, Pat Lachman from metal band DAMAGEPLAN, Ann Wilson and Keenan all shared microphone duties throughout the evening.

While none of the vocalists were dead ringers for Staley, each turned in remarkable performances that paid justice to the fallen singer. The band performed two sets, one acoustic the other plugged-in, with Lachman taking the lion's share of the vocal duties.

But the evening wasn't just about ALICE IN CHAINS. The Wilson sisters performed a three LED ZEPPELIN covers along with "Barracuda" and "Crazy On You", SIR MIX-A-LOT offered up rap-metal versions of "Baby Got Back" and "My Posse's On Broadway", and SUPERSUCKERS played a blazing set.

But still, ALICE IN CHAINS owned the evening. The band's acoustic set started off with "The Killer Is Me", which was followed by "No Excuses". Lachman fared surprisingly well while Cantrell sang backup. Later in the set, which closed with "Down In A Hole", Ann Wilson brought a soulful edge to "Brother".

For its second set of the night ALICE IN CHAINS opened with "It Ain't Like That" from "Facelift". After the song Cantrell introduced Scantlin, a surprise guest, who sang "Again" with Lachman and then took over vocal duties for "Would" and "Angry Chair". Between the two, with Lachman's pointy goatee and Scantlin's Staley-esque stage movements, they could've passed for a Layne doppelganger.

But it was Keenan, another surprise performer, who proved the most natural fit at replacing Staley. His twisted and braided hair flew as he prowled the stage while singing. He impressively nailed "Man in the Box" and "Them Bones".

For the last song of the night, Wilson, Keenan, Lachman and Scantlin took turns trading verses and lines during "Rooster". The "We Are The World"-style rendition of the song was the perfect ending for a magical night filled with surprises.

ALICE IN CHAINS set lists:

Acoustic w/ Pat Lachman of DAMAGEPLAN:

01. The Killer Is Me
02. No Excuses
03. Heaven Beside You
04. Brother (w/ Ann Wilson of HEART)
05. Got Me Wrong
06. Down In A Hole

Electric:

01. It Ain't Like That (w/ Lachman)
02. Again (w/ Lachman and Wes Scantlin from PUDDLE OF MUDD)
03. Would (w/ Scantlin)
04. Angry Chair (w/ Scantlin)
05. Them Bones (w/ Maynard James Keenan from TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE)
06. Man In The Box (w/ Keenan)
07. Rooster (w/ Lachman, Wilson, Keenan and Scantlin)

[metallex78]

Damn, what an awesome line-up, I wish I was there to see that!

[BP]

Thanks for posting!

I'm sceptical, but I'm gonna try and find a bootleg of that though. I'm glad they didn't do NUTSHELL.

the magic has been building for awhile...

anyway.... some dudes batteries went out & only got the acoustic set they did - Geting more details now if you don't have an easytree account.

"Anyway, if anyone wants the unplugged set, I just put it up on Easytree:
http://www.easytree.org/torrents-details.php?id=28958

Lot's of talkers, and a quiet set, so it was tricky getting the levels right. But it is a nice show."

thanx to Jeff

-BP

[BP]

http://www.seattle-sound.com/audio/   has everything you need to know on the recording.

The crowd is going nuts.... they are louder than the band & singing with them. so the recording kind of sux...  well they are on acoustic so what ya gonna do sound wise.  pretty focking kool though.  This is already on eBay...  Jeff not happy 

peace -BP

[SLCPUNK]

damm that soundz kewl as shite@!

wish Icoulda seen that 1@!

[Layne420]

It is possible for anyone to post the link to download the show again? I got to listen to Man in the Box and it is fucking awsome. I would apperciate if anyone has the whole show downloaded?

Thank You

[Genesis]

Just started listening to this really cool band... The guitars aren't so good, but the lyrics are incredible. Listen -> 'Down In A Hole', 'No Excuses'.

[SLCPUNK]

My favorite band of the grunge era........in love with these guys when they came out.

When he died it was a bummer.

[SLCPUNK]

Just started listening to this really cool band... The guitars aren't so good, but the lyrics are incredible. Listen -> 'Down In A Hole', 'No Excuses'.

You wanna hear something awesome?

Die young

Again

Love Hate Love

Would

And what put them on the map: Man in the box

[Izzy]

Just started listening to this really cool band... The guitars aren't so good, but the lyrics are incredible. Listen -> 'Down In A Hole', 'No Excuses'.

Wha?

The guitars are awesome - Jerry Cantrell knows exactly what the song needs - u might be listening to stuff from their self-titled album where the guitar is pretty low key

AIC are in my top 5 fav bands - Facelift and Dirt are supremely good albums - but AIC do take some time to appreciate, at first it all kinda sounded the same to me,

Anything from their first two albums is highly recommended

[ClintroN]

Tripod and Dirt changed my fuckin' life

[Queen of Everything]

ALICE IN CHAINS ROCK! I'm listening to Them RIGHT now!!!! 

[metallex78]

Just started listening to this really cool band... The guitars aren't so good, but the lyrics are incredible. Listen -> 'Down In A Hole', 'No Excuses'.

You've gotta be kidding, the guitar playing along with Layne's vocals is the best thing about AIC!
Jerry Cantrell is highly underrated, and in my opinion was one of the best rock guitarists to emerge from the so-called "grunge" scene. But I always considered AIC to be more metal or hard rock than "grunge", whatever the hell that is.

Check out all their albums starting from Facelift, and the classic (must-have for any rock fan) album Dirt and then tell me "the guitars aren't so good".

[Timothy]

great band .

You should also check out the Mad Season album "Above".

[Izzy]

great band .

You should also check out the Mad Season album "Above".

Wasn't that with Layne Stanley?

[Dot]

AIC was/is the best band out of the Grunge era...Nirvana(IMO) was/is the worst. Layne?s voice is so powerful.

Nine years ago i was jut getting into the band, now I have lots of their albums, the box set, Mad Season and Degradation Trip By Cantrell.

[Timothy]

great band .

You should also check out the Mad Season album "Above".

Wasn't that with Layne Stanley?

yeah it was Layne .Mike McGready . Barrett Martin abd Baker

[ClintroN]

what happend to Mike Star?

[metallex78]

AIC was/is the best band out of the Grunge era...Nirvana(IMO) was/is the worst. Layne?s voice is so powerful.

Nine years ago i was jut getting into the band, now I have lots of their albums, the box set, Mad Season and Degradation Trip By Cantrell.

Degradation Trip is amazing. I strongly recommend AIC fans to check it out!

[kj_jive]

Degradation Trip is good...but "Boggy Depot" by Jerry Cantrell is even better in my opinion.  This cd is amazing.  Definetely pick it up...if you can find it.