Written by Eddie Ferranti
Apr 18, 2005 at 08:00 PM
Chris CornellFor a while it seemed Audioslave fell off the map. After a triumphant stint on Lollapalooza two years ago and a subsequent tour, the band seemed to drop off the map again. Well, this time was spent well, the band has a new album being released next month and rather than waiting for it to hit stores, they’ve taken to the road now to get the word out.Tonight’s stop brings the band to the Verizon Wireless Theater, which sold out in no time. This was easy to see when you looked through the venue packed with people waiting to see the newest efforts from the band, as well as some from the members’ previous bands, Rage Against The Machines and Soundgarden.

Chris Cornell hit the stage in battle fatigues and a sleeveless T. He looked in the best shape he’s been in years. Cornell has become a showman WAY more than his Soundgarden days! Stalking the stage, climbing on speakers, egging on the 75% backward-hat-wearing guys in the crowd; he was superb! Lead guitarist Tom Morello was dripping sweat and playing tight screaming chords and leads that lit the songs on fire.

Of course the rhythm section of Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford kept the base of the songs in perfect grooves, as they did for years with Rage Against The Machine. Each member fit their place perfectly and made this band shine in a light equal to their past efforts.

Tim CommerfordOpening with the set with Set It Off and Exploder, the band showed they were ready to bring the material from their first release to life with a stunning ferocity. New track, Your Time Has Come started off the taste of new material which would find its way into the set.

Spoonman really pumped up the show about 5 songs in. The audience exploded and the moshers went wild. The crowd also responded well to the first single from the new album, Be Yourself, which has been on the radio lately. The mix of old and new, current band and old bands kept the audience guessing what was coming next and didn’t allow anyone to stop paying attention.

The encore saw the first two songs performed with just Cornell on acoustic guitar doing Black Hole Sun and Highway. These were amazing moments that gave the audience enough time to rest before the show exploded again with a closing tandem of Rage’s Killing In The Name and the hit of the first album, Cochise

The band left everything they had on the stage and the audience repaid them by leaving everything on the floor. This was one of those shows you question when walking into the venue and wonder why you didn’t believe from the beginning on the way out.

Set list:
Set It Off
Exploder
Your Time Has Come
Like A Stone
Spoonman
What You Are
Gasoline
Man or Animal
Be Yourself
Bulls on Parade
Sleep Now In The Fire
Outshined
Shadow

Encore:
Black Hole Sun
Highway
Show Me How To Live
Killing in the Name
Cochise