Soundgarden Concert S-100

[rmiller9969]

I just watched a Soundgarden concert from last year on Paladia. Chris Cornell played about 8 different guitars. He played like 7 different Gibsons, a Fender and maybe something else. Kim Thayil, the lead guitarist played his Black S-100 for the entire show/every song. It was cool to see. I don't see too many Guilds in the Genre of music I listen to (mostly 80's 90's acoustic/rock).

http://www.heavymetalguitars.net/kim-thayil-guild-s-100

 

[Alan_M]

I've seen them live multiple times, and come to think of it, Kim never did change guitars the whole show, any show. Of course why would you need to if you've got a tasty S-100 in hand? 8)

 

[Los Angeles]

I'm pretty sure Cornell changes guitars alot because each one is tuned differently. He uses a lot of weird tunings that would take a lot of time to dial in by hand between songs. Thayil just figures out the key and plays his parts on top of it on the same guitar.

 

[blakeley311]

I am going to go out on a limb and ask something I have been reluctant to even acknowledge myself.

What does everyone think of Soundgarden's reunion performances. I saw them in 1996 at Lollapalooza and then have seen Cornell solo twice since them (full band of hired guns, once Frampton joined him and wailed BHS with a talk box then a massive Zeppelin medley) and twice with Audioslave.

I used to sweat Thayil so hard as a kid and an up-and-coming guitarist. Now I find his tone to be thin and his playing to be...well unique. I have some live footage from the era that his tone, effects and playing seem to be VERY lame compared to the albums (viz. the MTV sessions for Live and Loud with DOTU songs). I watched the recent Rock Am shows and same deal. In fact everyone but Cameron seemed 60 percent as good as they used to be.

Thoughts? I am a HUGE SG fan and in fact have their discog in my CD player as we speak; it's been there for the past month and is the only thing I listen to in the car.

 

[rmiller9969]

I like Soumdgarden but LOVE that time period in music. Not so much grunge but 80's and 90's rock. I was looking for Soundgarden stuff due to the fact that I was messing withan acoustic version of "Fell on Black Days" and then "Hunger Strike" (temple of the dog). I was also very unimpressed with the Lallapalooza convert I watxhed, I think it was '10. Kim's playing was boring and uninspiring and Cornell's voice was garbage. I love his voice and I understand that his style means you might get a lot of throw away performances. Ive seen some live Audioslave stuff within the last couple years and he soundes great. The LP concert I just watched was mediocer at best.

 

[Alan_M]

I agree about the Lolla performance, it was wince inducing at times. They just seem to always be subject to temperament. When they are on, they are transcendental, but when they are off, well... it hurts.
I saw them at the Ventura Theater in Ventura Ca for the BMF tour, and it was just insanely good. They were on point, muscular, enthusiastic about the new material. Kim was smiling ear to ear the whole time, and he was having fun messing with the sour puss security at the front of the stage.
I also saw them in NYC for the Superunknown tour, and that was off the charts. Big crowd, and they gave a powerful performance.
The next time was in San Diego for their final tour before breaking up, and they were awful. Ben threw a tantrum and Chris sounded like crap. Clearly the tension in the band about the difference in directions of the music was taking it's toll, and they looked like they were working at some dead end job. Down on the upside felt lackluster too, so it was not so sad a thing to me when they broke up finally. It had run it's course.
I saw the reunion show in Vegas, it was pretty good, not top notch. It lagged in places, but hit on others.
I guess I'll go on a limb and say out loud that Chris and Ben both are a bit diva-ish, and that's not uncommon for artists and especially singers. With them, for me, it doesn't get to the point that I dislike the whole package because of it, but I can see when it affects their performance. Chris clearly was having more fun when I saw him on solo tour. He got really pissed when people kept shouting for SG material though LOL!
In reference to Kim's playing, agreed, it's "unique". I don't necessarily judge on technical ability and musical theory yada yada, especially when it comes to rock. Feel means a lot more. Keith Richards is no shredder, but it's more than that. KIm I feel is the same way, it comes from the heart, not the head, and no need to impress the Juilliard Arms Crossed At The Back Of The Venue types. I think his staccato leads complement the music perfectly. I'd rather listen to him than Satriani type stuff. The musical mastery of that type of Guitar God music lacks the raw punch and feel of less technically gifted guitarists, at least for me.
Lastly for Matt, all I can say is maybe his time with PJ watered down the drive? He's an incredible and educated drummer. But PJ and SG are two different world's apart. He's going to need to get back up to speed.

