Legendary Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell was in Boston, MA on Wednesday night, touring behind his first solo album in nineteen years. Alongside him was an all-star cast of musicians helping him bring his solo material, along with some Alice in Chains classics to life.
Before Cantrell took the stage, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Lola Colette got the Boston crowd warmed up with a 30-min set of original material. Colette is a classically trained pianist who incorporates pop, folk, and world music influences into her songs. After previously releasing material under the name Lola Bates, she re-branded in 2022 and her debut music video as Lola Colette – “Flower in Bloom” came out in late February. She grew up collaborating with her father, renowned composer, and Jerry Cantrell band member Tyler Bates and was featured on the soundtrack to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol.2.
At 9 pm sharp Jerry Cantrell took the stage for his set, surrounded by a cast of established musicians that included former Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato, guitarist and producer Tyler Bates, and ex-Marilyn Manson drummer Gil Sharone. Opening with the Alice in Chains tune “Them Bones” Cantrell established early that her would-be including some of his most well-known works into his set. From there Cantrell would alternate between solo tracks and AIC classics. On the solo material side, he featured new songs such as “Brighten,” “Had to Know,” and “Siren Song.” As well as going back to his first solo album Boggy Depot for “My Song” and “Cut You In.” As the set neared its end Cantrell and co. went to strictly Alice in Chains songs, closing with “Would?” before playing “Man in the Box” and what is perhaps Cantrell’s best-known song, “Rooster” the tune dedicated to his father.
The Big Night Live crowd ranged in age as many were in attendance revisiting their youth favorites and some were on the younger side getting a more intimate look at the man who has been the driving force behind Alice in Chains since their inception in 1987. The AiC tracks were clearly the crowd favorites as they passionately sang the lyrics back. Cantrell even noted the sharp contrast in crowd energy between Boston and the NYC crowd he had played to the night before. His solo tour will continue in the US until early May before heading overseas for international dates that wrap up in July. Later in the summer, Cantrell will be heading back out on the road with Alice in Chains as they co-headline a North American tour with Breaking Benjamin.
Jerry Cantrell
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