Jeff McClusky & Associates

Coming from the northern suburbs, the UIC Pavillion was quite the trek.  With the weekend Metra running so conveniently sparse during the departure times, many car-less travelers are forced to take the El. Myself included, I spent a total of about an hour and a half each way, and switched between three trains, to show my dedication to both Soundgarden and The Mars Volta.

The Mars Volta set was a progressive rock slaughterhouse of noise manipulation and tight technical ability. I felt that it was a great showing overall especially fueled by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López’s in his attempts to pervade the crowd with a sophisticated rock trance. However, the common reception seemed to be highly negative during the show itself. One could blame the large acoustic setting in contrast with the technical synchronization that they play with, or, one could blame it on Chicago politics. 

Soon following the first act the crowd started filling in the small arena. The crowd looked to be a large mixture of middle-aged men, nostalgic for the 90s, and some early 20 some-things (such as myself). Despite my generation being merely kids during the pinnacle of the grunge era, my tastes were forever defined and thus now a reflection upon the music of my childhood. Whether this is good or bad in taste is a pure matter of opinion. But, that the music of the time period obviously had a large impact on the surrounding culture and youth during that time is something to be said.

When growing up, along with Nirvana, Bush, and Guns n’ Roses, Soundgarden was on my list of “bands that I was born too late to see.” I know that Chris Cornell had plenty of side jobs, but a few years ago I never would have guessed a reunion tour. Needless to say, Soundgarden killed it. Cornell’s attire breathed 90s with his white tee and black combat boots. His rustic beard and long hair contrasting his clean shaven look from his Audioslave years.

They intermittently played all their older hits, while incorporating some lesser-known tracks. They played with such energy, leverage and excitement that it felt as if the tracks were just played on cassette for the first time. Although no new tracks, in between songs they rumored of releasing a new album next year sometime…