 

[blakeley311]

Good. I am still a huge fan. It's funny that you mention the tension on stage during the DOTU tour...I remember Ben kicking about on stage like a kid who was being told they couldn't go out to play with their friends.

Kim clearly knows some theory and scales. I am always impressed with his speed and feel on the albums but sometimes live he's just not holdin' it down.

I'd like to see him get into some different amps, possibly something like Chris uses or some sort of Plexi clone. Shite, I'd take an orange for that matter.

 

[Russian Guy]

For me the highlight of their reunion live shows (that were recorded anyway) was Beyond The Wheel from their Nudedragons first reunion show.

But I agree that most of the times Cornell's tone sounds way fatter than Kim's. I doubt it has to do with the guitar though.

 

[adorshki]

In reference to Kim's playing, agreed, it's "unique". I don't necessarily judge on technical ability and musical theory yada yada, especially when it comes to rock. Feel means a lot more. Keith Richards is no shredder, but it's more than that. KIm I feel is the same way, it comes from the heart, not the head, and no need to impress the Juilliard Arms Crossed At The Back Of The Venue types. I think his staccato leads complement the music perfectly. I'd rather listen to him than Satriani type stuff. The musical mastery of that type of Guitar God music lacks the raw punch and feel of less technically gifted guitarists, at least for me.

From the perspective of a guy who idolized Airplane and Beck (Jeff, that is) and Pete Townshend just to name a few, as a 13 year old in 1969, I agree 100%. Some of the lesser "Gods" from the San Francisco scene fit the moldl of "feel is more important than technique" to a "t". Santana comes to mind as someone who milks more out of a triplet with sustain than I think Satriani will ever feel, let alone figure out how to play.
Blue Cheer's first 3 albums come to mind as another example of style and feel being more important than technique. You should check 'em out, I'd bet dollars Thayil is intimately aware of their legacy.
Another classic that comes to mind is "Cheap Thrills". Another: "Aqualung", Martin Barre was obviously extremely technically proficient yet there's nary an unneccessary note on any lead on that album.
Anyway, not to bash Satriani, but he just elicits a big nothing in me every time I hear him.
I guess there's folks that can get a buzz from listening to him, but boy lemme tell you when Pearl Jam hit the scene it was like "Finally some real rock again!!" for me, after a long drought filled with hairbands and other dreck. Always preferred them over Nirvana too, And listening to the station that I heard Pearl Jam on made me aware of Soungarden, who I held in equal respect.
As for variability in performances, lemme also make the observation from the perspective of 56 years old that on top of moodiness and diva tendencies, guys just start to get a little more tired as they get older, and sometimes they've given up or reduced their intake of their favorite mood elevators to boot. A good thing for their health and probably their overall quality of play too, but another reason the overall energy level ain't sometimes as high as when they were in their twenties. We tend to start getting more frustrated with the BS too, and now we know it when we see it too, we're not quite so naive anymore or willing to put up with it on the climb up the ladder... And touring generates a LOT of BS for a rock band... :wink:

 

[Los Angeles]

I saw Soundgarden at Lollapallooza in Chicago and they nearly killed themselves jumping around and banging into each other with intensity.

I watched the new stuff and they just stood around. :shrug:

 

[adorshki]

I saw Soundgarden at Lollapallooza in Chicago and they nearly killed themselves jumping around and banging into each other with intensity.
I watched the new stuff and they just stood around. :shrug:

Painkillers musta wore off.
:lol:

 

[Alan_M]

"Santana comes to mind as someone who milks more out of a triplet with sustain than I think Satriani will ever feel, let alone figure out how to play. "

Exactly. Think BB King. Guy straight up says he can't play chords. But the notes he plucks sing like a choir!

 

[adorshki]

"Santana comes to mind as someone who milks more out of a triplet with sustain than I think Satriani will ever feel, let alone figure out how to play. "
Exactly. Think BB King. Guy straight up says he can't play chords. But the notes he plucks sing like a choir!

Jeff Beck's in there too. Watch his version of "A Day in the Life" on Live at Ronnie Scott's.
First time I saw it I literally dropped my jaw.
Ever hear of a guy named Peter Green? Founder of Fleetwood Mac. BB King once said he was the only guy who could make the hairs on his arms stand up. :shock:
(Hint: he wrote "Black Magic Woman"....)
(edit: After reviewing Green's Wikipedia page, apparently King actually said "He has the sweetest tone I ever heard, he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats". I still think I read that bit about the hair on his arms somewhere though. :lol: )