GRUNGEREPORT.NET REVIEW OF SOUNDGARDEN’S SHOW LAST NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES
I attended my second Soundgarden show last night in Los Angeles at the intimate Henry Fonda Theatre. I arrived at the venue a little after 6PM last night and the line was very long, but fortunately GrungeReport.net reader JT spotted me and let me in! After I got in a little after 7PM I found my spot 2nd row dead center. Unfortunately as I tried to turn on my camera it wasn’t working, so I was forced to use my iPhone for photos (my photos are at the bottom of the story). Dave Grohl was spotted in the crowd near the back of the venue.
Soundgarden went on just after 9PM and kicked off the show with four old songs in Jesus Christ Pose/Flower/Outshined/Spoonman. Attrition came after and seemed to fit in very well, it came off great live, even better than the studio version. By Crooked Steps was enjoyable live too, but I wasn’t too big on Taree/Non-State Actor. The crowd was pretty dead during these two songs and they didn’t seem to help the pace of the show. Eyelid’s Mouth was okay live. A few times throughout the show Chris talked about performing for industry crowds in LA in the past, and told the people in seats to stop sitting down and stand up. The guys sung Happy Birthday to Matt, at first Chris had the audience hold back because he said we couldn’t pick a key. The show really picked up at this point, Been Away Too Long comes off really well live. It’s the most energetic new song live, it got a very good crowd reaction, the best of the new songs yet at this point.
Playing Burden In My Hand/A Thousand Days Before back to back worked really well and is something the band should do on their 2013 tour, the songs just fit together and A Thousand Days Before got the best reaction of any of the new songs and definitely came off the best live. Rusty Cage was the highlight of the night, one of the few times the crowd was really moving a lot. I was happy to see Bones of Birds debuted live, I’d rank it above Taree/Non-State Actor/Eyelid’s Mouth but below A Thousand Days Before and Been Away Too Long when it comes to how it came off live. It definitely should be played over the former three if the setlist is ever narrowed when it comes to new songs. Rowing was fun live as well, but the backing tracks just come off as odd at a Soundgarden show, just have Matt sing the chorus when Chris can’t even if it doesn’t sound great.
Incessant Mace kicked off the encore and was fantastic, one of the most inspired performances of the night. Slaves and Bulldozers was a great closer. At the end of the show Chris and Kim trolled the audience by making loud noises with their guitars and amps. Overall this was a solid show, but it wasn’t even close to the same energy level as the Forum show in July 2011. My Dad was at the show as well, I haven’t been to a concert with him in 3 years. He said he enjoyed parts of the show but preferred Pearl Jam’s 2003 Irvine show and Stone Temple Pilots’ 2008 Hollywood Bowl show big time over this show. Matt and Ben seemed to be having the most fun out of the members of the band.
Setlist:
Jesus Christ Pose
Flower
Outshined
Spoonman
Attrition
Gun
By Crooked Steps
Taree
Non-State Actor
Get on the Snake
Blow Up The Outside World
Eyelid’s Mouth
Ugly Truth
Fell On Black Days
Been Away Too Long
Worse Dreams
My Wave
Burden In My Hand
A Thousand Days Before
Rusty Cage
Bones of Birds
Rowing
Encore:
Incessant Mace
Black Hole Sun
Slaves & Bulldozers
Ben seemed to be having a blast, he is typically very energetic but this time he was even more so.
Kim did some great guitar effects on Bones of Birds, I have never heard anything like that live before.
Over all I think the show was incredible. I talked to several people afterwards and not a single person was disappointed. There was fans from all sorts of ranges there, I spoke with a guy who last saw them live in 89 and another woman that saw them live in 1990.
Bones of Birds Live! Finally!
Camera phones have definitely ruined the concert experience…
All you see at every concert are idiots holding up their phones blocking other peoples views. Can’t you just enjoy the show??
Jack, I agree, but my camera I usually use for pictures wasn’t working, and I needed pictures for my review.
JT I agree big time on Ben, he was great. I think something that hurt the show was lack of crowd energy (which as you know was incredible for the Forum show). Still a great show to be at. Nothing beats Soundgarden up close.
I am sure the band will get even tighter and sound better and better as they get into their 2013 tour. Looking forward to seeing these guys live for the second time in Vancouver on Feb 10!!!
Sounds like a great time. Hopefully they will tour the hell out of the states when spring comes around.
There was a guy behind me trying to record the entire show on his camera. Security kept telling him to stop, but he would try again in a few minutes. Finally towards the end a security guy told him to put away the camera or get kicked.
