Check the last, solemnly prolonged verse - wonder how that color taste– and try not to have chills!Īfter the calm, almost melancholic intro, it’s time for the more energetic No Excuses. Those few seconds of singing only stops the song in the tipping point and empowers its beauty. You won’t hear it though in the original version the only brief moment when we could hear it happened during the Unplugged concert. When comparing to a bit too squeaky original, the acoustic versions reaches a totally new level and uncovers its whole new potential.Ībove all, you should clap extra loud after listening to the a capella parts, sung by both Layne and Jerry. This synergic voice relationship takes ownership also in the second played track - Brother. Jerry’s voice, quite different than Layne’s, can be heard a little bit too often (especially in the last song, Killer is Me, when the vocal part was almost fully taken by the guitarist). The incredible Staley-Cantrell duo was very often the main character in the MTV Unpluggedperformance. When describing Nutshell we cannot miss mentioning the long, beautiful guitar solo by Jerry, who, by the way, is considered to be one of the best guitarists in the world. The brotherhood of a vocalist and a guitarist Even though, paradoxically, Nutshell is the track that’s quite often covered by other bands, it’s impossible to picture the most accurate person to perform it than Alice in Chains’ vocalist himself. The lyrics of Nutshell tell us about sadness, despair and losing hope all this packaged in a very tranquil yet sometimes poetic language - one of the characteristics of Layne’s favorite esthetics. With the music background being calmer than usual, you can focus more on the text layer of all the songs Nutshells is, however, a special case in this rule. Perhaps one of the reasons for it is that Layne starts it as the first track of the show completely without any warning, yet smoothly synchronizing with Jerry’s guitar. Nutshell unplugged is not much different though from the original version (when it comes to the form) but when you listen to it during the MTV concert, it seems to get a whole new meaning. The one of a kind melody, lead mainly by the guitar with not too pushy, yet still restrained rhythm, is a perfect background for the unique lyrics written by Layne himself. Nutshell is a song you just cannot pass without notice. But in the case of Alice, not present on the music stage for more than two years, it appeared to be the smartest strategy to implement. Is it bad? Well, the concert itself is not filled up with newbies or super-rearranged songs. Some of the tracks weren’t much different from their original recordings, too (for example the primarily strongly acoustic No Excuses - the unplugged version just cut out the electric guitar and sometimes too loud drums).
Above all, the performance is a unique music feast, where the sounds are the Big Director - dressing time in the rhythm, deciding on the temperature level in the room and leading the musicians’ every move.Īlice in Chains played in total thirteen tracks, among which eight were typical ‘studio songs’. The scenery is perfectly synchronized with the atmosphere around not showing off too much but highlighting what needs to be discovered and experienced. Not because it was the band’s first gig in the past 3 years, but also due to the fact that MTV Unplugged was the second last show when Layne Staley sang in public.Īlice in Chains Unplugged is a beautiful, musical-theatrical show the characters know their roles perfectly well with some moments of natural improvisation, spicing up the songs (loved by the crowd!).
Among the musicians who enriched MTV’s agenda with their presence, were (among many others) Pearl Jam, Nirvana, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Shakira, Bob Dylan… The concert of Alice in Chains, performed on the 10th of April 1996 in New York, was definitely one of the most significant in this series. First of those shows happened in 1989, with Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora on the stage.
#ALICE IN CHAINS MTV UNPLUGGED SERIES#
MTV Unplugged is a series of concerts played only with the acoustic instruments. With no welcoming or warning, Alice in Chains starts their legendary concert, Unplugged.
At the end, the vocalist Layne Staley - with pink hair, dark shades and a shy smile. Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, Scott Olson, Sean Kinney. Then, on the stage of Brooklyn Academy of Music, here they come long-haired, tall musicians. The sense of anticipation is so tangible that almost felt physically. Long, white candles dress the scenery in shaking shadows. Lights are dimmed but everything’s clearly visible. Notes from MTV Unplugged, Alice in Chains
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