Concert Review: Soundgarden Provides Fiercely Intimate Performance In Toronto

By: Adam Harrison – 

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden at Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. November 16th, 2012. (Photo ©: Adam Harrison/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)

For more than a decade we referred to Soundgarden only in the past tense. Recently however, we’ve been hearing plenty from the legendary Seattle grunge band. Earlier in the year, they released a new song “Live to Rise” for the hit film, The Avengers, followed this past week by their first LP in 16-years, King Animal. They’re currently doing a string of pre-tour promotional shows in small clubs and one of those shows included a stop at Toronto’s own Phoenix Concert Theatre last night.

Soundgarden must love Toronto as much as we love them, as they kicked off their reunion tour here in 2010, Cornell recorded part of his live solo album at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts last year, and the Seattle quartet will be back in January to do a two-night stand at the Sound Academy. I wonder if they know how cold it will be then?

The Phoenix was packed with 1,100 ecstatic fans; all aware of how privileged they were to be witnessing the ‘90s legends in such an intimate venue. The band received a vast welcoming cheer as they opened  the 120-minute set with “Flower” from their 1988 debut album Ultramega OK. They followed on strong with two crowd pleasers, “Outshined” and “Spoonman,” one of Soundgarden’s massive hits from their 1994 smash album Superunknown.

Front man and lead singer Chris Cornell, who has spent the better part of Soundgarden’s 12-year hiatus working as a solo artist and with the band Audioslave, was in top form. Cornell is one of the most renowned rock singers of his era, with a uniquely haunting voice and celebrated for having strong live performances. He is a true rock star and has a presence that is unignorable. With Soundgarden, he’s got excellent backup too. Ben Shepherd on bass, Kim Thayil tearing up the lead guitar, and Matt Cameron on drums, who splits his time with fellow Seattle grunge connoisseurs, Pearl Jam. Despite their differences, Soundgarden have been able to burry the hatchet and play like a well-oiled band, just as if it were still 1996.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden at Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. November 16th, 2012. (Photo ©: Adam Harrison/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)

Considering the timing of this gig, Soundgarden exercised their musicial muscles with not only several tracks from King Animal, but also a mix of tracks they don’t usually get to jam out to at their stadium shows.

Of course with a band like Soundgarden, who’s sound has changed several times over the years, everyone wants to hear something different. There was plenty of variety in the show, so there was something for everyone. The second half of the set consisted mostly of fan favourites such as “Blow Up the Outside World,” “The Day I Tried to Live,” “Burden in My Hand,” and “Rusty Cage.” Additionally, stand out songs from King Animal included the first single “Been Away Too Long” and “By Crooked Steps.” The new tracks, some of which received their live debuts on this tour, managed to stand-up against the decades-old tracks that defined a generation.

It wasn’t until the encore we got to hear Soundgarden’s most widely known hit “Black Hole Sun,” a song Cornell has played live with three different bands. A couple classics that were left off the set list were “Fell on Black Days” and “Jesus Christ Pose.” It was also surprising not to hear “Live to Rise” and “Black Rain,” which was released on a retrospective album two years ago around the time of their reunion tour. The night ended the same way it began, with a song from the debut album, “Incessant Mace,” which was an interesting choice because it left most fans waiting until the house lights came up, wondering if there was a second encore that never came.

This show was a rare treat for a band that usually plays venues of 20,000 people and the best thing is that we can relive it again in January!