Although best known as the guitarist for grunge heavyweights Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell returned to San Antonio on Thursday night as a solo artist.
During a performance at the Aztec Theatre, both he and opening band Filter proved — even three decades after their respective heydays — that they command the power to move a crowd. It was a night full of nostalgic tunes that kept audience members riveted and singing their hearts out.
To many, Filter might be known as one of those ’90s acts with a popular song KISS-FM overplayed until it got annoying — the kind of band that ends up playing Oyster Bake, in other words. However, on Thursday, the industrial-tinged hard rockers proved they had heavier and more energetic deep cuts to offer.
Filter won over the crowd by moving and grooving around the stage as its members played through numbers including “The Drowning” and “Take a Picture.” Of course the band ended its set with ”Hey Man Nice Shot” — yes, that same song KISS played into the ground. Just the same, everyone roared with excitement.
Surprisingly, a number of audience members shuffled out after Filter’s set, but that didn’t stop those who remained from fully displaying their enthusiasm for Cantrell. He opened his set the rockstar way, wearing shades that made him look untouchable. However, that persona fell away once the guitar shredding began. Cantrell and his band members didn’t move around much, but that didn’t make his guitar solos any less passionate or the songs any less compelling.
Mixed in with solo tunes including “Psychotic Break” and “I Want Blood,” Cantrell and company busted out classic Alice in Chains bangers such as “Man in the Box” and “The Rooster.” Slow and lower-key than the Alice in Chains material, the solo tracks imparted the feeling that one had smoked a fat doobie. Despite that more laid-back approach, Cantrell’s performance felt meticulous.
Singer Greg Puciato — Cantrell’s touring right-hand man since 2022 — crooned when that was what the song required and belted it out when that was the needed approach. He was a perfect foil for Cantrell’s more droning vocal style. The strength of the pairing was on full display when the group banged out the Alice in Chains deep cut “Hate to Feel,” a track that neither Cantrell nor AIC has performed live since 1993.
While Cantrell may not deliver the most energetic or innovative live show, he and his band showed Thursday night why listeners still worship at his altar of rock. He comes armed with a solid collection of slightly weird rock songs, and his live show thrives on his powerful guitar skills and the capabilities of a powerful backing band.
Sure, Cantrell’s also riding a wave of audience nostalgia, but as long as he continues to make his guitar sing, it’s sound bet newbie rockers and old-school fans will continue to show up.