As far as crowd energy, near me there a lot of guys that were getting “out of control” (as described by people around), but they were kept at bay. During the first song two people (big guy and some girl) tried to rush the front to where the photographers were but security stopped them. Then during Slaves another guy tried squeeze in at the front wall but just running straight for it. He was held back though by several people.
Oh, and some guy passed out halfway through.
Bones of Birds have to be the next single! It’s almost everybody’s favorite! It´s an amazing masterpiece!
second encore:
Head Down
Fresh Tendrils
Uncovered
Tighter and Tighter
No Attention
I am so disappointed I didn’t get tix to go to this show. Tix sold out in less than a minute. But I still get to see them in Feb, it will be my 4th time seeing them. Can’t wait
Bones of Birds is my favorite track on the new record. Killer bass-line and groove.
I read the word “trolled” and literally groaned aloud.
Good review though. I need to see them if they ever come near me.
I have yet to see Soundgarden live since their reunion due to them never playing shows in my area. Can anybody verify if they’re still great live?? Someone who’s seen them recently? I can’t wait until they come around.
There is no need for pictures of the show for a review… Prior to 2007, when the camera phone craze started, there were thousands of concert reviews without pictures. It was so great when people went to the show to listen.
No dig at you Brett, but you might be too young to remember a show without this complete aggravation.
Seeing shows in L.A. are awful to begin with. Every show I’ve ever been to there, the people are extremely lame. At least a dozen… The lead singer 9 out of 10 times yells at the crowd to stand. No wonder PJ always plays the northeast.
@phil simms the football:
There was no second encore. Trust me, I stayed there until the lights were on, they tour down the security wall, and they tore apart Matt’s drums.
@Kyle:
I saw them at The Forum and The Joint last year, then I was there last night. They are still amazing live.
@Jack:
Some guy next to me have his phone up trying to take pictures\video nearly the entire time. There was a girl next to him that finally said “Can you put the phone down for just 30 seconds so I can see?”
Can’t wait to get ahold of a Bones of Birds recording! Been waiting for that one. STP better than Soundgarden live? Um, no. No. And … No.
This was way better than the Forum show, in sound, crowd and band energy and overall vibe. It was like a big party and everyone came.
I really like Non-State Actor. Not sure why this song gets flack. Its classic hard rocking crazy time signature Chris screaming SG. What’s not to like?
Hated the album besides Rowing and Blood on the Valley Floor, but still looking forward to their gig in Milwaukee on February 1st.
Best SG Albums In Order:
1. Superunknown
2. Badmotorfinger
3. Down On The Upside
4. Baby One More Time…
5. Louder Than Love
6. Ultramega OK
7. King Animal
Thanks for the review.
@jt – Brett’s dad here. Nice meeting you last night. I vacated the front rows before the show started and kicked back in the comfort of the bar – which was still an incredible view.
The coolest thing hanging back was watching the recording industry execs schmoozing it up over cocktails. For them it was more of a social event. They were almost oblivious to the show.
Great show though. Glad you and Brett were front and center. I’m super happy my son loves the same music I do. And I add this with the utmost respect for the Chris’s and Eddie’s out there – it would be so great to see a new movement come along in rock that kids could call their own.
Little Man – I love you more than anything…
The show at The Fonda, rocked last night my personal favorite was Worst Dreams and Rowing, it was so cool to see Ben clean shaven again
Wait, you have an iPhone and didnt take video of Bones of Birds? Fail. Def agree with you on Rowing backing tracks, i’d rather them not play it at all than use the pre recorded stuff.
I prefer the backing track. It lets Chris FOCUS!
Sounds like great show.
Killer setlist, hope they come back to Calgary.
i think you guys who bitch about rowing dont really understand performing music live…keep your ignorance of music to yourself
To Dad: Little Man? I’m taller than you.
@ Brett Dads,
It was good to meet you too. I think it would be fun to see Soundgarden and from further back sometime, but then I always feel that I should see them as close as possible.
That “and” makes no sense there. I vote for comment editing to be in the new site.
Nothing will match the energy of that Forum show, I still can’t get over it.
the forum show was so killer..
Bones of Black Birds on a Saturday A Thousand Years Wide
@jt and @Brett – Would you guys agree A Thousand Days Before was the best song of the show. I think it played incredibly well live – better than the studio version.
It definitely defined the show for me…
“A Thousand Days Before” is my new favorite rock song by a mile. From the intro to the Indian-inspired guitar part, I’m in love!
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