Jerry Cantrell Delivers Grunge Commandments From On High at The Fillmore Charlotte

It might have been Palm Sunday, but when Jerry Cantrell, the legendary guitarist/vocalist for Alice In Chains, stalked onto the stage at The Fillmore NC, we were in the presence of an Old Testament Grunge God. Stony-faced, well-weathered and aged, but still a powerful presence, Cantrell delivered harsh and heavy commandments of atonement to the masses throughout his performance. “Thou shalt revel in fly-ridden nihilism and embark upon cleansing degradation trips. Thou shalt wallow under the weight of the sludge, dirt, and grunge that will serve as a catharsis. Thou shalt emerge reborn and cleaned via said catharsis.” While Cantrell never stated these words verbally, every lyric and lick served to transmit these commands. Alice in Chains always dealt with Judeo-Christian themes lyrically, when they weren’t painting surrealist pictures of the agonies of addiction. Cantrell has continued this ministry with his revamped AIC lineup and as a solo artist. All was not heavy-handed proselytizing though, for, in his later years, Cantrell has learned to brighten things on occasion as well as deliver a bit of levity amidst the performance of some of the most heavy, thematically as well as musically, grunge-rock music ever written.

“That’s a strong look man! I mean, what are you supposed to be? A giant penis? I’m trying not to look, but it’s right in my face though!” laughed Cantrell as he bantered with a fan in a full pink bodysuit and Groucho Marx glasses, nose, and mustache mask. It seems even Old Testament, fire, brimstone, and savior-less grunge gods can smile and be moved to laughter by the oldest of tropes: the dude in a weird outfit on the front row of a rock concert.

These moments of levity, penis suit dude also got a rise (pardon the pun) out of opening act Lola Colette, weren’t just linked to the dude in said bodysuit. Cantrell’s newest solo album, Brighten, has true moments of brightness on it. The album’s title track, replete with its own lesser primitive edicts (“You only reap what you sow/Brighten”) commands the listener to brighten their world without giving specifics as any good deity should. Played alongside some of the darker AIC songs from the band’s past like “Them Bones,” “Down In a Hole,” and the savior rejecting “Man In The Box,” the tunes off of Brighten fit seamlessly into the setlist. In fact the rock of “Had to Know” off of Brighten served to deliver a powerful break in the clouds that reminded the listener, the one who was there to hear more than just the radio hits and revel in pitiful nostalgia, that there is much more, and much more to discern, than just lyrics and riffs that bewail the mentally depressed and oppressed life (or more often than not in Layne Staley’s lyrics: the junkie life).

Cantrell called upon the superb vocal talent of opener Lola Colette to sing back up on “Black Hearts and Evil Done” and “Right Turn.” It was a welcome sound as her short opening set erroneously deprived the audience of more of her singing. Cantrell made sure to right that wrong. It was the right move in more ways than one as the song can serve as a painful reminder that two of the giant vocal talents that sang on the original recording are no longer with us. Colette’s voice (her multi-instrumental talent-which was on full display during her set) carried the song past its sad connotations. She is a joy to behold perform and is worth further listening to in all formats, live or streamed.

Before closing out the set with three classic AIC songs, Cantrell graced us with the first performance (on this tour at least ) of a deeper track off of Degradation Trip, “Castaway.” It’s a powerfully heavy song and its simple, yet hard-hitting basslines filled the air inside the Fillmore with a type of weight that could be felt by those tuned into the dark transcendence that emanates from Cantrell’s guitar, and spirit.

In a time that has recently seen the loss of two more of its generation’s musical icons, Mark Lanegan and Taylor Hawkins, it’s reaffirming to see that the music really hasn’t died, and salvation, despite the rejection of a savior, can actually be attained. Perhaps the savior so many are looking for isn’t one so many are still waiting for. Metaphorically, Jerry Cantrell and AIC have silently yet passionately advocated for the greatest savior of them all…one’s own will to pick up and carry on. Something that after 30 years, Jerry Cantrell is still showing us how to do by carrying on in spite of such debilitating loss. Sometimes, Old Testament grit is what is needed instead of a way out.