2 [LIVE REVIEW] Soundgarden @ Showbox at the Market

Words by Nik Christofferson

Alright I’ve had a couple days now to finally digest the magnitude and whirlwind of what happened this past Friday. Living in a city like this has its many perks and privileges when it comes to music I suppose. Sometimes you can become a little jaded to the fact that we do get our fare share of excellent shows, especially ones that involve the local musicians who were so hugely important while growing up in the 90’s. With this in mind, never in my life would I have guessed that I would have had the opportunity to see such a historic moment as was the reunited SOUNDGARDEN playing their first show in 13 years in front of give or take 1200 people at Showbox. Since 1997 was a couple years before I started going to shows on a consistent basis. I have long thought I had missed my chance, even with the four members alive and well.

The marquee of the Showbox read NUDEDRAGONS SOLD OUT, and the atmosphere both inside and out was electric. The positive energy was beyond powerful, and the minute the silhouettes of Chris, Kim, Ben, and Matt walked onto the dark stage around 10pm it was pandemonium. I was literally freaking out like those people you see in old Michael Jackson concert footage save the crying and fainting of course. Chris with his now shoulder length hair, strapped on a guitar, and belted the opening number “Spoonman”, with Kim, Matt and Ben laying the thunder behind him. A mighty version of “Gun” was next and then the triumphant “Searching with My Good Eye Closed”. Seeing that song in particular was breathtaking and a sure highlight, as it has always been a favorite. It also cleared Cornell of all his recent solo career offenses, even though I had been quite vocal about my disappointment following his despicable plunge into mainstream pop music. I humbly recant because Chris is back at home, at least for the time being. His voice was really strong the entire night, and he destroyed the high notes on “Flower” with ease. Having seen the man with Audioslave and solo a number of times, I’ve never heard him actually attempt the type of falsetto vocal acrobatics contained on Soundgarden’s earlier material and with only a slight echo on his mic it was pretty much mind blowing.

The band kept crowd interaction to a minimum, Chris joked a bit but overall it was all business as the guys barely even acknowledged each other beyond a few quick smirks. The combo of “Hunted Down” and “Nothing to Say” was a surprise highlight, first reason being the Record Store Day re-release of Soundgarden’s very first 7” on Sub Pop scheduled for the next day (Kim had to remind Chris of that point). Second being they were 2 of the 3 songs played during last year’s amazing Tadgarden surprise. Thirdly they were so off the charts massive. On both of the 7” single tracks along with “Loud Love” in particular, Ben Shepherd was badass. He obviously knew how monstrous his bass sound was by the “don’t fuck with this” look on his face. Matt Cameron just flat out did his thing. His non-flashy workhorse style never ever wavers, and it was amazing to have seen him playing with his old band while of course not even breaking a sweat. Matt’s talents never cease to amaze, and I’m sure Eddie, who was rumored to be in attendance along with Stone, Mike and Jeff was very proud.

Next came two numbers from the “Down on the Upside” record. Chris rallied full participation while holding the mic stand out over the crowd at the end of “Blow Up the Outside World”, and the chant had to have been heard out on the street. “Pretty Noose” sounded great as well but was probably the only shaky number of the night.

Kim Thayil who hid under a beanie with his famous frazzled locks protruding out the back was on fire, especially after the sound guy finally honed in right around “Rusty Cage”. “Outshined” was met with fists and metal horns a plenty, but “Slaves and Bulldozers” was the heaviest song of the evening. Once again Ben maimed eardrums, but Kim laid down some of the thickest riffs known to man. A brief encore came and went, and then a couple more killer Louder Than Love tunes-- “Big Dumb Sex” and “Get on the Snake” made an appearance. The show ended with a massive cover of the Doors’ “Waiting for the Sun”, and the band just walked off stage.

As you can see from the set list, they included quite a few early cuts. The inclusion of “Beyond the Wheel” off Ultramega OK briefly took me for a loop early on. Overall, it was a great mix that hit every release at least once, and I’m happy they left off “Black Hole Sun”. A couple songs I was hoping for that didn’t make the cut included: “Fresh Tendrils”, “My Wave”, “Somewhere”, and “Hands All Over”, but who’s complaining. I’m not sure if I can actually express in words what the teenager in me was feeling finally hearing “Searching With My Good Eye Closed”, “Outshined”, “Loud Love”, and “Fell on Black Days” for real as opposed to a Chris Cornell solo or Audioslave cover version. At just under 30 years of age and having seen some truly amazing shows over the last 10+ years, all I can think is man I just saw something that is beyond description, beyond writing a stupid review for a blog, beyond anything that I had planned for my life even. I stood there following the show wide eyed in amazement, beaten, battered, ears ringing and fatigued but probably as happy as I have ever been. I basically still can’t believe that it happened and on such short notice. A week ago if you would have told me I would be part of the lucky group who just saw SOUNDGARDEN in Seattle at the Showbox in 2010. I’d say you were fucking high. Somebody pinch me already…

A sincere thank you to the folks who were involved in myself being at the right place at the right time when it came down to GO time, you know who you are. I also hope I was personally able to guide a few folks towards their tickets as well.

Setlist:

Spoonman
Gun
Searching With My Good Eye Closed
Rusty Cage
Beyond the Wheel
Flower
Ugly Truth
Fell on Black Days
Hunted Down
Nothing to Say
Loud Love
Blow Up The Outside World
Pretty Noose
Outshined
Slaves and Bulldozers
Encore:
Get On The Snake
Big Dumb Sex
Waiting for the Sun (Doors Cover)