Alice In Chains Re Polishes The Grunge Days
Electric Factory
Philadelphia, Penn.
10/26/06

Jerry Cantrell Photo provided by Steve Trager

Comments: The early nineties brought fourth some of the best known Seattle based bands that shaped the core of music that was once labeled "Grunge Rock." including the mighty Alice In Chains. The ideal behind this band is both the complexity and diversity throughout their back catalog of recordings. Alice In Chains often carried their weight with solid guitar work and sheer vocals that have etched this band into a well rounded musical core, which can often still be heard today.

As they say in the music world, you can replace any front man, but can you actually replace Lane Staley? His voice will live on forever despite his drug addictions, which caused this band to quickly fall apart. I think not, but this most recent tour of the original lineup which still consist of the three remaining members certainly set the record straight with a nice addition with William Duval steering the vocals for the ride. Duvall belted out all the hits from Facelift, Jar Of Flies, and Dirt. Amazing to hear all those old favorites re -polished and dusted off for this rare and up-close tour.

A true spectacle at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia where Alice In Chains tore through nearly two hours worth of music. Such an experience, to be a part of watching Jerry Cantrell work his magic on the guitar while Mike Inez brutality banged out all the bass lines to the lost live classics that echoed throughout Electric Factory, with the likes of "We Die Young," "Sea Of Sorrow," "Bleed The Freak," and "Angry Chair." A high note was "Man In The Box," which sounded amazing, note for note, even with someone stepping in for the late great Lane Staley, who will always be the master who created the stellar songs that propelled this Grunge Band into superb musical Extacy .

William Duvall Photo provided by Steve Trager

If the electric set wasn't enough to kick you, Alice In Chains featured their "Unplugged" segments, which featured several crowd pleasing melodies of "No Excuses," "Heaven Beside You," "Down In A Hole," "Got Me Wrong," and
"Killer In Me." A few of these songs also featured long time friend Scott Olsen, who joined Cantrell, Inez, Kinney, and Duvall for a few drinks on stage while belting out some great acoustic guitar licks, just like the real actual recordings. Each and every song performed at the Electric Factory never sounded more vibrant, just like they were fresh out of the studio.

A very impressive show with William Duvall, who made this band shine at the Electric Factory with his sheer talent on every single song. Still, the entire show was surrounded by Jerry Cantrell shredding on the solos and for any guitar hero who was close enough to the stage was in a trance while watching him play. Indeed, Alice In Chains rocked more then a decade ago and even now they have recreated those momentous days of the Grunge scene all in two hours in the heart of Philadelphia at the Electric Factory.