Alice in Chains w/ The New Regime
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
07.08.16
Gloomy and gray, overcast with rain, a typical Seattle summer, the sun eluding the local atmosphere. Breaking through, however, was the excitement on everyone’s faces at Alice in Chains, who brought their own brand of “sunshine” to brighten up the evening. The Paramount Theatre was packed from the beginning as many wanted to get a great vantage point for the band’s first hometown show in four years.
Opening the show was The New Regime, a band that fronted by IIan Rubin, a multi-instrumentalist recognized for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves. The 3-piece played a condensed 30-minute set, doing their best to warm up the crowd.
Then the lights dimmed and Alice in Chains took the stage to massive applause, a hometown hero’s welcome. As they kicked into show opener “Hollow” from their last album, 2013’s The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, the crowd was awash with joy and singing every word.
The band was in fine form having just come off a few dates supporting stadium shows for a reactivated Gun’s ‘N Roses. The stage was pretty clean, with a simple drum riser and six towers of moving lights that produced quite a spectacular light show throughout the evening. The band was visibly grateful for the sold out crowd, as Jerry Cantrell said, “It has been a long time Seattle. We all turned 50 this year. I am playing Sean Kinney’s 50th birthday present.” It was a beautiful telecaster and then they broke into “Man in The Box” along with a set full of classic favorites.
Banter was at a minimum, with AIC letting the music do most of the talking. With so many “hits,” front man William DuVall has been a perfect voice since joining the band in 2006. He has the charisma and vocal prowess, perfectly harmonizing with Jerry Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez as they played through songs that made the band rise as one of Seattle’s most successful acts since the late ‘80s.
One of the big highlights of the night came just before the band’s encore. Cantrell jokingly said, “It’s good to hear you Seattle. We haven’t played this one in some time so give us a break if we fuck it up!” They played “Sunshine” off of Facelift, their debut album that broke them to the World, and it instantly lit up the crowd, as it hadn’t been played in years.
Closing the night with staple “Would?” The entire night seemed to conclude too quickly as the hour and 40-minute set blew by. “Thanks again Seattle, we will see you again soon” and they showered the adoring crowd with guitar picks and drum sticks as they make their way off stage. What an amazing night for all in attendance.
Alice In Chains Set List
Hollow
Them Bones
Dam That River
Again
Check My Brain
Nutshell
Man In The Box
Your Decision
Down In A Hole
Stone
Last Of My Kind
We Die Young
Got Me Wrong
It Ain’t Like That
Sunshine
Rooster
Encore
No Excuse
Would?
Review and photos by Neil Lim Sang
Alice in Chains
The New Regime
