Jerry Cantrell gives Houston a legendary trip down memory lane

It was an amazing night for Grunge fans all over Houston! Fans gave a warm welcome to legendary guitarist Jerry Cantrell as he made his last stop in Texas on April 23, at the House of Blues on his Brighten Tour. Grunge fans of all ages gathered to witness an iconic show.

The show kicked off with the first track on the “Brighten” album with the song Atone. The upbeat song got the crowd pumped to start off the show. The brighten album was released in 2021, and gave fans a different side of Cantrell. The record gave the artist a spotlight on his versatility, and his artistry with a variety of melodies on this track.

Transitioning into the next song, Jerry Cantrell performed the hit song “Them Bones” by Alice In Chains. Fans recognized the heavy sounds that created the hook of the song instantly. They then screamed of excitement, and the entire venue was in sync. It was a refreshing moment to see fans’ faces light up, and everyone began to jump up and down on cue to the beat. Once lyrics “Gonna end up a big ol’ pile of them bones,” were being sung, fans pointed towards Cantrell screaming the lyrics as he continued to perform. His iconic solo toward the end of the song was a sight to see and the anticipation for what was yet to come grew rapidly.

Next, Jerry Cantrell took fans on a trip back to 2002. “Psychotic Break” off the artist record “Degradation Trip” was number three on the setlist, and the show only continued to get even better. The special thing about this track is how much fans connected to it. The grungy tone and slow groove of the song, accompanied by earth toned stage lights and effects gave the entire aura of the record it came from.

Throughout the show, Cantrell fluctuated between songs from his solo work, and those from Alice in Chains discography. “My song” off the artist’s very first solo album seemed to touch fans hearts the most. This song has a very personal message to it for the artist, but to watch Cantrell perform it live, you begin to appreciate the record more deeply as he left his heart on the stage singing it. That same feeling is felt when watching “Angel Eyes”, “Brighten”, and “Siren Song”.

A personal favorite of mine, and from the cheers of the audience it is safe to say was a favorite of theirs as well, was to hear “Cut you in” performed live. It has such a catchy guitar riff and a beat that makes you want to dance. I remember hearing this song for the first time a couple of years back, and the lyrics were very relevant to the feelings of many during our time in quarentine. The lyrics are genius word play, and they were sung by the crowd throughout the entire song. ”I like to sit, do nothing at home, I disappear, turn off the phone”, was recited and everyone was catching their groove.

The show went on, and ended on a back to back Alice in Chains song queue. It amazes me how talented of a singer, song writer, guitarist and overall performer Cantrell is. He shares this relationship with his instrument that is something surreal to see live on stage. His guitar solos on Alice in Chains hits are timeless and still get the crowd wild decades later. “It Ain’t Like That”, “Would?”, and “Man in the Box” were some of the iconic songs performed that night.

It is often said that good music never dies, and that was displayed at the Houston House of Blues on April 23rd. With that being said, Alice in Chains Will be coming to Houston again soon, so mark your calendars and make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to watch this legendary performance on September 17, 2022.
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