Photos/Review: Chris Cornell @ Beacon Theatre

Words by Audra Tracy | Photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

What makes a rock star, by today’s standards? Is it someone who recklessly stage dives into a hungry crowd, night after night? Is it someone who outlasts all the addicts at the after-after parties? Or is it someone who cuts out all the bullshit, brings an acoustic guitar to New York City and sells out two nights at the historic Beacon Theatre?

In town supporting his latest solo album, Higher Truth, the almighty Chris Cornell proved you don’t need to be flashy to put on a legendary show.

The Soundgarden front-man came armed with his storied songbook, and oh, THAT VOICE. You know, that voice that makes women quiver. That voice that makes grown men cry. That voice that had the audience cheering up out of their seats at an acoustic show on a Monday night.

That voice certainly went to work, bringing a frenzy of fan favorites into play, from the golden age of grunge (“Say Hello 2 Heaven”, “Fell On Black Days”) to tracks from his 1999 solo record Euphoria Morning (“Can’t Change Me, “When I’m Down”) to his days in Audioslave (“Doesn’t Remind Me”, “Like A Stone”).

For a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”, the man of the hour brought out a very special guest to sing along – his eleven year old daughter Toni – who had some impressive pipes of her own. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Via setlist.fm:

Misery Chain
Before We Disappear
Can’t Change Me
Cleaning My Gun
Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart
Fell on Black Days (Soundgarden song)
Redemption Song (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
Say Hello 2 Heaven (Temple of the Dog song)
River of Deceit (Mad Season cover)
Wide Awake (Audioslave song)
Doesn’t Remind Me (Audioslave song)
Sweet Euphoria
Blow Up the Outside World (Soundgarden song)
Let Your Eyes Wander
One (U2 cover)
Seasons
The Day I Tried to Live (Soundgarden song)
When I’m Down
Worried Moon
Rusty Cage (Soundgarden song)
Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden song)
Like a Stone (Audioslave song)
Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog song)
A Day in the Life (The Beatles cover)
Like Suicide (Soundgarden song)
Higher Truth