Chaotic Riffs Magazine - Issue 10
Cover |Pages
Credits
Contents
Talkback
Jamie
Mallender
David Reece
Writings On
The Wall
Tension Head
Ross The
Boss
KISS TRIBUTE
CD Reviews
Colby Veil's
Freakshow
| MARCH 2010 |
| Several months have passed since I wrote my feelings about the
most recent release from "Alice in Chains" singer Layne Staley.
|
| Since their tour announcement this past December, I have been
readily anticipating the return of Alice in Chains to Hollywood.
I was a freshman in high school the last time that I actually saw
A.I.C in concert. That was a long time ago...They were the
opening act for "Van Halen", and were still supporting their first
release "Face Lift". That was 1992. I will never forget
standing in line outside of the venue while Alice in Chains wrapped
up sound check. I was with my dad and they were running a
little long. The vocals that bellowed out off the stage and
into the evening air was so powerful that you could feel it as it
abruptly entered your body, making all hairs stand on end. |
| Of course the show was fantastic and I remember leaving shortly
into "Van Halen's" set without incident - something stuck with me
that night and never left...That is one of my favorite things about
the personal experience of seeing live music and the wonder that
raw, honest, emotion has when it converges through artist
expression. That same feeling re-woke a sleeping giant with my inoculation of "Back Gives Way o Blue", the latest album from Seattle's heavyweights of the by-gone- grunge-era, and first studio release in 15 years. |
| This haunting masterpiece provides the perfect setting to pay
homage to Layne Staley, who's tragic and untimely death
spelled a certain and definitive end to not only Alice in Chains,
but to one of the most iconic voices putting Staley atop of yet
another steadily evolving list of misunderstood artists that
tragically died before their time. That was 8 years ago. Saturday, February 13th, 2010, following a line of fans that wrapped its way around the "Hollywood Palladium", I made entrance inside of the sold out event. First of all, I absolutely love The Palladium. Putting aside the list of traditional concert checks and balances (sound, lighting, etc.) this venue is a music lovers dream. Giving concertgoers a chance to see and hear music by top ranking/selling artists, up close , leaving patrons a chance to take a very intimate and personal concert experience away with them. |
| Being a general admission venue makes it so anyone can get as
close to the action as they choose. There is so much to be said
about an audience and the artist's connection. When this occurs, the
result is magical... With the house lights dimmed, a human heard
adorned a white curtain, putting a stark contrast to the pitch black
that surrounded the stage. A slow and steady pulse gave way to an
unsteady beating rhythm that came from the before mentioned heart. |
| A white light emerged from behind the curtain revealing the members of Alice in Chains is silhouette as the hauntingly melodic guitar intro of "All Secrets Known" cut its way through the excited audience, and with the opening verse, "Hope...a new beginning, time, time to start living like just before we died. There's no going back to the place we started from." The curtain fell to the stage floor...Showtime! |
| "Rock On" |
| COLBY |
