May 3, 2005
FEATURES
Audioslave throttles Phoenix crowd
Audioslave visited Phoenix’s Dodge Theatre on April 15 and showcased music that intrigued musical memories of the past while blessing the imagination for promising music for the future.
Chris Cornell, former lead man for Soundgarden, had not played in Phoenix in 10 years and did not disappoint the crowd showing his vast range. He drove the Dodge Theatre crowd’s emotion with his powerful voice.
Tom Morello, former guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, displayed the most original guitar solos, maybe, since Jimi Hendrix; in Audioslave and his past work.
While Morello did not light his guitar on fire on the stage, he gave a performance that no living guitarist could rival (apologies to Velvet Revolver’s Slash).
Remaining members of the band followed Morello, except former front man Zack de la Rocha, to merge with Cornell to make Audioslave.
Audioslave’s only resemblance of Rage Against the Machine was in the de la Rocha written songs that were now being sung by Cornell. Soundgarden song’s such as “Spoonman” sounded sharper with Morello’s hand at play.
“Bulls on Parade,” bounced off the Phoenix venue’s soundboards without vocals as Cornell walked off stage halfway through the show.
Dodge Theatre Rage Against the Machine fans received their fix with the powerful shot in the arm from the former Rage members.
Cornell returned with an acoustic guitar and sang “Black Hole Sun” as the rest of the band took a break.
Cornell continued with “Highway” from the self-titled album while I wondered how he was going to fill the shoes of Morello with his acoustic guitar; the band snuck onto the dark stage and answered the question with an exuberance of power and excitement from their trade tools.
The talented front man, Cornell, performed the cult classic “Killing in the Name Of” to perfection as the crowd went crazy and the mosh pit jumped up and down like a scared pulse.
Audioslave then ended the night with “Be Yourself”, exclusive to their newest album to be released May 23.
Audioslave’s introduction onto the scene was marred with bad reviews from the disgruntled former Rage fans who expected more political activism.
The reviews were probably written before a thorough listening, which is needed because the songs seem to grow on one like a good drug.
Morello, who has a political science degree from Harvard, seemed to be the coat rack where the band could hang their credibility on as their political mission continued through the 90’s. Many wanted more Rage and less Cornell.
Cornell helped Audioslave establish a future to go different ways with their music.
Perhaps with Audioslave’s new album, “Out of Exile,” we shall witness more of a statement seven months after the re-election of President George W. Bush.
Volume
42, Issue 14. Today is
