Following the release of the album I Want Blood (2024), Jerry Cantrell arrived in Brazil for the first time with his solo career, delivering a performance that thrilled fans.
Since the release of the album Dirt in 1992, Cantrell has come to Brazil several times with Alice In Chains , the most notable visits being to Hollywood Rock in 1993 and the show at Rock in Rio in 2013 .
The one-off performance, which took place on November 12th, had a considerable audience attendance at Audio, almost completely filling the space provided by the event venue.
The opening act of the evening was the indie band E A Terra Nunca Me Pareceu Tão Distante, whose setlist was based on instrumental music. Their short set went unnoticed by those present or those who arrived after the group's performance.
sci-fi opening track and began the proceedings with "Psychotic Break," the opening track from his second solo album, Degradation Trip (2002).
The crowd went wild during the second song of the night when the guitarist launched into the intro riff of Alice In Chains' hit, "Them Bones," which featured backing guitarist Zach Throne covering the parts sung by Laney Staley , who passed away in 2002.
Following the euphoria of "Them Bones," drummer Roy Mayorga began the drum intro of "Vilified" for the performance of the first single from I Want Blood . Without losing momentum, Throne immediately launched into the powerful riff of "Off The Rails," and the performance of the song was very well received by the audience.
Cantrell's charisma is one of the highlights of the concert experience. From the shy thank-yous at the end of each song at the beginning of the performance to the musician's compliment on a fan's t-shirt, it all showed the connection generated by the event.
The connection between the audience and the guitarist was so strong that fans asked Cantrell to continue performing "My Song" even though his instrument was out of tune. After resolving the tuning issue with his guitar, he thanked the audience for their affection and positive reception.
Songs from the album Brighten (2021) , such as “Atone”, “Siren Song” and “Had to Know”, marked a different dynamic for the show with a sound more geared towards hard rock, but without losing the heaviness brought by Jerry Cantrell and his band.
“Afterglow” and “I Want Blood” return to the heavy atmosphere of catchy and dirty riffs, now with the raw energy provided by “I Want Blood”, paving the way for one of the greatest classics of the 90s that would follow… “Man In The Box”.
Vocal duo between Jerry Cantrell and Zach Throne
For Alice In Chains songs, Jerry Cantrell and Zach Thorne, who was tasked with replacing the unmistakable voice of the late Layne Staley, shared vocal duties effectively and efficiently.
During the performance of the iconic "Man In The Box," which drove fans wild, although Throne's voice was low and in the background, the audience helped him give the song the necessary intensity, while Cantrell used his characteristic talkbox in the introduction and sang confidently when required.
In "Would?", the partnership clicked again, with Jerry Cantrell singing the verses and the backing guitarist providing the energy and weight that Staley's voice brought to the song in the choruses.
Bis
Concluding the setlist with the somber ballad "It Comes," Cantrell and the band returned to the stage to perform three more songs.
The encore began with "Brighten"; continued with "Sea of Sorrow," which was the surprise of the night, and ended by mesmerizing the fans as they sang along to "Rooster."
With the show's repertoire based on promo songs from I Want Blood (six in total – the album with the most songs on the setlist) alongside hits from Cantrell's solo career and Alice In Chains, the unique performance in São Paulo highlights the guitarist's confidence and the cohesion of his newest studio work, which will earn him a North American tour in 2025.
Jerry Cantrell's first solo performance in Brazil captivated audiences with loud, dark, and raw rock music, showcasing his impressive stage presence and demonstrating his strength and importance in the music scene.
An unforgettable show for anyone who loves the Seattle music scene and grunge!
Check out the tracker with the setlist from Jerry Cantrell's show in São Paulo:
READ ALSO: Alice In Chains: 'Jar Of Flies' gets a 30th anniversary edition
