Soundgarden Visits Hammerstein Ballroom, Night 1 [1/22/13]

Soundgarden returned to the city this week after a brief hiatus, playing back-to-back sold out shows at the Hammerstain Ballroom. The gigs were in support of King Animal, the Seattle outfit’s first LP of new material in sixteen years.

We caught the first show on Tuesday evening. Doors were called for 8pm, and fans all seemed to show up at the same time. Quarter past. Huddled masses intimidated by the cold nevertheless queued around the block to 35th and 9th. Finally inside and frisked, we were surprised by the confiscation of lighters…some rock show!

By the time the majority of the crowd entered the ballroom, Soundgarden had already busted out “Jesus Christ Pose” and “Spoonman.” Starting on a high note, the show still needed a kick in the pants. That momentum arrived shortly thereafter with “Outshined,” during which a lucky fan was pulled onstage to play rhythm guitar. All for waving a sign stating his desire to do so.

For the rest of the 2.5-hour performance, the grunge rockers muscled through a 26-song set of A-sides and dustier gems like “Rhinosaur” and “Flowers.”

From the balcony vantage point, it was rather upsetting to see not more than one crowdsurfer during the entire performance. Chalk it up to the aging audience.

Here’s the whole setlist:

Jesus Christ Pose
Spoonman
Let Me Drown
Rhinosaur
Flower
Outshined
Been Away Too Long
Worse Dreams
My Wave
The Day I Tried to Live
Blow Up the Outside World
Fell on Black Days
Hunted Down
Non-State Actor
Zero Chance
Incessant Mace
By Crooked Steps
Taree
Hands All Over
Burden in My Hand
Dusty
Blood on the Valley Floor
4th of July

Encore:
Ugly Truth
Rusty Cage
Beyond the Wheel